Health Care Assistant - Care Homes Birmingham, England
Job description
Job Description
Title: Health Care Assistant - Care Homes
Hours:
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Job summary
The post holder is responsible for assisting the GPs, Lead Nurse and ANPs in the service and delivery of care management to the service population by working under the indirect supervision of the Practice
Streamline Nurse to undertake tasks and duties delegated by a GP/Lead Nurse/ANP or other suitably qualified clinical professional strictly in accordance with service practice guidelines and protocols.
Key responsibilities
1. Check patient identification and confirm details with the patient.
2. Provide Phlebotomy in accordance with training and procedures
3. Take ear, throat and skin swabs as directed by the GP/Lead Nurse/ANP
4. Take physiological measurements from patients including blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm, temperature, height and weight (body mass index), visual acuity, urinalysis
5. Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient interventions
6. Give accurate and appropriate information to patients within own competence
7. Ensure that anomalies are reported to a senior member of the clinical team
8. Notify a GP/Lead Nurse/ANP of any significant patient issues
9. Ensure full and accurate recording in the patient’s computerised records
10. Carry out administrative tasks for example, but not limited to, call and recall activities and stock takes as directed by senior members of the service
Special requirements of the post
1. An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
Health & Safety
Assist in promoting and maintaining own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the practice
Health & Safety Policy to include
1. Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
2. Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
3. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
4. Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
5. Reporting potential risks identified
6. Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
7. Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within the area of responsibility
8. Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
9. Be aware of statutory child health procedures
Communication
Recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and strive to:
1. Communicate effectively with primary care team members
2. Communicate effectively with patients and carers
3. Ensure good working relationships and communication with all staff
4. Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
5. Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating and responding accordingly
6. Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
Delivering a quality service
Strive to maintain quality within the service, including
1. Apply local policies, standards and guidance
2. Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
3. Participate in audit where appropriate
4. Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
5. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
6. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance
7. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patient needs
8. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
9. Participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the practice
10. Evaluate the patients’ response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care
11. Support and participate in shared learning across the service
12. Participate in the management and review of patient complaints, and identify learning from clinical incidents and near-miss events using a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis)
13. Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance
Learning and development
Participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
1. Participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
2. Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
3. Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate
4. Make effective use of learning opportunities within and outside the workplace, evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information
5. Ensure continual professional development is undertaken and evidence maintained
Equality and diversity
Support the equality, diversity and rights of the patient, carers and colleagues, to include:
1. Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies and current legislation
2. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
3. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights
4. Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights
5. Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
6. Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care
The Job Description will be subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation with the post-holder.
COVID-19 vaccination statement
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. We do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. We will be checking the vaccination status of all new starters so that we can manage individual and environmental risks, and so that we can support those who may be undecided about vaccination. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the role of the HCA and patient interactions
- Knowledge of patient confidentiality, data protection and it’s application
Desirable
- Knowledge of EMIS or other clinical systems
Skills
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective relationships with patients and colleagues
- Ability to work calmly under pressure in a busy working environment
- Ability to communicate clearly and precisely (oral and written) and where there may be barriers to understanding
- Organisational skills and ability to work in a methodical manner
- Tact, diplomacy and empathy, especially when dealing with anxious patients
- Ability to work in a team or alone as required
- Ability to handle simple medical equipment
- Ability to assist other with delivery of care (eg minor surgery)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within primary care
- Experience of providing customer care
- Experience of working under indirect supervision
- Previous experience of working as a HCA
Qualifications
Essential
- Basic Literacy and numeracy skills
- NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification of experience
- Certificate of competence in phlebotomy or equivalent
- Proficient computer and keyboard skills
Desirable
- GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience
- ECDL
- Up to date Basic Life Support training
Other
- Highly motivated
- Flexibility, reliability and able to respond to change
- Willingness to undergo education/training to meet service needs
- Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives
- Manual dexterity and manipulation skills
- Hepatitis B immunity or willingness to undergo an immunisation course
- Willingness to undertake a DBS (previously CRB) check
- Strict adherence to infection control
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £10.00 per hour
Schedule:
- Day shift
COVID-19 considerations:
All government guildelines will be followed
Work Location: One location
Application deadline: 22/02/2023
Reference ID: 402
