The General Practice Bank

Healthcare Assistant

 

Role 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.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Undertake new patient health checks
  • Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes
  • Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, 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, administer flu vaccinations
  • 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:

  • When trained, undertake venepuncture
  • When trained, carry out ear irrigation under the supervision of the practice nurse
  • Carry out ECGs as requested
  • Participate in practice audit as directed by the adult 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

 

 

Role Specification:

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Healthcare qualification or equivalent level

✅

 

Phlebotomy certification

 

✅

Ear syringing certification

 

✅

Experience

Essential

Desirable

6 months’ relevant experience working in a primary care environment in the last 2 years

✅

 

Experience of working with the general public

✅

 

Experience of working in a healthcare setting

✅

 

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Desirable

Immunisation (flu, B12, childhood, travel)

✅

 

Treatment of small injuries

✅

 

Dressings

✅

 

Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples

 

✅

ECGs

 

✅

Venepuncture

 

✅

New patient medicals including height, weight, BP, pulse

 

✅

Chaperone procedure

 

✅

Spirometry

 

✅

Ability to record accurate clinical notes

 

✅

General Skills

Essential

Desirable

Excellent communication skills (written and oral)

✅

 

Strong IT skills

✅

 

Clear, polite telephone manner

✅

 

Competent in the use of patient record management systems: EMIS / SystmOne

✅

 

Effective time management (Planning & Organising)

✅

 

Ability to work as a team member and autonomously

✅

 

Good interpersonal skills

✅

 

Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

✅

 

Competent in the use of Office and Outlook

 

✅

Competent in Document Management systems: Docman

 

✅

Competent in other portals: Open Exeter, Coordinate my Care

 

✅

Personal Qualities

Essential

Desirable

Polite and confident

✅

 

Flexible and cooperative

✅

 

Motivated

✅

 

High levels of integrity and loyalty

✅

 

Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations

✅

 

Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations

✅

 

Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

✅

 

Commitment to ongoing professional development

✅

 

Effectively utilises resources

✅

 

 

This job description outlines the roles, duties, and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended to detail all specific tasks.