Job summary
Thursby Surgery is looking to expand it's team so we are looking for a General Practice Assistant/Healthcare Assistant to join our Thursby Surgery and our Branch Surgery, Daneshouse.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard working, motivated and pro active individual to join our ever growing Practice.

Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard working, motivated and pro active individual to join our ever growing Pracice tosupport the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administrative and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP therefore freeing up their time to focus on the patients.

About us
Exciting opportunity to join an innovative, forward thinking Practice to become an integral part of a diverse clinical team delivering care to our 8,600 registered patients.

Thursby Surgery is based on two sites approximately 1 mile apart and our clinical team currently includes GPs, Advanced Nurses Practitioners, a Practice Pharmacy Technician, Practice Paramedics, Practice Nurses, Nurse Degree Apprentices, GPA's, and Phlebotomists. There is a strong team atmosphere and a focus on continuous development throughout the surgery.

We work as part of a Primary Care Network which provides health care for a population of 60k, we have developed close relationships with the Community and voluntary sector providers and we hold regular MDT meetings that are at the heart of collaborative working.

We are looking for enthusiastic and autonomous working candidates to join our highly skilled, friendly team.

Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities

• Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacists etc.
• Administrative tasks and clinical documentation
• Preparing patients prior to going to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment
• Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients
• Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs and phlebotomy
• Processing and reviewing laboratory results
• Phlebotomy and associated clinical duties
• Completing basic (non-opinion) forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, benefit agency forms etc
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients
• Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies eg getting an on call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with the consultation
• Support the GP with immunisation/wound care.
• Supporting the wider practice team with general clinical administration

Professional Role

• Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the practice.
• The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
• Identify and manage care risks on a continuing basis.
• Participate in practice meetings and practice management meetings, reporting progress as required.
• Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate.
• Ensure that all Practice Policies are fully implemented.

Personal/Professional Development

• Post holder must be prepared to work towardsa GP Assistant Certificate Qualification.
• Participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of their own personal and 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 regardingthe role and may professional development needed
• Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when you have reached them

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 won 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

Communication
The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication with the team and strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members]be familiar in all methods of communication such as email, tasks and telephone etc
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

• Communicate effectively to outside agencies
• Communicate clearly with their lead GP

Confidentiality

• In the course of 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.

Risk Management

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients and public including ensuring they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security policies, procedures and guidelines.
• 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.
• Maintain confidentiality, data protection, access to records and information governance procedures, seeking advice from Caldicott and Information Governance Leads, and ensuring all training is up to date.
• The post-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites and to attend meetings etc hosted by other agencies.

Administrative and Professional Responsibility

• To ensure completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient healthcare.
• Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for reports.
• Attend and participate in practice meetings as required
• To participate in audits as requested/initiate audits where approved.
• To be aware of and adhere to all Company Policies, procedures and guidelines when undertaking any activity
• Ensure strict confidentiality is applied to all patients and staff ensuring need to know basis is applied at all times

Research, Education and Training

• Maintain continued education by attendance of courses and study as deemed useful or necessary
• Identify and support practice development plans
• The post holder should acknowledge any limitations of his/her competence, not accepting responsibility for work outside the scope of the role
• To maintain competencies relevant to the role and identify personal development needs and plan with the nurse manager on how these can be achieved
• To acquire, maintain and improve knowledge and skills required to competently perform all agreed healthcare activities. This involves undertaking in-house and mandatory training as agreed by the Clinical Lead and Practice Manager.
• To attend team meeting in order to keep updated on developments within the department.

Health and Safety
The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Health and 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 free from hazards.
• Reporting any 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-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights
• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice policies and procedures 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

This job description is not an exhaustive list. It is subject to change in light of service developments and in consultation with the post-holder and the Practice Manager The content of the agreed job description will be updated on a regular basis as part of the annual Performance Development.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working in a Healthcare Setting

Desirable

• Experience of working in a person centered role

Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Essential

• Be calm, focused and able to work under pressure.
• The ability to communicate with all levels of staff and members of the public.
• Ability to deal with information sensitively and confidentially
• To demonstrate flexibility in approach to work patterns.

Qualifications
Essential

• Maths and English GCSE - C or equivalent
• Phlebotomy Qualification

Desirable

• Completion of NHS England GP Assistant Accredited Education Course (or be prepared to work towards one)

Other
Desirable

• A full drivers License and access to own car.

Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Always show compassion and respect, can communicate effectively at all levels, possess excellent customer skills, natural motivator, team player, good listener and can act with integrity.

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.