Trainee General Practice Assistant (GPA)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description TRAINEE GENERAL PRACTICE ASSISTANT

Rate of pay: £22,375 per year (£11.44 per hour)

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (full-time)

Contract: Permanent: subject to a 6-month probationary period

Responsible to: Nurse Manager and PCN Clinical Director (clinically)

Accountable to: Practice Manager and PCN Manager (administratively)

Base point: The nature of your appointment requires you to work at Parson Drove Surgery.

We may also require you, on occasions, to work at other locations included in the Wisbech Primary Care Network, namely Clarkson Surgery, Trinity Surgery and North Brink Practice. In addition to these practices this may include home working at the discretion of the PCN Manager.

Job overview

Wisbech Primary Care Network (PCN) is recruiting a Trainee General Practice Assistant to support patient care in the development of the Primary Care Network.

The PCN has a population of approximately 50,000 patients and comprises of 4 Practices North Brink Practice, Trinity Surgery, Clarkson Surgery and Parson Drove Surgery. The post holder will work alongside clinicians and other staff across the Wisbech Network as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Job Summary

The Trainee General Practice Assistant role is a critical and an evolving post within the PCN with overall responsibility:

To support the GPs with the smooth running of clinics by performing combination of administrative tasks and basic clinical duties.

To help free up the GPs time by contributing to the smooth running of appointments and improving patient experience in the surgery.

To improve patient access to care by releasing highly qualified staff to concentrate on treating and managing patients with more complex needs

To increase time efficiency and support patient experience by reiterating information from the GP

The role of Trainee General Practice Assistant needs to be flexible in line with the present atmosphere for change within the health service delivery.

It is essential that the Trainee General Practice Assistant works within their own level of competency and to expand their role in accordance with PCN and practice requirements and own scope of practice.

Job responsibilities

• To prepare patients prior to seeing the GP, taking a brief history and basic observations ahead of an appointment.
• To assist and perform basic clinical tasks related to patient care when instructed by the GP such as dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs, phlebotomy and urinalysis.
• Assisting with the collection and collation of data regarding the patients health and wellbeing.
• Enter patient information onto the computer as required, including the contemporaneous recording of consultations undertaken.
• To support the GP with immunisations/ wound care.
• Help to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be promoted.
• To undertake new patient and NHS Health Checks including height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status and other lifestyle factors.
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and medication. Assist in the completion of monthly stock take and support the cost-effective use of disposable items.
• Deal with patient enquiries and explain treatment procedures to patients.
• Chaperone and assist patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician.
• Ensure appropriate supplies of medical consumables are maintained and that appropriate checks on stock levels and expiry dates.
• To clear and re-stock consultation rooms.
• To maintain effective infection control measures in line with local guidelines and practice policy.
• Undertake and other additional duties as requested by the GPs and Practice staff.
• To be able to recognise and manage anaphylaxis, according to the current UK Resuscitation Council guidelines.
• To be able to perform Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (BLS) and the correct use of Automated Defibrillator following training, according to the current UK Resuscitation Council guidelines. .
• Maintain adequate stock within the treatment room and assist with the re-stocking of other clinical rooms as required.
• To participate in developments within the practice and PCN and support QOF and IIF requirements.
• Ensure accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes and on computers.
• Attend and actively participate in practice meetings as required.
• Awareness of statutory protection procedures including referral and recognition of signs and symptoms of child abuse.
• Awareness of referral mechanisms for mental health issues, family violence, vulnerable adults and addictive behaviours.

Actively take part in mandatory and internalexternal training as requested.

Adhere to and follow all policies and protocols as listed in the Staff Handbook and contract.

Any responsibility identified during the course of the job. This is an evolving role, and the candidate must be flexible and adaptable.

About the Candidate

Essential:

Post holder will be required to undertake training and study for the GP Assistant Certificate Qualification

Applicants should have:

A full UK driving licence including business insurance cover, and suitable access to transport to be able to travel to sites within the PCN area

DBS check conducted by Wisbech PCN upon job offer

Hepatitis B immunised (full course) or willing to undergo immunisation

Health and Safety/Risk Management:

The post holder must comply at all times with the PCN Health and safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

The post holder will comply with the data Protection Act (2015) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990)

Equality and Diversity:

All staff through their behaviours and actions will ensure that our services and employment practices are respectful of individual needs and differences including those characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010 (Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion and Belief, Sex and Sexual Orientation).

The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with PCN and practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues and acting in a kind and considerate manner.

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, with such training to include:

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 other who are undertaking similar work

Take responsibility for the completion of all mandatory training as per training schedule and attend annual cardio-pulmonary resuscitation/anaphylaxis updates

Quality:

The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

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

Respect for Patient Confidentiality:

The post holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

As per the Government legislation and PCN policies ensure that confidentiality, data protection and information governance policies and guidelines are followed and strictly adhered to, reporting any infringements to the PCN Manager.

Job Description Agreement:

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post holder commensurate of the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the Network. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the Network Practices.

This job description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Education to GCSE standard
• Good command of written English

Desirable

• General Practice Assistant Certificate Qualification

Skills/Knowledge/Attributes

Essential

• Administrative experience and good organisational skills
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and prioritise workload
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Understanding of the needs for confidentiality and compliance

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Recognises own limitations when to seek help/refer onwards
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Good communication skills
• Potential to cope with stressful situation and undertake responsibility
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Motivated and trustworthy
• Flexibility and a good timekeeper
• A team player who contributes to and facilitates decision-making and develops trust as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Views self as part of the larger PCN
• Uses resources efficiently

Empathy and Sensitivity

Essential

• Patient focused approach to clinical care
• Treat patients(s) with sensitivity and personal understanding
• Is empathetic and checks patient needs are satisfied
• Generates safe/understanding atmosphere

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a healthcare setting
• Experience of working with the general public

Desirable

• Experience of working with electronic patient records, such as System One
• Experience of working as a General Practice Assistant

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel and work across multiple sites with use of own car (business use must be included on insurance policy)
• Ability to work at other locations as required
• Willingness to work flexibly within the team to cover annual leave or sickness
• Ability to travel within the requirements of the role
• Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions
• Access to own transport insured for business use and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes
• Full driving licence with no restrictions
• Hepatitis B immunised (or willing to undertake Hep B immunisation course)

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

Wisbech Primary Care Network Ltd

Address

Parson Drove Surgery

240 Main Road

Parson Drove

Wisbech

Cambridgeshire

PE13 4LF

Employer's website

https://wisbechpcn.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)