Dental Receptionist/administrator

This is an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic team as a Receptionist/administrator in the dental service.

**Post available as follows**:
Part time in Milton Keynes

To provide comprehensive reception duties as part of a frontline team delivering a high-quality service to patients and staff. The postholder will liaise extensively with patients and staff making all appointments for patients.

In addition, there is responsibility for accurate financial transactions including banking, reconciliation and debt collection. The postholder will be required to cover at other sites across the dental service.

Milton Keynes Community Health Services is committed to providing quality health & social care services, tailored to the needs of individuals, public & private organizations, delivered close to home. Our services are designed to increase well being & provide opportunities for recovery. We want our employees to feel valued, challenged & supported.

Following a period of training, be competent in all reception sites across the service and with all relevant procedures.
Deal with all enquiries in a professional and empathetic manner. These may be via telephone, face to face or written contact.
Calm and effective communication when dealing with potentially inflammatory situations with service users to enable accurate information gathering and de-escalation.
Use advanced communication skills when dealing with patients who may
have additional needs, dental phobia or exhibit challenging behaviour.
Liaise with receptionist colleagues across all dental sites to ensure timely
access for all patients.
Receive patients and prepare or advise them as necessary for their clinical
care.

Ensure all documentation is completed including NHS dental forms as
appropriate.
Assist patients to use interpreting facilities when necessary.
Obtain personal details and other sensitive social and medical information,
often of a complex nature. Handle all information in accordance with relevant legislation and with high regard for confidentiality.
Ensure all relevant information from carers/relatives is communicated
effectively and in a timely manner to the clinical team.
Keep accurate up-to-date records of patient communication, appointments and relevant information.
Provide information and advice about dental services and access to NHS
emergency dental care including out of hours services.
Receive and transmit information electronically using the relevant systems.
Collect patient payments and use a proactive approach to prevent debts. To be responsible for reconciliation of all payments and to account for
discrepancies.
Take responsibility for security of monies.
Use machine for card payments and ensure receipts are stored appropriately.
Locate patient’s records that have outstanding accounts with the dental
software computer program and record progress and findings on a
spreadsheet.
Provide general clerical support including letter writing correspondence where necessary.
Be able to prioritise own work load in line with managerial guidance.
Efficiently process referrals both via online referral system or paper, input
data on the 18week tracking system and dental electronic software system.
Book appointments according to priority and monitor and maintain waiting lists to ensure patients are booked in the correct order and have a smooth pathway throughout their treatment journey
Have a good working knowledge of dental software
Filing and retrieval of patient paper records for use in daily clinical sessions
Monitor, maintain and update waiting lists on the computer systems for
services such as domiciliary visits, sedation and recall waiting lists. Monitor and book appointments in line with clinical need, national targets e.g. 18 weeks RTT and commissioner set KPI’s.
Provide occasional clerical support for clinicians when required including
typing of clinical letters and general administration duties.
Assist with departmental surveys/audits by distributing and collating
information.
Administrative contact with other services/departments (e.g. GDP’s, OMFS,
Mental Health Teams, Dental Laboratories) at the request of clinicians or
senior dental leadership team.
Ensure all estates works, equipment failures or breakages are reported to the appropriate department.
Travel to different clinics across the service and work at other sites as
required.
May be an allocated key holder for designated clinics which includes
responsibility of opening/closing clinic and de-activating/setting alarm.