Job summary
Are you looking for a role where you can make a real difference every day?

Papworth Surgery is seeking a compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our friendly and supportive clinical team as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) or Trainee Healthcare Assistant.

This is an exciting opportunity for either an experienced HCA looking for their next challenge or someone who is passionate about patient care and wishes to begin a rewarding career within the NHS and Primary Care. Full training and support will be provided for suitable candidates with the right attitude and commitment to learning.

As an integral member of our multidisciplinary team, you will work alongside GPs, Nurses, Administrators and other healthcare professionals to help deliver safe, effective and patient-centred care to our local community.

Main duties of the job
Depending on your training and level of competency, duties may include:

• Recording patient observations including blood pressure, pulse, height, weight and BMI
• Performing ECGs
• Phlebotomy (following training where required)
• Supporting chronic disease reviews and monitoring clinics
• Carrying out simple diagnostic testing
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting patient education
• Preparing and maintaining clinical rooms and equipment
• Monitoring and replenishing clinical stock levels
• Accurate documentation within electronic patient records
• Supporting infection prevention and control standards throughout the practice
• Wound Care
• Ear Irrigation
• INR Monitoring
• Diabetic Foot checks

Full training will be provided for all the above.

About us
Why Join Papworth Surgery?

• Supportive and welcoming team environment
• Structured training programme for trainee HCAs
• Opportunities for career progression and development
• Access to NHS Pension Scheme (where eligible)
• Staff wellbeing initiatives and employee support
• Opportunity to develop valuable clinical skills within Primary Care
• Be part of a practice that places patient care, teamwork and continuous improvement at the heart of everything it does

Details
Date posted: 02 November 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: A4346-26-0002
Location: Chequers Lane, Papworth Everard, Cambridgeshire, CB23 3QQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Purpose:
To assist the GPs and practice nurse team in the service and delivery of the care management of the practice population.

Responsible to:
Senior practice nurses, practice manager and, ultimately, the GP Partners

Job summary
The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team leader and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team leader or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures while providing supervision to more junior staff.

Key responsibilities
Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication.

Personal and People Development

• Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance, including participating in supervision
• Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development
• Work with management on any new training requirements
• To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
• Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of a basic HCA

Health, safety and security

• Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including: Hand washing
• Universal hygiene procedures
• Collection and handling of laboratory specimens
• Segregation and disposal of waste materials
• Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment
• Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries
• Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages
• Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection Control measure
• Understand and apply the principles Of the gold chain
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
• Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
• Use the computer monitor safely
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Service improvement

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
• Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
• Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
• Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
• Be able to manage your own time effectively

Equality and diversity

• Act in Ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
• Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
• Act as a chaperone

Clinical skills health and well-being

• Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training: Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratories.
• Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations, and for premedical checks
• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted.
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence

Information processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Good standard of education, including English and Maths
• Strong communication and people skills
• Basic IT competency
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development
• Ability to work flexibly within the needs of the service

Desirable

• Experience working in healthcare, care settings, customer service or other patient-facing roles
• Previous Healthcare Assistant experience
• Phlebotomy skills
• Knowledge of General Practice or Primary Care
• Experience using SystmOne clinical software

Don't worry if you don't meet all the desirable criteria. We welcome applications from individuals with the right values, attitude and willingness to learn.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Papworth Surgery
Address: Chequers Lane, Papworth Everard, Cambridgeshire, CB23 3QQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.papworthsurgery.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Practice Manager Tamla Hobbs, practicemanager.papworthsurgery@nhs.net, +01480830888

Papworth Surgery's privacy notice is available on request.