Health Care Support Worker

The role of the Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) is to work as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering care within the boundaries of their role, and, in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols.

The focus will be on supporting patients to be healthy by assessing their needs through providing care, health education advice, screening activities. This will include implementing care in the surgery, community or other settings maintaining clinically accurate records and running clinics.

Role purpose of the HCSW is to work collaboratively with the general practice team to provide services to the PCN practice population. Development of the HCSW clinical skills will depend on the needs of the PCN practice. Training and annual updates will ensure skills are evidence based and within the scope of practice.

Role Specification Primary Responsibilities

Role purpose of the HCSW is to work collaboratively with the general practice team to provide services to the PCN practice population. Development of the HCSW clinical skills will depend on the needs of the PCN practice. Training and annual updates will ensure skills are evidence based and within the scope of practice.

The HCSW will perform clinical tasks under supervision such as:

• Urinalysis
• General observations including ECGs.
• Spirometry Assessments
• Part 1 Mental Health Review Clinics
• Part 1 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Clinics
• Part 1 Diabetes Clinics and Pre-Diabetes Clinics
• Learning Disabilities Clinics
• Support health promotion and prevention activities including smoking cessation, weight management and lifestyle interventions
• NHS Health Checks
• Assisting GPs with Women’s Health Coils/Implants Clinics
• Play a key role in vaccination and immunisation programs within the PCN.
• Dressing clinics including compression bandaging and removal of clips and staples.
• Active participation in achieving QOF and Enhanced Service targets and recall demands.
• Liaise with wider MDT for continuity of patient care
• Support continuity of care and patient safety initiatives
• Tasks will be completed under the supervision of a registered clinician while developing competencies in primary care.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Clean and sterilise equipment as per protocols, report damage to Lead Nurse or the Practice Manager in their absence.
• Putting away stock when it arrives, requesting and/or reordering stock if levels are low. Ensuring stock is rotated to reduce waste. Informing Lead Nurse of stock shortages or unavailability, or the Practice Manager in their absence.
• Inputting stock and use by dates, on Clarity Teamnet. Disposal of stock when indicated on Clarity Teamnet. Informing the Lead Nurse of irregularities or the Practice Manager in their absence.
• Monitoring Vaccines, Cold Chain Storage, recording temperatures as protocol on Clarity Teamnet, informing Lead Nurse of irregularities, or Practice Manager in their absence.
• Restocking and emptying clinical waste bins in GP rooms/clinical areas.
• Chaperoning clinical staff when requested.
• Complete allocated tasks, weekly/monthly/yearly checks. Updating data on Clarity Teamnet, e.g., disposable curtain changes/ nebuliser machine checks, Blood Glucose, Hypo, Home Visits and Anaphylaxis boxes. To be completed within the expected timeframe informing Lead Nurse or Practice Manager in the Lead Nurse’s absence, of any irregularities.
• Attend and participate in any practice meetings when required.
• Support and encourage development of all HCSWs within Bramblys Grange.
• Assist in annual checks such as PAT testing of equipment.
• Ensure all mandatory e-learning, Bluestream training, e-LFH completed in the expected time frames.
• Liaise with Multidisciplinary Team regarding new services that HCAs can be involved in and how this can be implemented.

Mosaic Primary Care Network consists of 3 practices, Crown Heights Medical Centre, Odiham & Old Basing Health Centres and Bramblys Grange Medical Practice, located in or near Basingstoke. We have a combined patient population of circa 60,000 patients.

The PCN is a registered learning environment, so all our ARRS staff are supported by an EELS lead to…