General Practice Assistant

Islington Central Medical Centre is excited to be adding therole of general practice assistants (GPAs). GPAs provide support to GPs and thepractice at large by taking on administrative tasks and some basic clinicalduties to free up time for GPs to dedicate to patients.

You will be expected to complete a free training programmefor 6-9 months to help you gain the skill-set needed to be a GPA. A member ofthe primary care team will be your supervisor both in education and clinicalpractice throughout this programme and you will be awarded 10 credits at level4 (equivalent to a first year University course) at the end of it.

Islington Central Medical Centre is a large teaching andtraining practice with almost 25,000 patients and a large team of clinical andadministrative staff. ICMC is a purpose-built surgery, located just a 5-minutewalk from Highbury and Islington Station, which has excellent underground,overground and national rail transportation links.

Main duties of the job

• Providing a support role for GPs
• Undertaking administrative tasks and basic clinical tasks tohelp free up and redistribute GPs time
• Contribute to making appointments run smoother and betterthe patient experience
• Reduce the clinical administrative burden
• Clinical tasks including urine dipstick, blood pressureobservation, ECGs and phlebotomy

About us

Our practice ethos is to strive towards a partnershipbetween patients and health professionals based on the following key facets

Mutual Respect

We endeavour to treat all our patients with dignity, respectand honesty. Everyone at Islington Central Medical Centre is committed todeliver an excellent service. We ask all patients to highlight anydiscrepancies and to offer the same commitment in return.

Holistic Care

We treat patients and illnesses. This means that we areequally interested in the physical, psychological and social aspects of anindividual's care.

Continuity of Care and the Therapeutic relationship

Building and maintaining a strong relationship betweendoctors, health professionals, and patients is essential to the way we work.This is especially so in the management of ongoing problems or long-termillness. In these circumstances we would encourage patients to continue seeingthe same health professional and wherever possible we will facilitate thisthrough our appointments system.

Learning and Training

We are committed to the ongoing professional development ofour clinical and non-clinical team. We believe in life-long learning and allstaff undergo an annual appraisal where learning and development needs areidentified. We also recognise the benefit of supported learning for ourpatients and families in enhancing your ability to manage and deal with bothself-limiting and long-term illnesses.

Job responsibilities

• Pay: Starting at £26,000
• Starting date: Waiting for right candidate- open
• Lightening the work-load burden on GPs
• Signpost andredirect people to other members of the MDT
• Arrange appointments, referrals,tests and follow-ups
• Preparing patients prior to going to see the GP byeliciting a brief history from the patient and performing basic readings (urinedip, blood pressure, ECGs and phlebotomy)
• Completing basic forms such asinsurance claims, mortgage and benefit agency forms for GPs to sign
• Explaintreatment procedures to patients
• Acting on behalf of the GP to liaise with outsideagencies
• Monitoring the practice emails and respond
• Support the GP withimmunisations/wound care
• Be involved in QOF
• Chase letters and results

Person Specification Qualifications

• GCSE grade 1-C in English and Maths (or equivalent)
• Completed the Care Certificate

Experience

• Experience working with the general public
• Experience in administrative roles
• Experience working in a healthcare setting
• Previous experience as a GPA
• Knowledge of the EMIS system

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.