Job summary
A General Practice Assistant (GPA) will support the smooth running of clinics by performing routine administrative and clinical tasks on behalf of the GPs and wider clinical team to free up time to focus on the patient. The GPA will also assist the management and administration team to undertake tasks to support the day-to-day operational running of the Practice.

Main duties of the job
Duties may include, and may not be limited to:

• Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients
• Dipping urine, taking blood pressure and calculating the average
• Filtering test results based on set protocols to minimise those requiring opinions form the clinicians
• Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc
• Assisting the clinical staff in general to alleviate workload that can safely and appropriately be delegated to the GPA
• Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)
• Managing waiting room health displays
• Working with the PCN leadership team to design, plan and implement the PCN vision and strategy
• Help patients navigate practice services, ensuring they receive appropriate support

About us
GP First Limited is an organisation that works in partnership with other healthcare providers to improve services for the local population. A clear commitment to ensure general practice is prioritised as the primary setting for service delivery wherever appropriate. The federation uses the advantage of scale to support, strengthen, and develop general practice, while maintaining a strong focus on practice-led care as the foundation of local healthcare provision.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have been created to facilitate delivery of more integrated care. They cover defined geographical areas to enable them to better respond to the needs of local populations and build relationships across wider primary care within natural neighborhoods. By design they are small enough for relationships to flourish, but large enough to provide a broad scope of services.

Job responsibilities
A General Practice Assistant (GPA) will support the smooth running of clinics by performing routine administrative and clinical tasks on behalf of the GPs and wider clinical team to free up time to focus on the patient. The GPA will also assist the management and administration team to undertake tasks to support the day-to-day operational running of the Practice.

Duties:
Duties may include, and may not be limited to:

• Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients
• Dipping urine, taking blood pressure and calculating the average
• Filtering test results based on set protocols to minimise those requiring opinions form the clinicians
• Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc
• Assisting the clinical staff in general to alleviate workload that can safely and appropriately be delegated to the GPA
• Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)
• Managing waiting room health displays
• Working with the PCN leadership team to design, plan and implement the PCN vision and strategy
• Help patients navigate practice services, ensuring they receive appropriate support

Confidentiality:
While 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

Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Work to practice protocols
• 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

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
Acting in a way that recognises 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.

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.

General
To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, within the bounds of his/her own competence.

Person Specification
Quality
Essential

• Essential criteria
• The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk Work to practice protocols 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
• ssential criteria
• 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 Attend all relevant annual updates Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding GPA role and any professional development needed Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when reached

Desirable

• Candidates should have at least one years' experience of General Practice (such as Health Care Assistants or Receptionist role)
• The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Be familiar in all mediums of communications such as email, tasks, telephone etc Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly Communicate effectively to outside agencies Communicate clearly with their lead GP

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.

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.