Health Care Assistant

at  PRIMARY INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SERVICES

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• GCSE grade A-C/Functional skills level 2 in English and Maths or equivalent
• NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care/Care Certificate or equivalent training & experience or willingness to undertake
• A demonstrable commitment to professional development

ABOUT US

PICS is the employer for this role. We collaborate with patients and partners to design and deliver clinically robust health and social care solution through Community Services, Out of Hospital Services, GP Practices, and Primary Care Networks. Find out more about us: http://picsnhs.org.uk/.

MANAGEMENT OF RISK:

The post holder must comply with all PICS policies and procedures which aim to ensure safe practice and minimise risk. This includes:

• Infection control / needlestick Protecting themselves and others against infection risks. All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems with regard to this to the manager. All staff at the surgery should attend infection control training and updates as required.
• Health and safety / COSHH policy
• Fire policy
• Incident reporting policy
• Learning and Development:
• The post holder should only undertake tasks for which he / she is competent.
• Any training / development needs should be discussed with the manager.
• The post holder is expected to undertake all mandatory training, relevant additional training and participate in clinical supervision / reflection on practice.
• The post-holder is required to attend clinical / nurse meetings and participate in an annual appraisal which includes review of this job description.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We have an exciting opportunity for a Health Care Assistant to join our dynamic team. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about providing high quality care.
The successful applicant will have some of the skills, knowledge and experience required to fulfil the job description but further training, if required, will be available.
PICS is a GP owned organisation that provides a wide range of services in primary and community care with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of all our patients and their families. These services are provided in a range of settings including peoples own homes and GP surgeries. Our focus is on delivering all care as close to home as possible.
We pride ourselves on being caring, safe and excellent; we work to constantly improve the quality of care we provide, and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To support the practice nursing team to enable them to function effectively
• To contribute to the nursing teams aim of providing high quality, safe and effective nursing care to the practice population

JOB PURPOSE

The Health Care Assistant works under indirect supervision from the Practice Nurses, undertaking appropriately delegated tasks and duties. The role provides support to the practice nursing team to enable them to function effectively. The post holder is expected to contribute to the nursing teams aim of providing high quality, safe and effective nursing care to the practice population.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice:

• To perform venepuncture for patients including patients from sixteen years old, using vacutainer system and use the electronic request system (ICE) to record blood sample requests.
• To measure and record on practice approved templates, physiological signs - alerting a registered practitioner in an appropriate timeframe if physiological signs are outside normal parameters.
• Blood pressure
• Pulse rate and rhythm
• Temperature
• Oxygen saturations
• Height and weight (BMI)
• To maintain the Home BP devices inventory, tracking and service schedule data.
• Undertake 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
• To test urine specimens using appropriate equipment and prepare samples for hospital transportation and analysis if required.
• Undertake ECGs as requested & report to the appropriate GP / ANP.
• To perform simple dressing regimes.
• Removal of clips and sutures.
• Assist GPs with minor surgery clinics / coil fittings.
• Perform ear irrigation.
• To perform registration medicals (New Patient Checks).
• To undertake NHS Health Checks Part 1 (collection of data)
• To perform Flu, Pneumonia and B12 injections (after the first dose has been given by a registered healthcare professional) within the surgery environment. Administration will be under a Patient Specific Direction / prescription.
• To monitor stock and place order for pathology items.
• To ensure that GP rooms are checked weekly and stock replenished and rotated as required, ensuring that internal cupboards are clean and stock is checked re expiry dates. Check sharps bins are appropriately labelled, secured and replaced as appropriate.
• To undertake weekly checks of the emergency equipment
• To perform other tasks as appropriately trained and agreed to meet the needs of the practice.