Community Healthcare AssistantNHS

Job summary

Community Healthcare Assistant Part time - Monday- Wednesday 8.30am - 16.30pm (22.50 hours per week)

We are seeking a Healthcare Assistant to join our Complex Care Team based at Wendover Health Centre. This rewarding role involves providing high-quality care and support to our registered housebound patients within the community, helping them maintain their health, wellbeing, and independence.

This opportunity would particularly suit an existing Healthcare Assistant who is looking to develop their skills and pursue a rewarding career in community-based healthcare. Previous community experience is not essential; however, we are looking for someone with a genuine interest in working within the community and supporting patients in their own homes.

Main duties of the job

• Conducting home visits to monitor and support housebound patient
• Recording vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
• Taking blood samples and INRs testing
• Administering vaccinations under supervision
• Basic wound care and diabetic checks
• Liaising with community providers and other healthcare professionals involved in a patient's care
• Maintaining accurate records and confidentiality at all times

Job description

Job summary:

The Community Healthcare Assistant plays an important role within the Primary Care Network, working alongside the Complex Care Team to deliver high-quality, compassionate care for complex and vulnerable patients in their homes and within the surgery setting.

This varied role includes conducting follow-up assessments, monitoring and recording vital signs (such as blood pressure and temperature), taking blood samples, and administering vaccinations under the supervision of the Complex Care Lead Nurse. The postholder may also liaise with community providers and external agencies involved in patient care such as those coordinating mobility and equipment needs to support safe, effective, and person-centred care.

Duties may also involve supporting the wider practice team within the surgery. As service needs evolve, the specific responsibilities of the role may change, with daily activities and priorities directed by the Complex Care Lead Nurse to meet the ongoing needs of patients and the team.

Duties and responsibilities:

The main duties and responsibilities to be undertaken by the post holder may include any or the entire following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the partners and senior management team and will be dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels.

• Basic wound care including ulcer care (not compression bandaging)
• Urinalysis
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Blood pressure measurements
• Heliobacter (Breath Test)
• Obtaining wound swabs where appropriate
• Diabetic patients checks - foot checks, blood test, weight (training provided)
• Coagu-check INR machines (as per training), prior to use and notifying the INR team of the calibrated result.
• Visiting and taking INRs of housebound warfarin pts as requested and relaying results to the appropriate INR team/GP.
• Vaccinations
• Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate.

Other tasks including:

• Maintaining and cleaning equipment
• Monitoring the temperature of clinical fridges, to ensure adherence to the Cold Chain Policy.
• Liaise with nursing colleagues to ensure that regular checks and testing of equipment and drugs are performed and documented.
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice
• At all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records
• A duty to advise nurse team leaders of potential problems or errors within the range of assigned tasks
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.

Special Requirements of the Post:

• Being an advocate for vulnerable patients. Ensuring patient safety: making sure they are warm, clean, comfortable, determining if they are lonely or need support
• Work as a lone worker.
• Manage their own small group of patients with support from clinical staff within CCT or GP.
• Perform a comprehensive holistic assessment of patients including physical, social, psychological needs. Knowing who to refer on to if help required.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team liaising with other services involved in the individuals care e.g. social services, mental health, care agencies and private carers, DNs and Owl Guardian.
• Support patients and their relatives/carers. Offer a friendly and professional approach.
• Can recognise a deteriorating patient and know when to ask for help/advice. Monitoring of patients vital signs, BP, Pulse, O2 sats and ECGs.
• Request basic equipment through NRS including commodes, raised toilet seats, incontinence pads
• Taking of INRs in patients own home.
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense.
• A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of nursing care and keep up to date with all aspects of nursing care relevant to the post.
• A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the Practice Manager
• A commitment to the effective use of Practice and NHS resources.
• An awareness of own limitations and experience.
• To work only in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and within the Scope of Professional Practice
• Cooperate with annual appraisal meetings
• Membership of the RCN or other professional nursing body offering suitable indemnity cover and advice service for the role.

About us

We are three GP practices in and around the Chilterns; together, our whole team aim to improve the health of our patients, alongside enhancing their experience of patient care with a great family team ethos.