Primary Health Care Assistant (HCA) for Long Term Conditions Job Vacancy in South Tyneside, England, UK

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The post holder will work with the Long-Term Conditions Clinical Team to independently carry out screening health checks for at risk patients identified in the East of Haringey. The applicant will be using EMIS Web to complete a LTC Template recording the health check. The applicant will be required to review results and triage accordingly with the use of Excel sheets. There will be a weekly MDT with the opportunity to discuss cases and develop clinical knowledge alongside a GP.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide and deliver high quality health checks (height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, smoking/alcohol risk, blood tests) that supports patients in the management of their Long-Term Conditions (LTCs).
• To provide a phlebotomy (blood sampling) service for patients this is essential to the service.
• Use clinical assessment skills and clinical judgement to take a detailed history, physically assess, record previous diagnoses, and tests/investigations and document current medication being taken.This will be recorded into a specifically designed EMIS Template and be embedded into the patients notes.
• Signpost patients to community services in Haringey and onward referrals to our inhouse Wellbeing Advocate.
• Review patients previous results (including blood tests, blood pressure readings and BMI) and then triage and formulate plans using local protocols.
• Following up patients clinical results from the health check and action as appropriate.
• Support colleagues in undertaking clinical assessments in partnership with patients and other professionals as required.
• Be responsible for processing and management of laboratory samples requested by clinicians with specific responsibility to ensure that the samples are correctly labelled sent to the laboratory promptly and that data is entered onto the Patient’s notes.
• Be responsible for the correct maintenance and cleaning of equipment.
• Be responsible for restocking of all clinical areas and maintaining a stock rotation system to the required levels as agreed with the clinical team.
• To immediately report any safeguarding or compliance concerns.
• Participation in all activities required by CQC registration.
• To ensure one’s own skills and knowledge are kept up-to-date, and evidence based.

Patient Responsibilities

• Ensure high quality care is consistently delivered to all patients with Long Term Conditions (LTCs) to reduce their anxiety.
• Ensure all patients are kept informed of any changes in their clinical condition or management plan
• Promote a culture of shared decision making to support patients through the decision-making process.
• Ensure that patient feedback is encouraged and work collaboratively with patient and carer groups wherever possible.
• Ensure and maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

Operational and Service Development Responsibilities

• To work closely with the Service Manager and colleagues to further develop and deliver the Long-Term Conditions (LTCs) pathway of care using a test and learn approach.
• To promote a seamless service of care for patients through liaison with all members of the healthcare team within primary and secondary care.
• To participate in the education, training and development of Long-Term Conditions (LTCs) care at all levels to help further develop your clinical skills and competencies.
• To take a lead role in ensuring participation in Long Term Conditions (LTCs) registers.
• To coordinate the review, development and audit of research-based policies within specialist Long Term Conditions (LTCs) care, working with professional colleagues.

Leading and Managing Responsibilities

• Address any areas of poor performance or capability issues with staff by following Federation 4 Healths policies and protocols.
• Ensure ones own statutory and mandatory training is up to date.
• Work collaboratively with mental health services locally.
• Provide excellent communication with all patients, carers and staff at all times.
• Be a knowledgeable resource for Long Term Conditions (LTCs) care.
• Enable strong patient engagement in new programmes of work, ensuring Haringey practices feel consulted and involved and that their views are incorporated into service design.
• Liaise closely with local practices and other providers, including the third sector, ensuring their views are included into service development.

Quality Improvement Support Team

• Work closely with the QIST to develop a competency framework for the primary care workforce to build Long Term Conditions (LTC) competency.
• Have a flexible approach to this role to allow for natural growth of service and outcomes.

Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information

Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.

Equal Opportunities

Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to equality laws.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and to ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Risk Management

All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the risk management strategy and emergency procedures and attendance at training as required.

Infection Control

Infection Control is everyones responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Hygiene Code (2006), Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.

Safeguarding

Within their sphere of competence, each member of staff is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children, young people and / or vulnerable adults for whom they are responsible or may come into contact with, in the job role.

Information Technology

It is the responsibility of the post holder to have a level of IT competence relevant to their job role and will be expected to continue to keep their skills up to date as part of their Continuing Professional Development.

Review/Changes to this Job Description

Post holders have a responsibility to discuss any significant job changes with their line manager at the time the change occurs and agree any permanent substantial change.

On appointment within Federated 4 Health staff may be allocated to a specific area of care. It is however Trust policy to allocate staff to other areas of work within the Trust from time to time where this is in the interest of the individual and / or the service.

The Job Description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the post change.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Share the Companys beliefs and model this in their attitude and behavior.
• Ensure the Companys values are demonstrated by themselves and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely manner, either directly or raised with the relevant Line manager or through the relevant processes within the Companys policies and protocols.
• Flexible approach and ability to demonstrate empathy.
• Be well organised and able to prioritise tasks.
• Willingness to learn
• Desire to help, assist and improve the lives of patients
• Self-motivated and able to work independently

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education including Maths and English at Grade C and above (or equivalent).
• Health and social Care qualification such as Care Certificate or NVQ level 2 or 3.
• Good understanding of spoken and written English.
• Desire to develop skills and qualifications under continuous professional development.
• Trained in Phlebotomy
• Able to carry out health check including Blood Pressure monitoring, Pulse Check, Recording of BMI
• Knowledgeable use of the clinical system EMIS

Desirable

• Experience in a Patient facing role
• General Practice experience
• Experience in managing those with Long Term Chronic Conditions

Experience

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing sensitive information.
• Ability to provide and maintain a high quality of care.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to prioritise own workload in the face of competing pressures.
• Ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders including people with LTCs, voluntary groups, social work, acute providers, and commissioners.
• Ability to interpret & implement local, National, Federation and Trust policies

Desirable

• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Experience of working in General Practice.
• Experience of working with the IT clinical system including Excel spreadsheets
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary setting

Knowlede

Essential

• A basic understanding and knowledge of LTC CKD/CVD in order to provide the appropriate level of care for this cohort.
• Understanding and knowledge of physical health promotion.
• Understanding of how a clinical health check is completed and the clinical tests that maybe included.
• Clinical knowledge of how to carry out basic tests i.e. blood pressure, pulse, testing urine.
• Understanding of Infection Control and requirement to use PPE when necessary.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Fitness Analysis as appropriate.
• Ability to travel across Haringey Practices efficiently to deliver the service and or attend meetings etc.

Desirable

• Current driving licence.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.