Health Care Assistant (HCA)

Job summary

We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Health Care Assistant to support the Practice Nurses in delivering comprehensive care to patients. In this role, you will assist with a range of clinical duties and ad-hoc treatment room tasks.

We have two positions on offer; both 37.5 hours per week

You will have the opportunity to develop professionally through continuous learning, training, and participation in clinical supervision.

This role requires excellent organisational skills, and a commitment to maintaining high clinical and administrative standards, ensuring that all duties are carried out in line with best practice and CQC requirements.

Main duties of the job

  • Collaborate with the Practice Nursing Team in administering dressings and compression hosiery.
  • Assisting with tasks such as dressings, ECGs, venepuncture, blood pressure monitoring
  • Independently manage diabetes physiological check clinics.
  • Administer immunisations as directed under Patient-Specific Directions.
  • Process specimens for laboratory testing.
  • Oversee the procurement, storage, and rotation of medical equipment, ensuring its proper usage within recommended timelines.
  • Assist with various ad hoc duties as required by the practice nursing team.

About us

Balmore Park Surgery is a supportive, highly regarded training practice, situated north of the River Thames in Caversham, Reading. The Practice consists of 14 GPs, 7 Nurses, 4 Advanced Nurse Practitioners, a Mental Health Practitioner, 2 HCAs and 2 Phlebotomists. We also have 4 Pharmacists, a Pharmacy technician and a Prescriptions Clerk.

Details

Date posted

27 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

A2637-26-0011

Job locations

59a Hemdean Road

Caversham

Reading

Berkshire

RG4 7SS

United Kingdom


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Support:

  • Collaborate with the Practice Nursing Team in administering dressings and compression hosiery.
  • Assisting with tasks such as dressings, ECGs, venepuncture, blood pressure monitoring
  • Independently manage physical health check clinics.
  • Administer immunisations as directed under Patient-Specific Directions.
  • Process specimens for laboratory testing.
  • Oversee the procurement, storage, and rotation of medical equipment, ensuring its proper usage within recommended timelines.
  • Assist with various ad hoc duties as required by the practice nursing team.
  • Participate in Saturday morning clinics on a rotational basis with other team members.

Professional Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate effectively with team members, patients, and their families
  • Organise and prioritise your workload, effectively managing time and responding to urgent situations as required.
  • Protect patient confidentiality and always maintain the integrity of the patient-healthcare provider relationship.
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of and adhere to Information Governance principles.
  • Recognise personal limitations and work within the scope of your competence.
  • Maintain a professional appearance and conduct in line with practice standards, ensuring respectful interactions with patients, colleagues, and their families.
  • Manage your time, workload, and resources efficiently.
  • Uphold high clinical and administrative standards in accordance with CQC requirements.
  • Contribute to staff meetings, discussing and implementing changes, while staying updated on developments within the Practice and local healthcare environment.

Education and Development:

  • Commit to ongoing professional and personal development, including participation in annual appraisals.
  • Complete mandatory training, such as CPR, anaphylaxis, immunisation, safeguarding, and information governance.
  • Engage in study days, courses, and e-learning as needed to uphold safe and high-quality practice.
  • Participate in clinical supervision to further develop skills and knowledge.
Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Support:

  • Collaborate with the Practice Nursing Team in administering dressings and compression hosiery.
  • Assisting with tasks such as dressings, ECGs, venepuncture, blood pressure monitoring
  • Independently manage physical health check clinics.
  • Administer immunisations as directed under Patient-Specific Directions.
  • Process specimens for laboratory testing.
  • Oversee the procurement, storage, and rotation of medical equipment, ensuring its proper usage within recommended timelines.
  • Assist with various ad hoc duties as required by the practice nursing team.
  • Participate in Saturday morning clinics on a rotational basis with other team members.

Professional Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate effectively with team members, patients, and their families
  • Organise and prioritise your workload, effectively managing time and responding to urgent situations as required.
  • Protect patient confidentiality and always maintain the integrity of the patient-healthcare provider relationship.
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of and adhere to Information Governance principles.
  • Recognise personal limitations and work within the scope of your competence.
  • Maintain a professional appearance and conduct in line with practice standards, ensuring respectful interactions with patients, colleagues, and their families.
  • Manage your time, workload, and resources efficiently.
  • Uphold high clinical and administrative standards in accordance with CQC requirements.
  • Contribute to staff meetings, discussing and implementing changes, while staying updated on developments within the Practice and local healthcare environment.

Education and Development:

  • Commit to ongoing professional and personal development, including participation in annual appraisals.
  • Complete mandatory training, such as CPR, anaphylaxis, immunisation, safeguarding, and information governance.
  • Engage in study days, courses, and e-learning as needed to uphold safe and high-quality practice.
  • Participate in clinical supervision to further develop skills and knowledge.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent qualification) or Care Certificate
  • Experience in a healthcare setting or working with patients, ideally in a GP surgery or clinical environment.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or willingness to undertake training.
  • Good understanding of healthcare systems and procedures (e.g., infection control, patient confidentiality).

Experience

Desirable

  • Qualified in Phlebotomy
  • Qualified in Diabetic Foot checks
  • Qualified in immunisations (Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingles)
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent qualification) or Care Certificate
  • Experience in a healthcare setting or working with patients, ideally in a GP surgery or clinical environment.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or willingness to undertake training.
  • Good understanding of healthcare systems and procedures (e.g., infection control, patient confidentiality).

Experience

Desirable

  • Qualified in Phlebotomy
  • Qualified in Diabetic Foot checks
  • Qualified in immunisations (Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingles)

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Balmore Park GP Surgery

Address

59a Hemdean Road

Caversham

Reading

Berkshire

RG4 7SS

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.balmoreparksurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Balmore Park GP Surgery

Address

59a Hemdean Road

Caversham

Reading

Berkshire

RG4 7SS

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.balmoreparksurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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