Health Care AssistantGP Practice

The post-holder is a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) with a special interest in frailty and
dementia, working as an integral member of the Stour Community Outreach Team
(SCOT).
The HCA will provide high-quality, person-centered care to patients within the
community, with a particular focus on supporting older, frail and housebound
patients, including those living with dementia and complex health and social care
needs.
The post holder will work collaboratively with the wider practice multidisciplinary
team and other health and social care professionals to promote independence,
prevent deterioration and support patients to remain safely in their own homes
wherever possible. The post holder will contribute to proactive and holistic care,
working with families and carers, helping to coordinate care where appropriate.
Working within their scope of practice and under appropriate clinical supervision, the
HCA will undertake a range of clinical and preventative care activities including annual
reviews, frailty assessments, care planning, clinical observations, phlebotomy, health
checks and housebound vaccinations. The post holder will also identify and
appropriately escalate concerns relating to changes in health, wellbeing, capacity and
safeguarding.
This role involves working as part of the practice multi-disciplinary team, delivering
care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population.

Primary key responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Healthcare Assistant in delivering
health services. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks.
This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
a. Work as an integral member of the SCOT team, providing person-centered care
to frail, elderly, housebound and vulnerable patients within their own homes
and community settings.
b. Undertake annual reviews, health checks and assessments for patients with
long-term conditions, frailty and other identified health needs, within their
scope of practice.
c. Undertake frailty assessments, identify changes in health, wellbeing and
functional ability and appropriately escalate concerns where needed.
d. Contribute to personalised care planning, supporting patients, families and
carers to maintain independence and remain safely in their own homes
wherever possible.
e. Develop and maintain skills and knowledge in supporting patients living with
dementia and frailty, adopting a compassionate, and holistic approach to care.
f.
Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced
in accordance with the organisation’s IPC Policy
m. Work within national and local protocols where these exist
Undertake blood sampling, obtaining bloods samples during home visits,
ensuring specimens are correctly labelled, recorded and prepared for onward
transportation.
g. Undertake clinical observations and other appropriate clinical assessments
within their level of competence, recognising and escalating abnormal findings
appropriately.
h. Identify and appropriately escalate concerns relating to safeguarding, neglect,
abuse, deterioration in health, capacity or social circumstances, in
accordance with practice policies and procedures.
i.
j.
Deliver and assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care,
health promotion, long-term condition management and patient education
Be an integral part of the general practice team
k. Act as a chaperone as required
l.
n. Be aware of your duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and
adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and
Safeguarding Children
o. Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom
patients should be referred
p. Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements
q. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
r. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
s. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
t. Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a
performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a
regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

Wider responsibilities
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Healthcare Assistant has the following
wider responsibilities:
a. Participate in any audits as directed
b. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
c. Support and participate in shared learning