Receptionist / Reception Patient Advisor

The Waterloo Practice is located in the HD5 area of Huddersfield. We have six approachable and supportive GP partners, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, a full team of Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants and management, reception and admin team who deliver first class care for approximately 9,700 patients locally.

We are able to offer pleasant purpose built working premises, friendly and supportive team colleagues, opportunities to develop skills and an NHS pension. We are a supportive and forward thinking Practice, valuing the contribution employees make to achieve a safe, effective and responsive service. We are looking for an enthusiastic team player who is likely to have some knowledge of the medical environment, will be computer literate, well organised and capable of paying attention to detail.

The standard hours of the post are 27.5 hours a week working either 7.30am -1pm or 1pm - 6.30pm Monday to Friday however flexibility is required to cover for colleagues absences.
- 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 using IT technologies

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

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 Practice Manager or Deputy Practice Manager, dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels:

- Opening up/locking-up of practice premises and maintaining security in accordance with practice protocols
- Maintaining and monitoring the practice appointments system
- Processing personal and telephone requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations and ensuring callers are care navigated to the appropriate healthcare professional
- Monitoring patient flow and taking action where there is congestion, non-attendees and cancellations
- Helping patients who may be in an emotional state by providing information and reassurance as necessary, elevating issues to clinicians in accordance with protocols
- Processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail
- Taking messages and passing on information
- Handling petty cash and monies associated with payment of fees by patients
- 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
- Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms as required
- Preparing consulting rooms for consultations
- Chaperoning
- Providing clerical assistance to practice and Trust staff as required from time to time, including word/data processing, filing, photocopying and scanning
- Ordering, re-ordering and monitoring of stationery and other supplies
- Receiving samples for investigation
- Dealing with clinical waste, including attending to accidental spillage
- Provision of refreshments for staff and visitors as required; loading and emptying the dishwasher and keeping the kitchen area clean and tidy
- Keeping the reception area and waiting room tidy and free from obstructions with notice-boards and leaflet dispensers up to date
- Contributing and making suggestions for improving service provision
- Working to standard operating procedures at all times
- Working flexibly to provide cover for colleagues when needed

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:
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