Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) supports both urgent/extended access clinical services and planned prevention programmes, playing a key role in improving population health outcomes.

Under the supervision of registered clinicians, the HCA contributes to:

• The delivery of safe, effective clinical care in clinical settings; and
• The delivery of preventative services, including NHS Health Checks and Lung Cancer Screening, supporting early detection, risk reduction and health behaviour change.

The role requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and a commitment to delivering patient centred care across weekdays, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical Care Enhanced Access & Preventative Services

• Work within personal competence and scope of practice, escalating concerns appropriately
• Support clinicians with assessment and monitoring of patients
• Undertake:
• Phlebotomy
• ECGs (with escalation for clinical review in line with guidance)
• Urinalysis and specimen preparation for pathology
• Record physiological observations including:
• Blood pressure
• Pulse rate and rhythm
• Respiratory rate
• Temperature
• Height, weight, waist circumference and BMI
• Undertake simple wound care and dressings in line with guidelines
• Recognise wounds not responding to treatment and escalate concerns promptly
• Act as a chaperone when required
• Recognise and respond to urgent or emergency situations (e.g. anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest), summoning immediate assistance

2. Prevention & Population Health

• Deliver NHS Health Checks, including:
• Cardiovascular risk assessment
• Lifestyle assessment (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet)
• Measurement and interpretation of health indicators
• Support Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programmes by:
• Engaging eligible patients and explaining the screening pathway
• Undertaking preassessment checks and data collection as required
• Recording smoking status, and relevant clinical information
• Supporting shared decision making using agreed protocols and templates
• Signposting to smoking cessation and lifestyle support services
• Provide opportunistic health promotion and disease prevention advice
• Identify carers and encourage registration with carers support services

3. Communication & Patient Experience

• Communicate clearly, compassionately and professionally with patients and carers
• Support patients who may feel anxious about screening, investigations or results
• Accurately document all activity in the clinical IT system (e.g. EMIS Web)
• Use NHS email and Taurus IT systems safely and appropriately
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team working across clinical and prevention services

4. Environment, Equipment & Stock Management

• Prepare, maintain and clean clinical environments before, during and after clinics
• Assist clinicians during minor procedures where required
• Undertake:
• Equipment checks
• Quality control tests (e.g. d dimer / BNP where applicable)
• Cold chain and fridge temperature monitoring
• Maintain stock levels of Taurus equipment and clinical supplies
• Support secure handling, storage and disposal of equipment and waste

Assist with safe and secure closure of premises at the end of sessions where required

See full job description in the attachment

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to manage competing priorities
• Confidence working within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong organisational and coordination skills
• Ability to accurately input, maintain and retrieve data

Desirable

• Phlebotomy competency
• Experience of EMIS Web

Other requirements wider responsibilities

Desirable

• Ability to work flexibly across enhanced access and prevention services
• Full clean driving license
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and bank holiday

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Calm and resilient under pressure
• Reliable and dependable
• Friendly, approachable and professional
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Flexible and adaptable to changing demands
• Team player who works collaboratively
• Positive and proactive approach to work

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent (minimum 3 at grade C /4 or above)
• Commitment to ongoing mandatory training and development

Desirable

• NVQ Level 1 & 2 in Health and Social Care or Care Certificate

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a health and social care organisation.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and data systems
• Understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries

Desirable

• Experience of NHS Health Checks and/or screening programmes

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a health and social care organisation.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and data systems
• Understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries

Desirable

• Experience of NHS Health Checks and/or screening programmes

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

Taurus Healthcare Limited

Address

Taurus Healthcare

Nelson House

Whitecross Road

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR4 0DG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The Operations Manager Workforce is responsible for providing operational oversight of workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, training compliance, workforce administration and safe staffing across Clinical Services.

This role works closely with Operational Managers, Service Coordinators, HR, Finance and communications colleagues to ensure administrative and clinical staff are effectively recruited, inducted, supported, trained and deployed to meet service needs across 24/7 services.

The role provides oversight of workforce gaps, supports the coordination of rotas and staffing solutions, maintains compliance with mandatory requirements, and contributes to the continuous improvement of workforce systems and practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Escalate workforce gaps through the daily meeting (huddle).
• Provide direction to Service Coordinators to support safe staffing levels, and escalate unresolved workforce, operational or emerging risk issues to Senior Service Managers, or Associate Directors in their absence.
• Develop effective relationships with Clinical Services teams, GP Practices, HR, Finance and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinate workforce administration and respond to workforce support requests, producing reports and workforce data as required.
• Lead recruitment activity for Clinical Services vacancies, ensuring processes are timely, compliant and provide a positive candidate experience.
• Coordinate onboarding, induction, probation reviews and workforce documentation for new starters.
• Maintain oversight of mandatory training, appraisal compliance and workforce records, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Support governance and assurance processes through accurate record keeping, reporting and compliance monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with communications colleagues to manage social media feedback and support workforce-related communications.
• Identify workforce and operational issues, supporting resolution and escalating concerns in line with agreed procedures.
• Contribute to the review and improvement of workforce systems, processes and service delivery.
• Produce workforce data, activity reports and performance statistics for managers, commissioners and internal governance requirements.
• Identify and notify service areas of potential problems and escalate to the Senior Service Managers if they are unable to resolve through the Service Coordinators or if agreed protocols have not resolved the issue.

