GP Assistant inCheltenham inCheltenham PUBLISHED FRI 25 OCT 2024

Depending on experience PERMANENT
HOLISTIC MENTAL HEALTH MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

Cheltenham Peripheral Network r5z9cwQM

Opportunities for Professional Growth, The role includes support for completing an accredited Health Education England training program, allowing GP Assistants to gain formal certification and enhance their skills in primary care.

Diverse Team Environment, Working alongside a multi-disciplinary team, including social prescribing link workers, clinical pharmacists, and mental health nurses, provides a rich learning environment and collaboration opportunities.

Impactful Role in Patient Care, By performing routine administration and clinical tasks, GP Assistants play a vital role in freeing up GP time, thus directly contributing to improved patient experiences and outcomes.

Dynamic Work Environment, The role is designed to be flexible and tailored to individual skills, allowing GP Assistants to engage in a variety of tasks that keep the work interesting and challenging.

Essential Support for GPs, Supporting GPs with tasks such as appointment arrangements and patient relations means GP Assistants are essential to the smooth running of the practice, making their contributions invaluable.

Commitment to Quality and Safety, The role emphasizes health and safety, quality assurance, and effective communication, contributing to a well-organized and efficient healthcare environment.

The Cheltenham Peripheral Primary Care Network (PCN) is seeking innovative GP Assistants to support GPs in their practices, which serve 54,000 patients across the Cheltenham area. This role aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of primary care by allowing GPs to focus more on patient care.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage and prioritize clinical correspondence for GPs.
Extract and code information from clinical letters.
Organize appointments, referrals, tests, and follow-ups for patients.
Complete routine forms for GP approval.
Assist in explaining treatment procedures to patients.
Facilitate communication between GPs and external agencies.

Confidentiality and Professional Conduct:

Maintain patient confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.
Promote health, safety, and security within the practice.

Personal and Professional Development:

Engage in ongoing professional development and participate in performance reviews.
Collaborate with team members to enhance practice quality and efficiency.

Communication:

Effectively communicate with team members, patients, and external agencies.

Essential Skills:

Experience in primary care and a strong desire to support the healthcare team.

This role is newly established, providing an opportunity for GP Assistants to help shape their responsibilities and enrich the patient experience in a busy clinic environment.

Working for Cheltenham Peripheral Primary Care Network (PCN), you will be based in one of our 5 GP Practices who collectively care for 54,000 patients. Our GP Practices wrap around the edge of Cheltenham town extending in the south from Leckhampton around to Bishops Cleeve and Winchcombe.

The PCN is determined to meet the challenges of modern primary care by working innovatively and growing our multi-disciplinary team to provide a holistic approach to our patient population. The PCN team already includes; Social Prescribing Link Workers, Care Co-ordinators, Clinical Pharmacists, Phyiscian Associates, Pharmacy Technicians and a Mental Health Nurse.

The PCN is looking to recruit a team of innovative GP Assistants who will be deployed to work alongside the team in our busy practices. This is an exciting new role that is designed to support our GP's and the smooth running of clinics. Successful post holders will be supported to complete an accredited Health Education England training programme and achieve a formal certification.

A GPA will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient.

The main responsibilities and duties of the GP Assistant role will be tailored based on level of skill and experience and may include all or some of the duties listed in the job description.

This role is new and provides an opportunity to work with GP's to develop this role and improve the experience for both the patient and Staff members in a busy clinic. It may call on the use of both clinical knowledge and efficient administrative skills enabling a smoother more efficient pathway.

Experience and a strong desire to work in primary care is essential.

About us
Job Summary

The role of GP assistant may include some or all of these duties depending on the exprience and skills of the individual.

Duties

Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc.

Extracting all information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes

Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients

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

Explaining treatment procedures to patients

Helping the GP 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)

Support the GP with immunisations/wound care

Confidentiality

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

Health & Safety

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

Equality and Diversity

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

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 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

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development

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

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, 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 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

Be familiar in all mediums of communications such as email, tasks, telephone etc

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Communicate effectively to outside agencies

Communicate clearly with their lead GP

Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

Apply Practice 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

More information related to this job opportunity, from jobsincare:

Here are 5 questions you could be asked if you apply for this job: Start practice interview... NEW!

1. Can you explain what you believe the primary responsibilities of a GP Assistant are and how they contribute to a GP practice?

2. What attracted you to apply for the GP Assistant position in this particular Primary Care Network?

3. Describe any previous experience you have had in a primary care or healthcare setting. How do you think this experience has prepared you for the role of a GP Assistant?

4. How would you approach explaining a treatment procedure to a patient? What strategies would you use to ensure they understand?

5. The GP Assistant role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team. How do you define successful teamwork, and what role do you typically take when working in a group?

Start a practice interview... NEW!

1. Can you explain what you believe the primary responsibilities of a GP Assistant are and how they contribute to a GP practice?

2. What attracted you to apply for the GP Assistant position in this particular Primary Care Network?

3. Describe any previous experience you have had in a primary care or healthcare setting. How do you think this experience has prepared you for the role of a GP Assistant?

4. How would you approach explaining a treatment procedure to a patient? What strategies would you use to ensure they understand?

5. The GP Assistant role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team. How do you define successful teamwork, and what role do you typically take when working in a group?

Start a practice interview... NEW!

More about MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health has emerged as a critical issue in the United Kingdom, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis highlighted the fragility of mental well-being across different demographics, from children and adolescents to adults and the elderly. It has sparked a wider conversation about the importance of mental health care, accessibility, and the stigmas often associated with mental illnesses. Learn more...

Useful skills for a GP Assistant: Click to view

To work as a GP Assistant (General Practice Assistant) in the UK, you'll need a combination of clinical, administrative, and interpersonal skills. Here are some essential skills and qualifications that can help you succeed in this role:

Clinical Skills

1. Basic Medical Knowledge: Understanding common medical terms and conditions.

2. Clinical Skills: Ability to take vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and assist with basic procedures.

3. First Aid Skills: Competency in first aid and CPR can be beneficial.

4. Patient Care: Understanding the principles of patient caring and support.

Administrative Skills

1. Organisational Skills: Ability to manage appointments, patient records, and administrative tasks efficiently.

2. IT Skills: Proficiency with healthcare software, electronic patient records, and standard office applications.

3. Filing and Record Keeping: Understanding of confidentiality and data protection as it pertains to patient records.

Interpersonal Skills

1. Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

2. Empathy and Compassion: Ability to show understanding and sensitivity towards patients' needs.

3. Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare staff.

Personal Attributes

1. Attention to Detail: Careful in handling patient information and performing clinical tasks.

2. Flexibility: Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and patient needs.

3. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to troubleshoot minor issues as they arise.

Qualifications

- Educational Background: While formal qualifications may vary, a background in healthcare or experience in a clinical setting can be advantageous.

- Relevant Training: Some GP practices may offer or require training programs specific to the role of a GP Assistant.

Additional Considerations

- Understanding of Healthcare Systems: Familiarity with the NHS structure and protocols can be beneficial.

- Cultural Competence: Ability to work with diverse populations and an understanding of different cultural needs.

Having these skills and attributes will help you effectively support the work of GPs and provide quality care to patients in a general practice setting.

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