Medical Receptionist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a medical receptionist to join our friendly team at Kepier Medical Practice. The post holder will be the first point of contact for patients and visitors to the practice and as such must have a professional and helpful demeanor. The post holder will be expected to provide an efficient and effective service to the practices patient population and maintain consistently high standards.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for providing general reception duties within the practice, receiving, assisting and directing patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a professional and courteous manner.

You will provide general assistance to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to colleagues, patients and visitors in interactions in person or via the telephone.

The role is ideal for someone who is a highly organised and effective communicator with a desire to provide a professional and warm welcome to our patients, ensuring every contact is of the highest quality.

About us

Kepier Medical Practice is a friendly, pro-active and responsive practice located in the Houghton le Spring area within close proximity to the A1 and A19.

The practice is sited in purpose built premises with ample patient and staff parking.

The practice clinical team currently consists of 3 GP partners, 3 salaried GPs, 2 Advanced Nurse Practitioners, 2 nurses, a Student Nurse Associate and a Healthcare Assistant. The multidisciplinary clinical team are supported by a 16 strong administrative team and additional attached staff including clinical pharmacists, Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners and social prescribers.

The practice is committed to the future of Primary Care, is a training practice hosting GP Registrars and 3rd year medical students. Training and continual development is a high priority with personal and professional development encouraged and supported.

Job responsibilities

1. Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice.
2. Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
3. 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.
4. Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover, and ensure procedures are completed.
5. Receive and make telephone calls as required. Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.
6. Enter requests for home visits into the visit book, ensuring to carefully record all relevant details and referring to duty doctor where necessary.
7. Action repeat prescription requests and ensure that they are ready for collection by the patient within 48 hours, either on the computer or manually.
8. Advise patients of relevant charges for private (non General Medical Services) services, accept payment and issue receipts for same.
9. Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
10. Ensure correspondence, reports, results etc. are filed promptly and in the correct records, ensuring that all recent correspondence is available when patients are seen.
11. Open up premises at the start of the day when first to arrive, de-activate alarm and make all necessary preparations to receive patients.
12. 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.
13. Ensure that all new patients are registered onto the computer system promptly and accurately.
14. Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the partners or the practice manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE Grade A to C (or equivalent) in Maths
• GCSE Grade A to C (or equivalent) in English
• NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration
• NVQ Level 2 in Customer Services

Personal Attributes

• Able to work effectively independently and as a member of a team
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Continued commitment to improving skills and ability in new areas of work
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness, and common sense
• Resilient and able to work effectively in a fast-changing pressured environment

Experience

• Experience of working with the public/patients
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Excellent keyboard and computer skills
• Experience of Microsoft applications including Excel and Word
• Experience of working in a GP Practice/NHS setting
• Experience of using EMIS Web

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.