Healthcare Assistant


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£13 to £14 an hour
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Birkenhead, CH49 7LP
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	22 Sept 2026
Closing date:	20 Oct 2026

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Summary

Key Responsibilities Community and Housebound Care The postholder will: Undertake planned clinical visits to patients in their own homes as part of the PCN Nursing Team's community caseload. Develop the ability to independently manage an allocated programme of visits within an agreed scope of practice. Undertake delegated clinical procedures, monitoring and observations during home visits. Apply existing primary care experience to recognise when findings are outside expected parameters or when a patient's presentation requires further clinical assessment. Provide a significant element of the PCN's housebound phlebotomy service, undertaking planned blood collection from patients within their own homes and other appropriate community settings. Promptly escalate clinical concerns to the PCN Nurse Lead, registered nurse, GP or other appropriate clinician. Support proactive and preventative management of the PCN's housebound and vulnerable population. Identify unmet health needs and opportunities for intervention during patient contacts. Work respectfully within patients' homes, maintaining dignity, confidentiality and professional boundaries. Follow lone-working procedures and undertake dynamic assessment of environmental and personal safety risks. Clinical Duties The successful candidate is expected to join the service with an established range of primary care HCA competencies. Depending upon existing training and demonstrated competence, duties are expected to include: phlebotomy; blood pressure monitoring; pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation measurement; height, weight and BMI measurement; urinalysis; capillary blood glucose testing; ECG recording; collection and processing of appropriate clinical specimens; collection of clinical information and observations required for chronic disease reviews; supporting NHS Health Checks and preventative healthcare activity; providing appropriate health-promotion and lifestyle information; supporting vaccination and immunisation programmes; and accurate recording of clinical activity within the patient's electronic record. Following appointment, additional clinical competencies may be developed according to service need, the individual's development objectives and appropriate governance arrangements. The postholder will not undertake clinical diagnosis or activities requiring registered professional judgement outside their agreed scope of practice. Chronic Disease and Preventative Care A significant element of the role will involve supporting the PCN Nursing Team with chronic disease monitoring and preventative healthcare. The postholder will: Undertake defined elements of long-term condition monitoring in accordance with agreed templates and protocols. Obtain appropriate clinical observations and information to support subsequent review by registered clinicians. Recognise results or information requiring escalation rather than attempting to independently interpret matters outside the HCA scope of practice. Identify opportunities for health promotion and prevention during routine contacts. Support appropriate NHS Health Check activity. Promote vaccination and screening uptake. Provide brief lifestyle advice within competence. Support the identification of patients who may benefit from other PCN, practice or community services. Vaccination and Immunisation The HCA will be an active member of the PCN's vaccination programmes, including community and housebound delivery. Responsibilities may include: supporting seasonal vaccination campaigns telephone calls supporting vaccine preparation, stock management and cold-chain processes. accurately recording vaccination activity. providing approved information to patients and carers about vaccinations. escalating clinical questions or concerns to an appropriate registered clinician. Where service requirements change in the future, administering appropriate vaccines may form part of the role, but only where the postholder has received the required training, has been assessed as competent and the appropriate legal, consent and clinical governance arrangements are in place. Developing Autonomy This role provides an opportunity for an established Primary Care HCA to further develop their practice within a supportive nursing team. The postholder will be encouraged to progressively take greater responsibility for planning and managing their own delegated workload, particularly within the PCN's housebound and community nursing programme. Development will be supported through: regular access to the PCN Nurse Lead and registered nursing colleagues. structured induction to PCN and community working. clinical supervision. competency assessment. continuing professional development. opportunities to develop additional clinical skills; and exposure to a broader range of patients and services than may ordinarily be available within a single general practice. Clinical Governance and Patient Safety The postholder will: work within their demonstrated competence and agreed scope of practice. maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records. recognise their professional boundaries and seek registered clinical advice when required. comply with infection prevention and control procedures. follow medicines and vaccine-management procedures relevant to their role; recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns. comply with lone-working arrangements. report incidents and near misses appropriately. participate in learning arising from incidents, complaints and patient feedback. maintain confidentiality and comply with information governance requirements.

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