Leadership and Management

• This role supports the day to day running of operations with the wider Operational Manager team including: -
• Support operational process and key functions with an in-depth understanding of the relationship between all aspects and interoperability of services.
• Contributing to a robust audit schedule to support operational processes, reporting into operational, clinical and performance governance forums as relevant but with specific oversight of Clinician Note Audits and their results to ensure the quality and safety of the clinical workforce.
• Ensure teams working in service areas are supported operationally and professionally where appropriate, providing a focal point for the workforce with queries relating to workforce management.
• Provide leadership and prioritise workflow and operating systems for the operational administrative team. Ensure systems are in place to record and report on patient and other data, ensuring good information governance and patient confidentiality.
• Provide reports monthly and bi-annually in line with clinical governance reporting, quality and safety management and culture, and data analysis of area of responsibility.
• To support the project management, planning, roll out and delivery of new services and service specific developments incorporating resource identification for workforce planning.
• To ensure that highly effective communication is maintained across teams
• Have greater responsibility for workforce coordination whilst ensuring there is an overview and understanding of all services enabling the Operational Management Team to support one another to deliver 24/7 services.
• Represent the Associate Director of Clinical Services for reporting to Commissioners, Primary Care Networks and Practice partners where appropriate
• The Operational Managers will be supported by the Service Coordinators who will be the first point of contact for escalation for all services.
• Work with senior clinicians to ensure that a high standard of care is provided by all services
• To escalate clinical risks / incidents to the Director on Call

Personal Development

• To attend mandatory training and fire lectures regularly and assist with fire
• policy/evacuation procedure when necessary.
• To keep up to date with and attend training on revisions to information systems
• or changes in protocols for the inputting of data in the light of Local and national initiatives. To adhere to agreed protocols at all times.
• To participate in Individual Performance Review and Personal Development plans on an annual basis and to undertake training and development as identified

People

• To provide operational support to teams delivering clinical services.
• To provide operational support to clinical leads.
• To ensure all staff that are managed by the Operations Manager are compliant with mandatory training requirements
• Develop training plans for members of staff you manage through 1:1s and appraisals
• To ensure that staff working irregular hours/shifts are supported and feel part of the team.
• To make sure that any health and safety provisions in relation to staff are adhered to.
• To make sure staff have the, induction, training, equipment, support and supervision (non clinical) necessary to do their job.
• Work with Operations Management team and Associate Director of Clinical Services to collate training plans into annual service training plan
• To attend relevant training in relation to managing others (e.g. Attendance at Work Policy etc.) and ensure all HR procedures in relation to staff managed are carried out.
• Where performance, conduct, ill health or other HR issues arise with a member of staff, to liaise with HR to ensure appropriate action is taken.

Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance

• To realise the importance of confidentiality when dealing with patients and staff, particularly when giving or receiving information over the telephone in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
• Maintain the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team and service objectives and acting at all times in the best interest of patients.
• To accurately collect, collate and input data to Information Systems as required by procedures to ensure that patient database records are up to date and accurate.
• To participate in Individual Performance Review and Personal Development plans on an annual basis and to undertake training and development as
• identified within these discussions and as indicated by the requirements of the post.

Quality, safety and service performance

• Support a culture of positive improvement and learning from incidents, promoting innovation and collaboration within teams.
• Report, manage and investigate operational incidents (within the confines of outlined responsibilities) determining lessons learnt.
• Support investigation into complaints and dissemination of any learning or required improvement
• Ensure patient feedback mechanisms are effectively utilized and reported across services and that patient/carer/public feedback is shared with team members and is used to direct service improvement.
• Work with operational and business intelligence team to collate data and
• Contribute to the development of internal procedures that are focused on patient care, quality and safety
• Utilise quality improvement techniques to support a quality improvement culture that is grounded in continuous improvement and best practice

Finance

• Responsibility for specific service area of workforce and to work with the operational management team to help ensure service rotas are delivered within a budget (as delegated by the Associate Director of Clinical Services)

Information Governance

• Taurus Healthcare requires its staff to comply with Information Governance related standards and policies at all times when dealing with confidential information, which includes any information relating to the business of the company and its service users and employees.
• All Taurus Healthcare staff are bound by a duty of confidentiality and must conduct their duties in line with the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, Data Protection Act and Freedom of information Act.
• Post-holders must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately and kept up to date. The post holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• verbal (face to face and by telephone), and written (traditional and electronic)
• Good organisational skills
• to prioritise a busy workload and delegate appropriately and to manage
• Strong interpersonal skills with colleagues, staff, managers and other key stake-holders.
• Ability to multi task
• Able to use initiative to resolve problems.
• An effective and supportive manager of others
• Strong IT skills
• Experience of using EMIS web
• Able to accurately record and report on data
• Team work and co-operation to achieve optimal results

Other job requirements

Essential

• Compliance with legal and health care regulations and employment law
• Leading and Supervising. Takes accountability and exercises leadership, initiates action, gives direction and takes responsibility.
• The role requires regular travel between multiple sites across Herefordshire. Applicants must be able to independently meet the travel requirements of the post.

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Influencing. Gains clear agreement and commitment from others by persuading, convincing and negotiating
• Planning and organising plans ahead and works in a systematic and organised way.

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a healthcare environment and working with health care professionals
• Experience of managing or supervising staff
• Experience of working with confidential data in line with legislation and good distribution practice.

Desirable

• Experience of project planning and implementation
• Experience of writing reports
• Experience of working in an environment that operates as GDP compliant
• Project management experience
• Quality improvement experience

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to A level (or equivalent experience)

Desirable

• Management or supervisory qualification
• Quality improvement trained e.g. QSIR

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

Taurus Healthcare Limited

Address

Taurus Healthcare

Nelson House

Whitecross Road

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR4 0DG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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