Job Title: General Practice Assistant (GPA)
Line manager: Health Hub Manager
Accountable to: PCN Management
Hours per week: 37.5 hours (FTE 1.0)
Salary : Starting from £13.57 per hour (Depending on Experience)+ NHS Pensions
Contract: Permanent.
Job Summary
Andover PCN are looking for an enthusiastic and highly organised person to work collaboratively across all 5 member practices within the PCN providing support to the GPs, clinical teams and members of the PCN to ensure patient care.
A GP Assistant will support the GP(s) and Clinical Practitioner(s) in smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GPs & Clinical Practitioners, freeing up their time to focus on the patient. The post holder/holders will report to the Health Hub Manager and support the GP(s) and all other clinical practitioners to ensure the efficient provision of medical services and clinics by performing a wide range of administrative and clinical duties.
Additionally, this role will support both nursing and administrative teams in the delivery of clinical and administrative services, working as part of the PCN’s multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population.
As a GPA you can be trained in-practice, with on-job training and development led by GPs, in line with the role outline and national competency framework. Trainee GPAs may also complete HEE’s accreditation programme, aligned to the competency framework, equipping them with formal certification of their learning. These staff are supported by a structured development programme (managed by HEE) and gain formal certification after around nine months.
Core Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the GPA.
a. Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients.
b. Completing simple clinical observations /investigations as directed locally, such as dipstick urine, taking blood pressure, ECG, phlebotomy.
c. Supporting the GP with immunisations/wound care.
d. Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
e. Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc.
f. Explaining treatment procedures to patients.
g. Helping the GP/ clinicians liaise with outside agencies e.g, getting an on call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)
h. Sorting clinical post and prioritising for the GP. Signposting some post to other members of staff
i. extracting information from clinical letters that needs coding, adding this to patient notes. Supporting with QOF reviews.
GPAs should also:
a. Participate in an annual individual performance review.
b. Track and record evidence of their experience against the national competency framework.
c. Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding their role and request professional development as needed.
d. Be aware of their own professional boundaries and what to do when they are reached.
Secondary Responsibilities
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the GPA may be requested to:
- Duties can include but are not limited to, greeting, and directing patients, effective use of the appointment system, booking appointments, processing of information, and assisting patients as required.
- Answer incoming phone calls, monitoring answer phone messages or dealing with the callers request appropriately
- Be responsible for undertaking a wide range of reception /administrative duties and the provision of general support to the multidisciplinary team at the Health Hub.
- Process personal, telephone and e-requests for appointments
- Support all clinical staff with general tasks as requested
- To act as the central point of contact for patients, the distribution of information, messages, and enquiries for the clinical team, liaising with multidisciplinary team members and external agencies such as secondary care and community service providers.
- Support administrative staff, providing cover during staff absences/annual leaves
- Complete opening or closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota
- Photocopy documentation as required
- Input data into the patient’s healthcare records as necessary
- Manage all queries as necessary in an efficient manner
- Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
- Monitor and maintain the reception area and notice boards
- Carry out batch messaging to appropriate patient cohorts under the direction of Health Hub Lead.
- Putting up appointments and clinics on EMIS for the clinicians as per their respective templates
- Cancelling and rescheduling appointments for clinicians in events of their sickness and unplanned absences
- Preparing the clinical rooms or the Health Hub central space ready for use by third party sub-contractors/ agencies / team meetings / community and group events.
- Efficient in MS Office and CRMs (Client Relationship Management) databases
Generic Responsibilities
All staff at Andover PCN have a duty to confirm to the following:
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
- Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)
This PCN is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities to for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. All personnel are to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
- Reporting potential risks identified
Confidentiality
This PCN is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service.
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data
Quality & Continuous Improvement (CI)
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN, and will:
- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
- Work to practice protocols
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Induction Training
On arrival at the PCN all personnel are to complete a PCN induction programme and all mandatory primary care training.
Personal/Professional Development
The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake and complete mandatory training as directed by the PCN Manager, as well as participating in the PCN training programme. Staff will also be permitted (subject to approval) to undertake external training courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills, progress their career and ultimately, enable them to improve processes and service delivery.
- Post holder must hold or willing to work towards gaining a GP Assistant Certificate qualification.
- Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
- Attend all relevant annual updates.
- Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding GPA role and any professional development needed.
- Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when you have reached them.
- Staff can be trained in-practice, with on-job training and development led by GPs, in line with the role outline and national competency framework.
Collaborative Working
All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working. Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments. Effective communication is essential and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
Service Delivery
Staff at Andover PCN must adhere to the information contained with PCN policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are adhered to at all times. Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.
The post-holder will:
- Apply PCN’s policies, standards and guidance
- Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
- Participate in audit where appropriate
Security
The security of the PCN is the responsibility of all personnel. Staff must ensure they remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager. Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks to anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured.
Professional Conduct
At Andover PCN, staff are required to dress appropriately for their role. Clinical staff must dress in accordance with their role.
Annual Leave
All personnel are entitled to take paid annual leave. Line managers are to ensure all of their staff are afforded the opportunity to take a minimum of 5.6 weeks leave each year and should be encouraged to take all of their leave entitlement which is 33 days in total (inclusive of bank holidays) for a full-time equivalent working 37.5 hours per week.
PLEASE NOTE: we reserve the right to interview throughout the duration of the advertising period, and if a suitable candidate is found we may withdraw the advert prior to the published close date.
Pay: From £13.57 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
