Healthcare AssistantNHS

Job summary

Are you a compassionate and reliable Health Care Assistant who would like greater flexibility and the opportunity to support a variety of Primary Care services?

We are looking to recruit experienced and competent Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) to support our Primary Care and Urgent Care services across our Hill Crest and Worcestershire Royal Hospital sites.

This is a fixed-term opportunity for six months, with the possibility of extension. Applications are welcomed from candidates seeking either full-time or part-time hours. Applicants do not need to be available for every shift; however, they must be able to commit to agreed shifts on a regular weekly basis.

The available shifts are as follows:

• Monday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Tuesday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Wednesday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Thursday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Friday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Saturday, 09:30 to 16:00
• Saturday, 15:30 to 22:00
• Sunday, 09:30 to 16:00
• Sunday, 15:30 to 22:00

This is an opportunity to use your core HCA skills while developing experience across different services and locations. We welcome applicants with a range of backgrounds and competencies you do not need to be trained in every specialist task.

Main duties of the job

What you will be doing

Subject to your training and competency record, your duties may include:

• welcoming patients and supporting their privacy, dignity and comfort;
• confirming patient identity and explaining procedures;
• measuring and recording blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation;
• recording height, weight and body-mass index;
• recognising and promptly escalating abnormal observations or deterioration;
• supporting safe and efficient patient flow;
• acting as a formal chaperone;
• preparing patients and clinical rooms for assessment;
• assisting clinicians during approved procedures;
• cleaning equipment and clinical areas between patients;
• following infection-prevention and control procedures;
• checking equipment, clinical supplies and expiry dates;
• supporting opening, closing and room-readiness checks;
• recording information accurately on EMIS or another approved clinical system;
• following safeguarding, emergency and incident-reporting procedures; and
• supporting patients who require reasonable adjustments.

You may also undertake:

• phlebotomy;
• 12-lead ECG recording;
• urinalysis;
• specimen collection;
• blood-glucose or other approved point-of-care testing;
• NHS Health Checks;
• long-term-condition observations;
• wound-care support;
• suture or clip removal;
• vaccination-clinic support; or
• other approved Primary Care activities.

Job description

Full Job Description attached.

1. Direct patient support

• Welcome patients and introduce the role clearly.
• Confirm patient identity before undertaking any care or recording information.
• Explain procedures within the postholders competence and obtain appropriate consent.
• Support patients to move safely through the service.
• Maintain patients privacy, dignity and comfort.
• Assist patients who require reasonable adjustments, mobility support or communication assistance within the roles scope.
• Observe patients while they are waiting and immediately escalate any concern about deterioration.
• Record care and observations accurately and contemporaneously.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Escalate any request or concern that falls outside the HCAs competence.

2. Core clinical-support duties

Subject to local policy, training and competency sign-off, duties may include:

• measuring and recording blood pressure;
• measuring pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation;
• measuring height, weight and body-mass index;
• undertaking basic physiological observations;
• completing approved early-warning or observation records;
• urinalysis and specimen handling;
• blood-glucose or other approved point-of-care testing;
• preparing patients and rooms for clinical assessment;
• assisting clinicians during minor procedures;
• cleaning and preparing reusable clinical equipment in accordance with policy;
• supporting mobility and safe positioning within assessed competence; and
• escalating abnormal observations promptly to the responsible clinician.
• The postholder must not independently interpret observations, diagnose a condition, alter treatment, discharge a patient or reassure a patient about abnormal results.

3. Duties following separate competency sign-off

Depending on service requirements and individual competencies, HCAs may also be asked to undertake:

• phlebotomy;
• 12-lead ECG recording;
• NHS or locally commissioned health checks;
• long-term-condition observations and monitoring;
• wound-care support;
• removal of sutures or clips;
• specimen collection;
• smoking-status recording and brief signposting;
• blood-pressure or cardiovascular-risk clinics;
• vaccination-clinic support;
• administration of specified medicines only where legally permitted, appropriately authorised and supported by organisational policy;
• spirometry or other diagnostic support where training and quality assurance are in place; and
• project-specific screening or prevention activities.

Inclusion on the Vertis bank does not automatically authorise the postholder to undertake these duties. Each enhanced competency must be evidenced, current and accepted by the organisation.

