Practice Receptionist

Job responsibilities

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:

• Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice
• 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 are completed.
• Receive and make telephone calls as required. Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.
• Advise patients of relevant charges for private (non General Medical Services) services, accept payment and issue receipts for same.
• Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
• 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
• Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the partners or the practice manager.
• Photocopy as requested
• Receiving patients, consulting with members of practice team
• Handing completed repeat prescriptions to patient and checking names and address.
• Process appointment requests for today/future appointments from patients by telephone and in person.
• Process patients changes of address computer data and medical records (have knowledge of practice area)
• Have working knowledge of telephone system, during and after hours
• Any other tasks allocated by managers

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 (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 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 that 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, with 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
• Recognize peoples 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

Experience

Essential

• High level of accuracy in presentation of information
• Good standard of English speaking and writing
• High Level of Organisational and Time Management skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced, everchanging environment
• Experience of dealing with the public on the phone and face to face Attention to accuracy and detail on a consistent basis
• Confident to respond to a range of different people and colleagues in a courteous and professional manner
• Previous use and understanding of databases and reporting. Understands the need to maintain data security and confidentiality of information.
• Experience of working in a public reception environment
• Experience of telephone switchboard operation
• Experience of Microsoft Office software
• Experience of dealing with the public/patients

Desirable

• Experience of EMIS clinical system
• Experience of working in a GP surgery or an NHS office environment Experience of working in secretarial role in a healthcare setting Experience of using NHS computer systems for records updates, ordering and other functions (e.g. Read coding, data collection)

Qualifications

Essential

• Advanced level Microsoft Office
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, including English & Maths. Typing Skills
• A demonstrable commitment to professional development

Desirable

• RSA Stage 3 (or equivalent) typing
• Advanced Keyboard skills including a high standard of word processing skills.
• Appropriate NVQ III Certificate (e.g. Business Administration, Secretarial Support etc) or equivalent level qualifications / relevant experience

Personal Attributes

Essential

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Pleasant and articulate
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative

Desirable

• Experience of Primary Care