Health Care Assistant

at  Islington GP Federation

JOB TITLE: Health Care Assistant (HCA) REPORTS TO: Practice Manager LOCATION: Northern Medical Centre SALARY: £25,000 to £26,400 (based on experience) HOURS: 37.5 hours per week CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent About Islington GP Federation Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is a growing organisation representing 31 practices; we have established ourselves as a leader in new ways of working, including running Islingtons extended access primary care services (I: HUB) as well as supporting the Islington Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Our current range of services include the Extended Access Service, I: HUB, Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Integrated Community Gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists and a range of practice support mechanisms. IGPF works very closely with a range of partners including the regional commissioning group, NHS England, Healthy London Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals such as UCLH, Whittington Health and the London Borough of Islington. IGPF is the host organisation for the Primary Care Network (PCN) workforce and the Islington Training Hub and has been working for over two years to create training and development programmes that meet the needs of staff working in primary and community care settings.
IGPF runs four Islington GP practices, one on a GMS contract, two on APMS contracts and one caretaking contract About Northern Medical Centre Northern Medical Centre is a diverse practice of nine thousand patients in Islington. The practice is currently operated by Islington GP Federation (IGPF) since January 2023 on a caretaking contract, as part of a growing family of GP practices run by the organisation. Northern has a strong ethos of providing patient centred care to its diverse community and this is an approach that IGPF continues to support and develop with the support of the clinical and administrative team alongside support from our main office support team. The practice operates from its clinical site just behind Holloway Road tube station, with administrative support based in IGPFs main office, just across the road.
Northern strives to provide high quality patient care whilst embracing the changing working patterns and needs of the modern GP workforce over the last 2 years. The administrative team will move to work from the same site as the clinical team, early next year, and your role will involve supporting that transition. The current clinical team have been working to develop and implement appropriate clinical systems. This has involved working closely with the wider Federation team to strengthen and rationalise components of care delivery including total triage, phone call and recall, and diary recall systems.
This is achieved with robust use of new technologies and an at scale model of GP practice which values continuity and clinical excellence. Further innovation, change and development is certain. Job Summary: This exciting job opportunity will see the successful candidate assist our practice teams in the delivery of safe, high quality primary care services to patients across two practices. Our Islington practices are based in a multicultural and vibrant area with a mixed patient demographic presenting to our practices with a variety of needs.
The post holder will be a key member of the multidisciplinary teams and will undertake tasks and duties supported by the nursing and doctors teams across the two practices. We have a multidisciplinary, welcoming team across both practices with a focus on improving the patient experience. We have daily huddles that the post holder will join as part of the team and contribute in supporting resolution of on the day issues as well as regular practice meetings. The post holder will work within clear parameters and lines of accountability with appropriate training and assessment of competence.
The successful candidate will be expected to work on Saturday mornings on an alternate basis. Duties and Responsibilities: This role will a key player to drive the North Central London Long Term Conditions LCS. Your role will be as a Test and Checker for physical health check appointments for patients who have long term conditions. Other key duties will include: Venepuncture Undertake baseline assessments for patients with chronic health conditions e.g.
Asthma, diabetes and hypertension Undertake new patient health checks Undertake physical health checks (phlebotomy, peak flow readings, blood pressure, weight, lifestyle questionnaires) Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately Carry out BMI checks as directed Administer flu vaccinations Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation 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 There will be training available to you to help you develop your role. There will also be opportunities for professional development into a trainee nursing associate role if this is something you would be interested in. Confidentiality: In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers.
They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data Health & Safety: The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards Reporting potential risks identified Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Personal/Professional Development: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work Quality: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload and resources Communication: The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly Contribution to the Implementation of Services: The post-holder will: Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work Participate in audit where appropriat

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