Haddenham Medical Centre
Receptionist job description & person specification
Job Title
Medical Receptionist
Line Manager
Reception Manager
Accountable to
Practice Manager
Hours per week
20 hours per week
Reason for Role
Additional hours
Job Summary
The hours for this post will be for 20 hours per week
To be responsible for undertaking a wide range of reception duties and the provision of general support to the multidisciplinary team. Duties can include but are not limited to, greeting and directing patients, effective use of the appointment system, booking appointments, processing of information and assisting patients as required. To act as the central point of contact for patients, the distribution of information, messages and enquiries for the clinical team, liaising with multidisciplinary team members and external agencies such as secondary care and community service providers.
Generic Responsibilities
All staff at Haddenham Medical Centre have a duty to conform to the following:
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
A good attitude and positive action towards ED&I creates and environment where all individuals are able to achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons: it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do, and it is required by law.
Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.
Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that you treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)
This practice is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities to for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. All personnel are to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.
Confidentiality
This practice is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters, pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality at all times. It is essential that if, the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained that all staff protect patient information and provide a confidential service.
Quality & Continuous Improvement (CI)
To preserve and improve the quality of our output, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do, but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work. The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the practice to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice.
This practice continually strives to improve work processes which deliver health care with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone counts and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.
Induction Training
On arrival at the practice all personnel are to complete a practice induction programme; this is managed by the Deputy Practice Manager.
Learning and Development
The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake and complete mandatory training as directed by the training coordinator, as well as participating in the practice training programme. Staff will also be permitted (subject to approval) to undertake external training courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills, progress their career and ultimately, enable them to improve processes and service delivery.
Collaborative Working
All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working. Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments. Effective communication is essential and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
Service Delivery
Staff at Haddenham Medical Centre must adhere to the information contained with practice policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are adhered to at all times. Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.
Security
The security of the practice is the responsibility of all personnel. Staff must ensure they remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager. Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks to anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured.
Professional Conduct
At Haddenham Medical Centre staff are required to dress appropriately for their role. Administrative staff will be provided with a uniform whilst clinical staff must dress in accordance with their role.
Leave
All personnel are entitled to take leave. Line managers are to ensure all of their staff are afforded the opportunity to take a minimum of 20 days leave each year, and should be encouraged to take all of their leave entitlement.
Primary Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the receptionist. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
a. Maintaining and monitoring the practice appointment system
b. Process telephone requests for appointments
c. Answer incoming phone calls, transferring calls or dealing with the callers request appropriately
d. Signpost patients to the correct service
e. Initiating contact with and responding to, requests from patients, team members and external agencies
f. Photocopy documentation as required
g. Input data into the patient’s healthcare records as necessary
h. Manage all queries as necessary in an efficient manner
i. Carry out system searches as requested
j. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
k. Monitor and maintain the reception area and notice boards
l. Support all clinical staff with general tasks as requested
m. Management of repeat prescriptions, ensuring they are processed accurately and efficiently
Secondary Responsibilities
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the medical administrator may be requested to:
a. Partake in audit as directed by the audit lead
b. Support administrative staff, providing cover during staff absences
c. Action incoming faxes when necessary
d. Scanning of patient related documentation and attaching scanned documents to patient’s healthcare records
e. Complete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota
f. As required support in the management of repeat prescriptions, ensuring they are processed accurately and efficiently
g. Ordering and monitoring of stationery supplies
The person specification for this role is detailed overleaf.
Person Specification - Receptionist
Qualifications
Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
GCSE Mathematics & English (C or above)
Essential
Clear, polite telephone manner
Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
Desirable
Experience of working with the general public
Experience of administrative duties
Experience of working in a health care setting
Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
Strong IT skills
Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
EMIS / Systmone / Vision user skills
Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
Good interpersonal skills
Problem solving & analytical skills
Ability to follow policy and procedure
This document may be amended following consultation with the post holder, to facilitate the development of the role, the practice and the individual. All personnel should be prepared to accept additional, or surrender existing duties, to enable the efficient running of the practice.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
