Receptionist / Administrator

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Receptionist/Administrator

REPORTS TO: Reception Manager

LOCATION: Northern Medical Centre & Barnsbury Medical Centre

SALARY: £11.95 per hour

HOURS: Part time/Full Time

POSITIONS: 2x roles available

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent

About Islington GP Federation

Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is a growing organisation representing 31 practices; we have established ourselves as a leader in new ways of working, including running Islingtons extended access primary care services (I:HUB) as well as supporting the Islington Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Our current range of services include the Extended Access Service, I:HUB, Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Integrated Community Gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists and a range of practice support mechanisms.

IGPF works very closely with a range of partners including the regional commissioning group, NHS England, Healthy London Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals such as UCLH, the Whittington Health and the London Borough of Islington.

IGPF is the host organisation for the Primary Care Network (PCN) workforce and the Islington Training Hub, and has been working for over two years to create training and development programmes that meet the needs of staff working in primary and community care settings. IGPF runs two Islington GP practices on caretaking contracts; a third practice will be taken on within this financial quarter.

Job Summary:

The purpose of the role is to:

Offer 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

Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way

Undertake a variety of administrative duties to assist in the smooth running of the Practice including the provision of secretarial and clerical support to clinical staff and other members of the Practice team

Facilitate effective communication between patients, members of the primary health care team, secondary care and other associated healthcare agencies

To facilitate integrated working across the extended primary care teams, GPs and other stakeholders. To work closely with GPs, local authority, the extended primary care team and other relevant health and social care professionals to ensure care delivery is of a high quality.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken by members of the Practice administration team may include any or all of the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Reception Manager/Operational Manager, dependent on current and evolving Practice workload and staffing levels.

• Maintaining and monitoring the Practice appointments system
• Processing personal and telephone requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations and ensuring callers are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional
• Processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail
• Taking messages and passing on information
• Filing and retrieving paperwork
• Processing repeat prescriptions in accordance with Practice guidelines
• Computer data entry/data allocation and collation; processing and recording information in accordance with Practice procedures
• Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare agencies and providers
• Providing clerical assistance to Practice as required from time to time, including word/data processing, filing, photocopying and scanning
• Keeping the reception area, notice-boards and leaflet dispensers tidy and free from obstructions and clutter
• Helping the RM to reorganise the reception/admin and patient area and maintain the order with the help of the team.

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, to 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
• Reporting potential risks identified

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 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
• 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

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good General Education

Desirable

• Qualified to NVQ level 3

Experience

Essential

• Experience within a health care setting

Desirable

• Experience in GP Practice or Outpatient Reception

Knowledge / Skills

Essential

• - Ability to provide quality care
• - Good interpersonal and communication skills
• - Good organisational skills
• - Good team working skills
• - Effective time management skills
• - Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions
• - Adaptable to change
• - Computer literate

Desirable

• - Basic IT Skills
• - Knowledge in EMIS and Docmail clinical systems
• - Basic first aid knowledge
• - Health and safety awareness
• - Chaperone Training Certificate or experience

Qualities / Attributes

Essential

• - An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• - Able to work on own initiative
• - Able to work under pressure and remain calm
• - Flexible and adaptable
• - Aware of own limitations
• - Keen to develop

Employer details

Employer name

Islington GP Federation

Address

16-18 The Studios

8 Hornsey Street

London

N7 8GG

Employer's website

https://www.islingtongpfederation.org/ (Opens in a new tab)