General Practice Assistant (GPA)

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Job Description Job Title: General Practice Assistant (GPA) Reporting to: Manager & GP Location: Yeovil Salary: £25,147 (full time equivalent) Hours of Work: Full-time (part-time will be considered) The Role: General Practice Assistants form part of a multi-disciplinary team within primary care, providing a support role by carrying out administrative tasks to free up GP time and contribute to the smooth running of the Practice. The post holder will also undertake a 69-month training course covering 5 domains of the General Practice Assistant post. Key Responsibilities Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc Extracting information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes.

Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients. Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, performing ECGs and phlebotomy Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign. Explaining treatment procedures, processes, and pathways to patients Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies, for example SPL, Social Services while GPs continue with consultations. Maintain accurate records and statistical returns as required, including providing patient-related information for entering Clinical Reporting Systems, within the required time frame.

Support the PCN and Practice Managers in the delivery of the Network Contract DES and Quality and Outcome Framework specifications. Ensure that meeting actions are recorded, disseminated, and followed up in a timely way; ensure relevant practitioners are aware of meeting decisions and actions / outcomes, and chase for action resolution and update. Support with chronic disease and drug monitoring recall systems Review laboratory results and action according to agreed protocols Providing support for projects within the Practice and Primary Care Network Confidentiality: In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust practice staff with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. Comply with Legislation with regards to data protection act and ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

The post-holder must regard all information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers (as well as information relating to the practice as a business organisation) 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, data protection legislation and the protection of personal and sensitive data, as well as other related healthcare legislation (e.g. the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice) Health & Safety: The post-holder will comply with practice policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others. This includes (but not limited to): Identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness, as well as ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols and implementing them across the practice. Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate.

Identifying the risks involved in work activities, raising them with appropriate management and managing those risks across clinical and patient processes. Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other managers Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards; Waste management, including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection Spillage control procedures, management and training Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be agreed by the post holder. Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples 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. Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity. Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.

Quality: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk. 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 teams performance. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs. Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources Communication: The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers. Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.