Medical Receptionist

Healds Road Surgery is recruiting enthusiastic, compassionate and reliable full time / part time candidates to join our friendly reception / admin team. Working pattern 8am - 1pm and 2pm - 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Flexibility of working hours is required. Our receptionists provide high quality, person centred care to patients and their carers at the practice. The post holder will have excellent people and organisational skills as well as the ability to work well under pressure. Candidates will preferably have previous experience of working within a health or social care setting or other office based customer service role.

Main duties of the job

This varied role combines both face to face and telephone work with patients.

Essential skills and attributes

Experience in working with the public in a customer facing role is essential, and previous experience in a healthcare environment is preferred. The successful candidate will have:

• Excellent communication skills (face to face, telephone and email)
• Good organisational skills and competence in Microsoft Office, confident with IT systems
• Experience in using clinical systems would be welcomed, but is not essential as you will receive on the job training
• Attention to detail and accuracy, dealing with sensitive matters and confidential medical information

Job summary

• Offer 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.
• Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to assist in the smooth running of the practice including the provision of secretarial and clerical support to clinical staff and other members of the practice team.
• Facilitate effective communication between patients, members of the primary health care team, secondary care and other associated healthcare agencies.

Duties and responsibilities

• Opening/locking-up of practice premises and maintaining security in accordance with Practice protocols, when necessary.
• Maintaining and monitoring the practice appointments system.
• Processing personal and telephone requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations and ensuring callers are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional.
• Processing and distributing incoming and outgoing mail.
• Taking messages and passing on information.
• Filing and retrieving paperwork.
• Processing repeat prescriptions in accordance with practice guidelines.
• Computer data entry, data allocation and collation; processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
• Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare agencies and providers.
• Clearing and re stocking consulting rooms as required.
• Providing clerical assistance to practice staff from time to time, including word/data processing, filing, photocopying and scanning.
• Ordering, re ordering and monitoring of stationery and other supplies.
• Dealing with clinical waste.
• Provision of refreshments for staff and visitors as required; loading and emptying the dishwasher and keeping the kitchen area clean and tidy.
• Keeping the reception area, notice boards and leaf let dispensers tidy and free from obstructions and clutter.

Confidentiality

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with 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

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas tidy and safe and free from hazards.
• Actively reporting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised.
• Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the post holder's role.
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually).

Equality & Diversity

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples' rights, respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Behaving in a welcoming, non judgmental manner and respecting circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Training & Development

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality & Performance

• 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 patient needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise peoples' needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Other Duties

Other duties, not described above, will also be required of the postholder.

Qualifications

• GCSE equivalent to grade C or above in English and Maths.

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a customer focused role.
• Experience of working in primary care.
• Experience of working in a GP practice.

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.

Benefits

The successful candidate will be remunerated at an hourly rate of £12.71 to £13.25, subject to experience, and will be entitled to join the NHS pension scheme.