The Lakes Medical Practice

GP Practice Receptionist Team Member

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have a vacancy in our Reception team this role includes reception duties, answering the phone, making outgoing calls and administration tasks relating to patient records

Rota Pattern:

Normal working hours will be Monday to Friday between 07.45 -18.30 up to maximum of 37.5hrs (to be discussed at interview). There may be some occasions where working outside these core hours are required.

Post holders must be flexible to change days/hours if required.

As a Call Handler/Receptionist you are the first port of call for all incoming communication within an active and busy GP practice. You will be responsible for liaising with the practice team, patients, hospitals, care homes and third party organisations.

Within this role you will need to have excellent communication skills and maintain a professional manner at all times. You will be responsible for maintaining patient bookings and amending if necessary, complying with patient confidentiality and GDPR. Be able to undertake multiple tasks while working to time constraints. There will also be a requirement to cover the reception desk on an ad hoc basis.

Main duties of the job

To answer phones to incoming calls in a timely, polite, and patient focused manner

To take telephone calls from patients and accurately make/cancel appointments and record all essential information on EMIS.

On receipt of patient call, search computerised patient records, checking patient details and patient confidentiality.

Identify callers requiring an immediate emergency response and escalate the calls to clinical team as per protocol.

To direct patients over the phone to the appropriate professionals or services through signposting or direct to the care navigator

Deal with patients enquiries in relation to results, and book appointments when required

Cover the reception front desk as required

Maintaining confidentiality at all times with particular reference to patient confidentiality and Data Protection Act

Advise the Team Leader of any problems and take appropriate action as directed

About us

We are a 2 partner GP practice based in Penrith, serving over 11,300 patients, rated CQC Outstanding and we are also a training practice.

This role is based within our Practice Support Team (PST) consisting of: Care Navigators, Record Administrators, GP Assistant, Clinical Administration/Medical Secretary and a Meds team.

Details

Date posted

31 December 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours

Reference number

A5101-24-0014

Job locations

The Health Centre

Bridge Lane

Penrith

Cumbria

CA11 8HW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Experience not necessary but would be advantageous, Full training will be given.

To answer phones to incoming calls in a timely, polite, and patient focused manner

To take telephone calls from patients and accurately make/cancel appointments and record all essential information on EMIS.

On receipt of patient call, search computerised patient records, checking patient details and patient confidentiality.

Identify callers requiring an immediate emergency response and escalate the calls to clinical team as per protocol.

To direct patients over the phone to the appropriate professionals or services through signposting or direct to the care navigator

Deal with patients enquiries in relation to results, and book appointments when required

Maintaining confidentiality at all times with particular reference to patient confidentiality and Data Protection Act

Advise the Team Leader of any problems and take appropriate action as directed

Contribute to the continuous improvement of service provision communicating service user feedback to the Team Leaders where appropriate

To ensure that at the end of shift working areas are left clean and tidy

To perform any other relevant duties that may be dictated by the changing needs of the service

To provide ad hoc Receptionist cover

Participate in practice meetings, in training and other activities

Processing requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations, and ensuring patients are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional

Processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail. Taking mail to the post office.

Taking messages and passing on information

Provide and receive routine information, to inform work colleagues, patients and clients

Receive sensitive information and ensure this information is relayed correctly

Exchange information with patients, relatives and staff on a variety of departmental matters and procedures

  • Understand that barriers to communication may include anxious patients, cultural differences, language or other communication difficulties
  • Participate in team meetings and staff training, which may fall outside of normal working hours (Time will be paid for attendance at normal hourly rate)
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues both internal and external to the practice.
  • Ensure collaborative working within the practice and the locality to share good practice and make best use of skills and knowledge

Help support locality/PCN initiatives at practice level

Job description

Job responsibilities

Experience not necessary but would be advantageous, Full training will be given.

To answer phones to incoming calls in a timely, polite, and patient focused manner

To take telephone calls from patients and accurately make/cancel appointments and record all essential information on EMIS.

On receipt of patient call, search computerised patient records, checking patient details and patient confidentiality.

Identify callers requiring an immediate emergency response and escalate the calls to clinical team as per protocol.

To direct patients over the phone to the appropriate professionals or services through signposting or direct to the care navigator

Deal with patients enquiries in relation to results, and book appointments when required

Maintaining confidentiality at all times with particular reference to patient confidentiality and Data Protection Act

Advise the Team Leader of any problems and take appropriate action as directed

Contribute to the continuous improvement of service provision communicating service user feedback to the Team Leaders where appropriate

To ensure that at the end of shift working areas are left clean and tidy

To perform any other relevant duties that may be dictated by the changing needs of the service

To provide ad hoc Receptionist cover

Participate in practice meetings, in training and other activities

Processing requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations, and ensuring patients are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional

Processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail. Taking mail to the post office.

Taking messages and passing on information

Provide and receive routine information, to inform work colleagues, patients and clients

Receive sensitive information and ensure this information is relayed correctly

Exchange information with patients, relatives and staff on a variety of departmental matters and procedures

  • Understand that barriers to communication may include anxious patients, cultural differences, language or other communication difficulties
  • Participate in team meetings and staff training, which may fall outside of normal working hours (Time will be paid for attendance at normal hourly rate)
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues both internal and external to the practice.
  • Ensure collaborative working within the practice and the locality to share good practice and make best use of skills and knowledge

Help support locality/PCN initiatives at practice level

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experienced and competent in the use of Microsoft Office systems.
  • Being able to work on own initiative and individually as well as part of a team.
  • Experience using computer systems and dealing with people in a customer service role

Desirable

  • Experience in a GP practice or other healthcare setting
  • Previous reception or call handling experience.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Grade 3/4 GCSE English or equivalent

Desirable

  • NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in customer care or administration or reliable and proven work experience in a relevant role
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experienced and competent in the use of Microsoft Office systems.
  • Being able to work on own initiative and individually as well as part of a team.
  • Experience using computer systems and dealing with people in a customer service role

Desirable

  • Experience in a GP practice or other healthcare setting
  • Previous reception or call handling experience.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Grade 3/4 GCSE English or equivalent

Desirable

  • NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in customer care or administration or reliable and proven work experience in a relevant role

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Lakes Medical Practice

Address

The Health Centre

Bridge Lane

Penrith

Cumbria

CA11 8HW


Employer's website

https://www.thelakesmedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Lakes Medical Practice

Address

The Health Centre

Bridge Lane

Penrith

Cumbria

CA11 8HW


Employer's website

https://www.thelakesmedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Practice manager

Helen Parker

Helen.parker41@nhs.net

01768214345

Details

Date posted

31 December 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours

Reference number

A5101-24-0014

Job locations

The Health Centre

Bridge Lane

Penrith

Cumbria

CA11 8HW


Privacy notice

The Lakes Medical Practice's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)