4. Chaperoning

• Act as a formal chaperone after completing the required training.
• Understand the purpose and boundaries of the chaperone role.
• Maintain an appropriate position during the examination or procedure.
• Remain attentive throughout and avoid undertaking another task at the same time.
• Raise concerns immediately if the postholder observes inappropriate behaviour or if the patient indicates discomfort or wishes the examination to stop.
• Ensure chaperone involvement is documented in accordance with local procedure.
• Escalate if the postholder cannot safely or appropriately act as chaperone.

Formal chaperoning is a core requirement of the HCA role in the example Hillcrest staffing model, alongside observations, patient flow and contingency support.

5. Recognition and escalation of deterioration

• Remain alert to visible or reported changes in a patients condition.
• Repeat observations when directed and within the approved protocol.
• Immediately notify the responsible clinician of abnormal observations or deterioration.
• Activate the site-specific emergency process when instructed or when urgent help is clearly required.
• Know the location of emergency equipment, oxygen and the automated external defibrillator, where provided.
• Support emergency care within training and competence.
• Call emergency services in accordance with local procedures.
• Document observations, escalation and actions accurately.
• Participate in emergency exercises and scenario-based training.

6. Patient flow and operational support

• Work with administrators and clinicians to maintain safe patient flow.
• Help monitor waiting-room occupancy and identify patients who may need clinical review.
• Prepare patients for assessment when directed.
• Support the reconciliation of patients expected from another service with those who arrive.
• Alert the team to delays, non-arrivals or patients who leave before assessment.
• Support handover between shifts and service locations.
• Provide limited contingency reception support only where trained, authorised and operationally appropriate.

Never allow operational pressures to result in clinical duties being undertaken without appropriate supervision.

7. Infection prevention and clinical environment

• Follow hand-hygiene and infection-prevention procedures.
• Use personal protective equipment correctly.
• Clean clinical surfaces and equipment between patients in accordance with local schedules.
• Maintain appropriate separation of clean and used items.
• Dispose of sharps, clinical waste and confidential material safely.
• Check that rooms are appropriately stocked and ready for use.
• Report concerns about cleanliness, ventilation, water safety, waste, equipment or room condition.
• Complete assigned cleaning or room-readiness records.
• Support opening and closing checks for clinical rooms.
• Follow blood- and body-fluid spill procedures within training.

8. Equipment, supplies and stock

• Complete delegated checks of clinical equipment and emergency supplies.
• Check expiry dates and packaging integrity.
• Rotate stock and maintain agreed minimum levels.
• Report missing, damaged, expired or malfunctioning items.
• Ensure equipment has the required servicing, calibration or electrical-safety status before use.
• Store supplies securely and at the correct temperature where applicable.
• Complete equipment and stock records accurately.
• Do not use unfamiliar or unapproved equipment without training and authorisation.

9. Record keeping and clinical systems

• Record observations and care accurately on the approved clinical system.
• Use only the postholders own access credentials.
• Document escalation, chaperoning and other required activity.
• Follow downtime procedures if systems are unavailable.
• Keep paper records secure until they can be entered or transferred through the approved process.
• Report documentation errors promptly.
• Only access records required for the current assignment and patient care.

10. Safeguarding and patient welfare

• Recognise indicators of possible abuse, neglect, exploitation or risk.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns immediately through the appropriate route.
• Understand that safeguarding responsibility applies to adults and children.
• Maintain confidentiality while recognising that relevant concerns must be shared with authorised professionals.
• Support respectful, inclusive and trauma-aware care within the boundaries of the role.
• Seek advice whenever uncertain.

11. Bank working requirements

• Maintain current mandatory training and competency evidence.
• Provide accurate information about qualifications, experience and scope of practice.
• Accept only assignments for which the postholder is competent and appropriately authorised.
• Review the assignment brief before attending.
• Complete a local induction for each new site or service.
• Arrive punctually and remain for the full booked shift unless formally released.
• Wear the required uniform or clothing and visible identification.
• Notify the bank promptly of sickness, delay or inability to attend.
• Work flexibly across locations, service types and operating hours.
• Participate in supervision, audit and competency review.
• Immediately report any restriction that affects the postholders ability to practise safely.

About us

Vertis Health is a federation of general practices delivering high-quality NHS services across Worcestershire. We were founded by local primary care clinicians and are owned by the practices we serve. As a purpose-led limited company, the money we generate is reinvested into the local healthcare economy, helping to strengthen services, support innovation and improve patient care.