Patient Services Advisor (Receptionist) - Yeovil - Somerset

NHS; Yeovil; On-site; Part time

Job description

Patient Services Advisor (Receptionist) - Yeovil - Somerset

Symphony Healthcare services are looking for a Patient Services Advisor (Receptionist) to join their dynamic and dedicated team on a permanent basis at Oaklands Surgery in Yeovil, Somerset.

As a Patient Services Advisor, you will play a crucial role in the smooth running of a busy GP practice. You will help patients and colleagues alike, by providing excellent administration and customer service skills, whilst also showing kindness and compassion.

The role includes tasks such as registering patients, processing correspondence and helping with other administrative tasks, to ensure the smooth operation of the health centre.

The hours available are 22 hours per week, working Monday - Friday. Working pattern will be discussed at interview.

The starting rate of pay is £12.21 per hour, increasing to £12.50 once a successful 6-month probation period has been completed.

Main duties of the job

This role requires courteous, calm and effective communication skills both over the phone and face-to-face in a fast-paced medical centre.

• Provide administration and reception duties for the medical centre, assisting and directing patients in accessing the appropriate services or healthcare professional.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties, in accordance with agreed procedures, protocols and timescales.
• Work accurately and prioritize your own workload effectively while working as part of a team, meeting competing deadlines.
• Proactively alert management/clinical staff to issues of quality, risk and safeguarding.
• Possess sound IT skills and experience of using packages such as MS Office (Outlook, Word, etc.).
• Knowledge of the NHS/General Practice is desirable but not essential.

About us

Symphony Healthcare Services (SHS) was established in 2016 as part of the award-winning Symphony Programme Vanguard, developing new models of care. We now support 16 practices across Somerset providing care for over 100,000 patients.

Symphony has developed a model where each practice operates autonomously, but as a subsidiary of NHS Somerset Foundation Trust (SFT), with the backing and economies of scale from a central support team.

Providing NHS services is at the heart of what we do. Our vision is to ensure that primary care is sustainable for patients and practices in Somerset, aiming to be a national exemplar for primary care provision.

Symphony welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all.

Symphony offers an NHS or NEST Pension, a fantastic range of employee benefits and salary sacrifice schemes, along with flexible working from the day of employment and an agile approach to home/office-based working (where applicable).

We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your application.

Job responsibilities

• Identify and book appointments and home visits in line with practice protocols, including cross-organisation bookings.
• Search for, register if necessary and book onto the computer system patients as they present at the desk.
• Deal with enquiries, signposting and requests, either face to face or over the telephone from a variety of external sources.
• Handle distressed/aggressive patients safely and appropriately.
• Prioritize patients in need of urgent medical attention and direct them to the correct clinical intervention/appointment.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

• Computer literate with good keyboard skills.
• Ability to listen carefully and communicate effectively and sensitively (verbal and written) to patients and staff.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to transfer accurate information.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Use own initiative within clear boundaries, seeking advice when necessary.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and a strong sense of teamwork.
• Ability to complete tasks to a high standard with frequent interruptions.
• Knowledge of the NHS/General Practice.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.

Qualifications

• English & Maths GCSE or equivalent (grade A*-D/grade 9 to 3).

Experience

• Experience of working within a team.
• Recognize the significance of different situations (including emergencies) and take appropriate action.
• Experience of working in a customer-focused environment.
• Experience of working within an administration team.
• Experience of working in the NHS or similar healthcare setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.