About us:
We are a small, friendly team within a busy, vibrant GP Practice, which is currently rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. We have a proven track record of good staff retention, as we work hard to maintain a supportive working environment. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our 4500 patients. We are located close to J26 of the M1 and there is a reliable local bus service with easy access to the City Centre.
The ideal candidate:
- is required to be a polite, caring and compassionate team player, with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Basic IT skills are a requirement, but clinical system training will be provided.
- will take on the following part-time post of 16 hours per week over 3 days:
Mondays - 12.30pm - 6.30pm;
Wednesdays - 1.30pm - 6.30pm;
Fridays - 1.30pm - 6.30pm
Flexibility to cover holiday and sick leave is essential for the smooth running of the Practice. There is an expectation that the successful candidate would be competent to take on an integral role in reception operations after around 6 months' experience, working alongside and with access to support from colleagues.
Job summary:
Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way.
Provide general assistance to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone.
Job responsibilities include:
- Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice by acting as their first point of call.
- Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
- Using your own judgment and communication skills, ensure that patients with no prior appointment but who need urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner.
- Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover, and ensure procedures and paperwork are completed.
- Handling telephone and face-to-face requests for appointments and making the appointments on the computerised appointments system.
- Book in patients and ensure other visitors sign in when they arrive at the surgery.
- Receive and make telephone calls as required. Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.
- Enter requests for home visits onto the visits rota, ensuring to carefully record all relevant details and referring to duty doctor where necessary.
- Advise patients of the results of routine tests.
- Give completed prescriptions to patients and to local pharmacies who collect them.
- Telephone, text or write to patients to arrange for routine appointments, e.g. for immunisations or annual health checks.
- Advise patients of relevant charges for private (non General Medical Services) services, accept payment and issue receipts for same.
- Photocopy paper records requested under GDPR.
- Scan and file paper records
- Monitor fridge temperatures.
- Receive and check deliveries.
- Book patient transport if required (taxi or emergency ambulance).
- Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
- Make and serve refreshments, ensure the kitchen and waiting room are kept tidy, in turn with other staff.
Premises:
o Open up premises at the start of the day when first to arrive, de-activate alarm and make all necessary preparations to receive patients.
o When last to leave at the end of the day, ensure that the building is totally secured, internal lights are off and the alarm activated.
- Ensure that all new patients are registered onto the computer system promptly and accurately
- To assist the Practice Manager to achieve targets and deadlines set by NHS England or the CCG and the Practice.
- Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the partners or the Practice Manager.
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, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include:
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- 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
- Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
- Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holder’s role
- Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
- Reporting potential risks identified
- Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Equality and diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s 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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
- 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 team’s 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
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers
- Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
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
Work Remotely
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.75 per hour
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free flu jabs
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Medical Receptionist: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
