Job Description

Orchard Surgery

Healthcare Assistant job description & person specification

Job Title

Healthcare Assistant

Line Manager

Lead Nurse

Accountable to

The Practice Managers

Hours per week

27

Job Summary

To support the practice nursing team in the delivery of nursing services, working as part of the practice multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population. The healthcare assistant will deliver and assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion and patient education. General Practice experience is essential.

Mission Statement

Our aims are to offer the highest standard of health care and advice to our patients, with the resources available to us.

We have a team approach to patient care and endeavour to monitor the service provided to ensure that it meets current standards of excellence.

We are dedicated to ensuring that Practice Staff and Doctors are trained to the highest level and to provide a stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work

Generic Responsibilities

All staff at Orchard Surgery have a duty to conform to the following:

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

A good attitude and positive action towards ED&I creates and environment where all individuals are able to achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons: it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do, and it is required by law.

Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.

Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that you treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.

Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)

This practice is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities to for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. All personnel are to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.

Confidentiality

This practice is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters, pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality at all times. It is essential that if, the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained that all staff protect patient information and provide a confidential service.

Quality & Continuous Improvement (CI)

To preserve and improve the quality of our output, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do, but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work. The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the practice to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice.

This practice continually strives to improve work processes which deliver health care with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone counts and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.

Induction Training

On arrival at the practice all personnel are to complete a practice induction programme; this is managed by the Deputy Practice Manager.

Learning and Development

The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake and complete mandatory training as directed by the training coordinator, as well as participating in the practice training programme. Staff will also be permitted (subject to approval) to undertake external training courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills, progress their career and ultimately, enable them to improve processes and service delivery.

Collaborative Working

All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working. Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments. Effective communication is essential and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.

Service Delivery

Staff at Orchard Surgery must adhere to the information contained with practice policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are adhered to at all times. Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.

Security

The security of the practice is the responsibility of all personnel. Staff must ensure they remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager. Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks to anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured.

Professional Conduct

At Orchard Surgery, staff are required to dress appropriately for their role. Administrative staff will be provided with a uniform whilst clinical staff must dress in accordance with their role.

Leave

All personnel are entitled to take leave. Line managers are to ensure all of their staff are afforded the opportunity to take a minimum of 25 days (pro rata) leave each year, and should be encouraged to take all of their leave entitlement.

Primary Responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the healthcare assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Undertake new patient health checks Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximitery, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly Undertake wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics Carry out BMI checks as directed Act as a chaperone as required When trained, undertake venepuncture When trained, administer flu and COVID vaccinations Carry out ECGs as requested Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation Provide support during minor operations as required Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session Ensure fridges are cleaned routinely in accordance with extant guidance Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the practice IPC policy Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the healthcare assistant may be requested to:

Participate in practice audit as directed by the aduit lead Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care Support and participate in shared learning within the practice Complete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota
The person specification for this role is detailed overleaf.

Person Specification - Healthcare Assistant

Qualifications

Healthcare qualification (level 3 or 4) or working towards gaining equivalent level

Essential

Phlebotomy certification

Essential

Experience

Experience of working in a primary care environment

Essential

Experience of working with the general public

Essential

Experience of working in a healthcare setting

Essential

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples

Essential

ECG's

Essential

Venepuncture

Essential

New patient medicals inc. Height, weight, BP, Pulse

Desirable

Chaperone procedure

Desirable

Spirometry

Desirable

Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Essential

Skills

Excellent communication skills (written and oral)

Desirable

Strong IT skills

Desirable

Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

Competent in the use of Office and Outlook

Desirable

EMIS / SystmOne / Vision user skills

Desirable

Effective time management (Planning & Organising)

Essential

Ability to work as a team member and autonomously

Desirable

Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Essential

Personal Qualities

Polite and confident

Essential

Flexible and cooperative

Essential

Motivated

Essential

Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required

Desirable

High levels of integrity and loyalty

Desirable

Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations

Desirable

Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations

Desirable

Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

Essential

Commitment to ongoing professional development

Desirable

Effectively utilises resources

Desirable

Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort

Essential

Other requirements

Flexibility to work outside of core office hours

Desirable

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check

Essential

Occupational Health Clearance

Essential

This document may be amended following consultation with the post holder, to facilitate the development of the role, the practice and the individual.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: From 12.21 per hour

Expected hours: 27 per week

Benefits:

Company pension On-site parking
Schedule:

Day shift Monday to Friday
Education:

GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 05/05/2025