Job Description

Job summary

Note to all prospective candidates - the advert stipulates the location is Truro, which is where Kernow Health CICs HQ is located. However, Staff Bank shifts can arise at any of the GP Practices located throughout Cornwall. For the purpose of this advert, we are inviting applications from those who wish to work in Central and West of the county, which would include the following areas: Truro, Constantine, Mullion, Camborne, Hayle and Penzance. Please note, the pay rate is dependant on the Practice you're working in.

Kernow Health CIC proudly hosts the Staff Bank on behalf of all General Practices in Cornwall. We are looking for dedicated and flexible Healthcare Assistants to cover short-term vacancies at GP practices as and when required. As part of our flexible workforce, you will help to ensure that practices have sufficient cover to deliver their services while helping to support patients on their health and wellbeing journey.

Working via the Staff Bank will offer you the flexibility to travel within an agreed radius from your home address, on days that suit you, which enables you to balance your work and home life.

Our only expectations are that those who are registered with the Staff Bank work at least 3 shifts within a 6-month period and keep up to date with mandatory training which we pay you to complete.

Main duties of the job

Should you already be working for a Practice, this is an opportunity to pick up additional hours within your current PCN or perhaps via an alternative Practice that is looking for your expertise. You can also join as a locum worker (self-employed) or a casual worker (zero-hours contract).

Working under the direction of the Nursing team in a GP Practice, you will undertake a variety of tasks. This may include taking blood, treating wounds, diabetic foot checks, urinalysis or carrying out ECGs depending on the requirements of the practice and patient needs.

Health Care Assistants in General Practice frequently work autonomously to support the delivery of multi-disciplinary clinics. You will hold a minimum of Level 2 in Health and Social Care together with previous experience of working in a similar role or environment. Training can be provided for additional competencies where appropriate. You will be comfortable working across different GP practice settings and locations and working with different IT systems and processes such as EMIS and/or SystmOne.

We are looking for caring, compassionate and enthusiastic Health Care Assistants with an interest in patient care who have excellent communication skills and a desire to help others.

Should you require further information about this role or other opportunities at Kernow Health CIC, please contact kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net to arrange an informal chat.

About us

Kernow Health, a Community Interest Company, supports General Practice and delivers Primary Care Services at scale in Cornwall. Established in May 2011 by a group of Cornwall Practices, we are a GP owned provider organisation and deliver a number of NHS contracts across Cornwall, these include Cornwall 111 Integrated Urgent Care Service, School Immunisation Programme, Childrens Eating Disorder Service and Cornwall Training Hub [formally CEPN].

These contracts support the visions and values of the organisation, and also ensure that we are able to reinvest any profits made back into the company; again with the intention of supporting GP practices across Cornwall.

Kernow Health CIC is also now offering member practices support to regroup and rebuild through the new Excellence in Practice (EiP) programme.

Job responsibilities

The duties will vary according to the practice requirements and the individual competencies, but an outline of the duties and responsibilities which may be undertaken is provided below:

Participates in programmes for the management of long-term conditions, e.g. hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes Assists patients and where appropriate encourages self-care and self-management of self-limiting conditions through health promotion Understands and works within own scope of practice and refers to other healthcare professionals where appropriate Works within own competency and relevant practice policies and procedural guidelines e.g. infection control, chaperoning etc. Encourages and supports individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social well being Early symptom recognition and presentation (including case finding) by the provision of outreach services, signposting to services and self-care opportunities Raises awareness among the population of symptoms, services and self-care/ self-management of long-term conditions Undertakes advocacy to support patients to overcome barriers to accessing services and support them to navigate diagnostic and treatment processes where appropriate Undertakes liaison with patients GPs Represents the interests of individuals and families when they are not able to do so themselves Help to process data in connection with QOF recalling patients to attend clinics as and when necessary Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff, GPs or other members of the practice team, which may include:
- Chaperoning duties

- BP monitoring

- Health Checks

- Urinalysis as required

- Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/Nurses

- Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms

- Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GPs during the performance of minor operations depending on competency

- Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly as required and reporting any problems appropriately

- Preparing medical equipment by ensuring infection and control procedures are adhered to as required

- Carry out hypertension reviews as required

- Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being

- Wound care including Dopplers and compression therapy and removal of sutures/clips (depending on competency)

- Influenza vaccinations including pneumonia and shingles (depending on competency)

- Administering injections e.g. B12 under PSD (depending on competency)

- Smoking prevention as applicable (depending on competency)

- Diabetic feet (depending on competency)

- Ear Syringing (depending on competency)

- Spirometry and reversibility (depending on competency)

- Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording (depending on competency)

For more information on key duties and responsibilities please see the attached job description.

Job Type: Zero hours contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: From 12.21 per hour

Benefits:

Company pension On-site parking
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 24/09/2025