Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible to: The Practice Manager

Reports to: Office Manager

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 professional and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone. Contribute towards efficiency, and ensure that total confidentiality is maintained when dealing with patients and medical documentation.

Principal Duties

Greeting and directing patients as they arrive for appointments.

Dealing with telephone requests and enquiries

Processing repeat prescription requests.

Making appointments for practice patients with the appropriate Health Care professional.

Processing requests for home visits.

Taking and delivering messages.

Processing non NHS claim forms and private referral letters.

Collection of Fees for non-NHS work.

Updating patient computer records as required

Informing patients the results of test and investigations

Filing of manuscript information, and maintenance of patients medical records.

Testing the clarity of the telephone message in accordance with Practice procedures.

Securing the practice premises and setting the alarm at close of day in accordance with Practice procedures.

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Receiving specimens from patients, and batch delivery to collection point.

Other one off essential duties deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running of the Practice

Eg. Making tea, tidying the workplace, assisting the doctors, etc.

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:

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 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 holders role

Undertaking periodic infection control training

Reporting potential risks identified

Equality and diversity:

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The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples 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 which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/professional development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

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:

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 teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize 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 peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not restrictive or definitive

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSEs in Maths and English.
• Customer Service experience.
• Call centre experience.
• General computer skills

Desirable

• Medical Receptionist and EMIS Web experience is an advantage but not essential

Training and Shifts

Essential

• We offer part time and full time.
• We do expect a commitment to a full 2 week training plan.

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).