Level 4 - Job description for an assistant practitioner in general practice (Long Term Conditions)

Purpose: To assist the GPs and practice nurse team in the service delivery and management of patients with specified long term conditions, by providing high quality evidence based care to meet the health and social care needs of the practice population.
Responsible to: Senior practice nurse, practice manager and, ultimately, the GP Partners.
Agenda for Change (AfC) banding: 4

Job Summary

The post holder undertakes roles and duties delegated by the practice nurse team leader or a suitably qualified regulated professional. Working within the boundaries set out by the regulated professional, the scope of the role enables the post holder to make a limited assessment of patient need and act upon their assessment. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients with specified long term conditions by providing quality evidence based care. The post holder will follow practice policy and procedures and provide supervision to more junior staff.

Key responsibilities

Communication

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
Undertake effective communication with patients in specific clinical situations
Communicate effectively with the primary health care team
Acts in a manner that acknowledges patients right to make decisions and recognises their responsibilities
Maintain confidentiality during communication consistent with legislation and employers policies

Personal and people development

Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance, including participating in supervision
Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development
Work with the practice to access appropriate training based on identified need
To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of an assistant practitioner in general practice (band4)
Be familiar with the changing structures of health care provision relevant to general practice

Health, safety and security

Use and encourage others to be familiar with the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks
Use and encourage others to adopt appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including:
hand washing
universal hygiene procedures
collection and handling of laboratory specimens
segregation and disposal of waste materials
decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment
reporting and treatment of sharps injuries
dealing with blood and body fluid spillages
Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures
Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
Be aware of statutory child health procedures, and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
Use the computer monitor safely
Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Service improvement

Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
Contribute to the preparation of local guidelines, protocols and standards
Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets
Be aware of current approaches, including research, to the management of patient care within general practice

Quality

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients
Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
Know how clinical governance affects the assistant practitioner role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
Know the practice's policies in this respect, especially the whistle-blowing policy - available in the practice staff handbook
Be able to manage your own time effectively
Give and receive feedback professionally and defuse situations using problem resolution skills to reduce potential for formal complaints

Equality and diversity

Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
Act as a chaperone

Clinical skills – health and well-being

Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training
Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory
Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations:

blood pressure
pulse rate and rhythm
temperature
height and weight - body mass index
visual acuity
venepuncture
ECG
glucose tolerance test
peak flow readings
inhaler technique
spirometry

Using patient specific directions, administer to adults the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine under indirect supervision of a regulated professional
To gain the underpinning knowledge and practical skills to administer basic life support or adrenaline if necessary
Undertake wound management as delegated by the regulated professional, referring back any patient that does not fit within established protocols
Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence
Where appropriate, provide support and encouragement to self manage their conditions
Organise call and recall of chronic disease management registers for CHD, asthma, COPD, diabetes, stroke, epilepsy and mental health
According to practice need and having undertaken appropriate training provide clinical care including monitoring and review of non complex long term conditions including diabetes, COPD, hypertension, CHD and asthma
Assess patients readiness to change and provide motivational support as appropriate in cases for example smoking, obesity and healthy living for older people
Plan, develop and implement health promotion activities either in one to one or small groups as appropriate e.g. smoking, exercise and diet

Information processes

Familiar with general practice computerised clinical system so as post holder can record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion
Inputs accurate Read codes about patients to ensure accurate retrieval of information for monitoring and auditing processes
Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information
Develop disease registers in line with Quality Outcomes Framework and NICE Guidelines where available
Use a recall system to identify service user's with chronic conditions

Learning and development

Contribute to the provision of learning opportunities for colleagues
Act as a mentor/coach for health care assistants
Disseminate learning and information gained from courses and conferences and inform others about current and future developments in the provision of care for patients with long term conditions

Person specification

Attributes	Essential	Desirable	How identified
Qualifications and training	Foundation degree in health care	A1 Assessors Award Up to date basic life support training ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)	Application form Interview Certificates
Knowledge and skills	Demonstrates an understanding of the role of the assistant practitioner in general practice Clinical skills and competency relevant to the role e.g. undertake administration of the influenza vaccine Knowledge of the management of long term conditions and self care Understand issues regarding accountability and delegation Knowledge of wound care management and skilled at aseptic technique IT skills to enter read coded data and run reports	Knowledge of GP computerised clinical systems e.g. EMIS or Vision Knowledge of the new GMS contract and the Quality and Outcome Framework Knowledge of national policies and local policies and guidelines e.g. NSFs	Application form Interview References
Experience	2 years previous experience working in a general practice Experience working under indirect supervision		Application form Interview
Personal qualities	Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others Flexible, reliable and responsive to change Demonstrates an ability to value the opinions of others Demonstrates high level of self awareness, i.e. strengths and weaknesses, personal qualities and skills Willingness to undergo education/training for both practice and service needs Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives (appraisal)		Application form Interview References
Physical skills	Manual dexterity and manipulation skills Ability to handle simple medical equipment e.g. ECG machine Ability to assist others with the delivery of care e.g. management of long term conditions clinics Fitness to do the job within manual-handing policy		Application form Interview
Mental and emotional effort	Concentration required daily, e.g. Ability to deal with occasional exposure to distressing circumstances or emotional events Ability to cope with occasional exposure to aggressive behaviour Ability to work with competing priorities Ability to deal tactfully and empathetically with distressed or anxious patients and carers		Interview
Working conditions	Personal physical contact with patients Ability to work with high patient turnover and a pressurised environment on a daily basis Must be able to travel between sites and undertake occasional home visits		Application form Interview
Communication and verbal skills	Able to communicate routine information that requires tact and persuasive skills, or where there may be barriers to understanding Ability to communicate effectively via telephone or group discussion Good interpersonal skills Proven customer care skills Ability to work in partnership with all members of the primary care team		Interview
Management and supervision skills	Ability to mentor new HCAs or junior staff to the working environment		Interview
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	Participate in the care of equipment Ability to use resources effectively Undertake stock control		Interview
Other requirement	Must either be Hepatitis B immune or be willing to undergo an immunisation course		Occupational Health Assessment