Practice Receptionist

Croft Medical Centre Huddersfield
We are recruiting additional reception staff due to introduction of additional services for patients and a rising practice list. We are located in a new purpose built surgery with excellent facilities for the practice team.

Previous experience working in general medical practice is desirable.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**JOB TITLE**: PRACTICE RECEPTIONIST

**REPORTS TO**: RECEPTION SUPERVISOR

**RESPONSIBLE TO**:PRACTICE BUSINESS MANAGER

**HOURS**: part time 15 hours per week

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

Provide general assistance to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, in person and via the telephone

**Reception Duties**:

- Answering telephone calls and dealing with face to face enquiries
- Dealing with all requests in an efficient and courteous manner
- Politely greeting patients and visitors to the centre
- Registering new patients at the surgery
- Explaining the practice procedures to new patients
- Opening post and forwarding it onto the relevant parties.
- Writing letters and correspondence on behalf of the surgery and medical staff
- Scheduling appointments for patients
- Updating the surgery computer system with appointments and personal details
- Making sure that the appointments system runs smoothly
- Accurately collecting information and personal details about patients
- Arranging any necessary follow up appointments for patients with hospitals or with other healthcare professionals
- Screening enquiries for the doctors and medical staff
- Liaising with couriers and delivery companies
- Receiving urine and blood samples and sending them off to hospital laboratories
- Arranging prescriptions for patients
- Ability to prioritise and organise work
- General knowledge of office procedures and policies
- Ability to efficiently file alphabetically and numerically
- Use Microsoft Office Outlook and Word confidently
- Making sure that the waiting areas are kept tidy
- Maintaining a clean reception area to demonstrate a professional image
- Awareness of the rules and regulations relating to medical documentation, including but not limited to, data protection, information governance and confidentiality
- Awareness of equality and diversity

**Personal Attributes**:

- Ensure a professional appearance and demeanour at all times
- Efficient
- Have a flexible approach to work
- Remain calm under pressure
- Excellent concentration skills

**Key Competencies & Skills**:
Office administration

Keyboard skills

Literary skills

Time management

**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 carer, 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 people’s 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 programmes implemented by the practice as part of this employment,