Job description

Job responsibilities

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The GP Assistant team has a wide range of shared responsibilities and the postholder will contribute to this work.

The team receive internal tasks to support the care of specific patients. This could include finding information, monitoring a patients condition or sharing information with external agencies. There are always time pressures to this work and often tight deadlines to meet.

Verbal communication is especially important both within the team and outside. The GPA will be communicating with clinical colleagues, patients, hospitals, and other local service providers. They should be professional and accurate at all times.

There is a daily requirement for excellent written communication, involving emails, letters, forms, and referrals. Most importantly the GPA will record information into the patient's medical record, including adding appropriate clinical coding.

The GPA will develop a knowledge of local services and establish relationships with them. They may need to use initiative to meet the needs of the patient.

The GPA team monitor all patients getting medication from the practice that was initiated in secondary care. They ensure that all physical checks are conducted in accordance with the shared care agreement and where necessary share test results with secondary care.

The GP Assistant will hold clinics to provide a range of clinical tasks including:

Take blood samples

Dip a urine sample and interpret the results.

Take a blood pressure and act on the results.

Accurately measure height and weight and calculate BMI.

Conduct an ECG and ensure that the results are followed up.

Complete a diabetic foot check as part of a diabetic review.

Carry out an NHS Health Check.

Follow up home blood pressure monitoring results.

Give B12 injections.

Provide health education to patients.

Support flu and covid clinics.

Assist with home visits to housebound patients

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The GP Assistant will complete training on all areas within the Health Education England General Practice Assistant Competency Framework https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Comp-framework-branded.pdf

To achieve this they will:

Undertake training on a variety of IT systems.

Develop a working knowledge of all admin processes within the practices.

Develop and maintain clinical skills.

Attend external training courses.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Have completed or working towards completing the GP Assistant framework.
• Have completed a phlebotomy course.
• Can demonstrate Maths and English at GCSE level.

Experience

Essential

• Have worked in a health setting as part of a clinical team.
• Have shared complex information with patients in a health setting.
• Have undertaken clinics.
• Have used clinical coding.

Additional criteria

Essential

• Have a working knowledge of IT systems such as SystmOne and Microsoft Office products.
• Can demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of medical terminology.
• Have an understanding of the referral process.
• Can demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication.
• Have excellent inter-personal skills and are able to work in a team.
• Is able to work autonomously and can prioritise their workload.
• Has good time management and can meet deadlines.
• Is flexible and can adapt quickly to changing situations.

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

The Whalebridge Practice

Address

Swindon Nhs Health Centre

1 Islington Street

Swindon

SN1 2DQ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sparcells-surgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN ROLE AND PURPOSE OF THE POST

This role is within the Clinical Admin Team, who support all aspects of patient care across the company. The Admin Assistant is a developmental role. They will be expected to develop the skills necessary to work in all aspects of the admin team.

Provide admin support to all clinical areas of the company.

Be a first point of contact for patients.

Assist patients to access the services that they need.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities described below are those of the clinical admin team.

Access

Answer the telephone as a priority and respond to the caller in an appropriate manner.

Man the reception desk. Book appointment, signpost to other services and support patients care.

Data Flow

Action all incoming data received through electronic transfer, e-mail and post. Ensure that it is coded and reviewed by an appropriate clinician.

Action outgoing data through electronic transfer, e-mail, sms message or post.

Clinical Support

Action tasks from the clinical team.

Administer the recall system for patients with long term conditions.

Monitor the uptake of all screening programmes and manage additional recalls as required.

Apply clinical coding to patient records as appropriate.

Update the Open Exeter system.

Monitor the childhood immunisation status of all children and liaise with the Child Health Department as necessary.

Maintain waiting lists of patients for specialist clinics and ensure that they are given appropriate appointments.

Outgoing Information

Ensure that referrals are processed in accordance with national timelines and liaise with the referral management centre as necessary.

Audio type patient referrals and submit them through the E-Referral system.

Deal with any referral queries from clinicians and patients.

Assist patients where necessary to make outpatient appointments.

Action requests for medical reports including liaising with patients to confirm consent is obtained and finance to confirm payment is received.

Action Subject Access Requests in line with GDPR legislation.

Patient records

Action applications for registrations ensuring that patients provide all necessary information and are made aware of consent to share information and on-line access to records.

Action the transfer of patient records, electronically and in hardcopy.

Summarise hardcopy records to ensure the electronic record is complete.

Ensure that SystmOne is reconciled to PCSE through GP Links.

Return hardcopy records to PCSE for patients who are no longer registered.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Confidentiality

You shall comply with the General Data Protection Regulations when processing personal data for patients and staff.

You must be aware of the Caldicott Principles as they affect your work. You can address any questions in relation to this to your line manager.

Any data breaches should be reported immediately to the Data Protection Officer.

All enquiries from the media must be referred to a Director.

Health and Safety

All employees have a statutory duty of care for the safety of themselves and others. Employees are required to report any hazards as soon as they are identified.

All staff must contribute to the management of risk. This requires them to assess the risk in all situations, take of appropriate actions to mitigate any risks identified and report all hazards, incidents and near misses.

All building occupied by staff are non-smoking environments. No-one may smoke or vape in the building. Staff who smoke or vape outside the buildings should cover their uniform.

Flexibility Statement

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a precise catalogue of duties and responsibilities. It is intended to be flexible and subject to amendment in the light of changing circumstances and following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Received a basic education
• English Language GCSE at grade C or above or equivalent

Desirable

• Hold ECDL or other IT qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Excellent keyboard skills
• Experience of working with Microsoft Office
• Understand patient confidentiality
• Experience of managing an e-mail account
• Be confident to speak to people both in person and on the telephone.
• Be non-judgemental
• Flexible and able to adapt to change
• Able to prioritise workload
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal development
• Have worked in a team
• Have experience of face to face or telephone contact with the public

Desirable

• Experience of SystmOne or another clinical system
• Experience of audio typing
• Demonstrate and understanding of data protection
• Understand READ coding
• Have worked in a health setting
• Have a clinical background

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

The Whalebridge Practice

Address

Swindon Nhs Health Centre

1 Islington Street

Swindon

SN1 2DQ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sparcells-surgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)