Apprentice Medical Secretary

St Agnes Surgery is a rural based practice currently with 8900 patients registered with the practice and the list size continues to grow. We consistently score highly in patient satisfaction surveys and work very closely with other practices within our Primary Care Network.

We are keen to develop staff and work closely with several local training programmes to develop key skills.

This is a hugely varied role, with lots of potential to develop.

You will be fully trained and supported in the following:

- To provide a responsive and friendly service to patients, whilst maintaining a professional manner at all times.
- To work as an effective member of the patient services team and wider practice team, helping the Partners and staff to provide the highest possible quality of care to patients.
- To be polite and willing to help at all times.
- Good communications are extremely important within the practice, both internally with your colleagues, with patients and with outside agencies. The post-holder will be expected to help ensure that everyone who comes into contact with it holds the practice in high regard.
- Absolute discretion is required in protecting patient confidentiality.
- The post-holder will be required to work flexibly to cover absences of other members of the team.

**Major duties and responsibilities of the post**:

- To provide an efficient copy typing and processing service for clinical staff as required in an accurate and timely manner, which includes referrals and letters, reports, minutes and so on as requested.
- Administering NHS and private referrals through e-Referrals software, keeping SystmOne up to date and accurate.
- Liaising with the Referral Management Service, Outpatient Booking Services and other agencies to manage patient referrals.
- Processing non-e/referrals via the relevant pathway.
- Processing tasks relating to patients.
- Receiving incoming and initiating outgoing telephone calls in order to facilitate timely and appropriate.

Communications with others, taking messages and dealing with appropriate queries and ensuring data entered into patients’ notes is accurate and relevant.
- Processing reports from outside agencies from receipt to dispatch ensuring correct consent and advising of required fees.
- Covering sickness and holiday absences for the Secretarial Team.
- Communicating politely and effectively with patients, carers, and colleagues and to support the provision of a seamless co-ordinated multidisciplinary service through good communication and working collaboratively with clinical, administrative colleagues and other agencies.
- Attend the significant event meetings and ensure accurate notes are taken and actions completed.

**In addition, the post holder is to**:

- Read and follow all standard operating procedures including CQC protocols at all times maintaining the highest levels of service delivery to patients, doctors, staff and external providers.
- Read and follow the approved Information Governance policy at all times maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality regarding patient, colleague and commercial information and to report any breach or suspected breach immediately.
- At all times, to maintain the highest standard of behaviour, to comply with and follow Practice policies, protocols and procedures eg health and safety, equality and diversity and to report any breach or suspected breach immediately.
- To undertake regular training and personal development and to attend staff meetings.
- To undertake any other activities that may from time to time be reasonably requested by other team/departments within the organisation.

**Other**:
The list of duties is not exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to carry out other duties as necessary. Flexibility is required to work extra ad hoc hours as per Practice needs, during holiday and sickness periods.

The role of the Medical Secretary is likely to change from time to time to reflect changes in the needs of the Practice, or developments in the Care Quality Commission and wider NHS requirements and prospects.

**Future prospects**

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and to keep patient records/information confidential at all times.

At the end of the course, you will be completely employable with the following components achieved:

- Level 2 BTEC Customer Services Diploma
- DHCT’s Work Skills in the Health Sector research module
- Minimum of Level 2 English and Maths

The practice will support the apprentice to attend:

- Medical terminology training
- Exceptional Customer Service Training
- Information Governance, Data Protection and GDPR training
- Potential to undertake GP assistant training in the future
- Ability to undertake NVQ level 3

**Job Types**: Full-time, Apprenticeship

**Salary**: £7.50 per hour

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Saint Agnes, TR5 0TN: reliably commute or plan to relocate