Patient Services Coordinator – Part-Time NHS Reception in Rotherham

Clifton Medical Centre require a Receptionist to assist in the day to day running of our busy surgery. Previous experience is preferred but not essential as full training will be given. Applicants must have excellent telephone and communication skills, be able to work under pressure and have good IT and interpersonal skills. The post is part time (25 hours) fixed term position for 12 months. The working hours for the position are as follows: Monday and Tuesday 8am to 1.30pm, Thursday 1pm to 6.30pm and Friday 9.30am to 6.30pm (with a 30 minute lunch break). A Job Share is acceptable. We are looking for a real team player who is proactive, self-motivated, enthusiastic and able to deliver Practice goals.

Main duties of the job:

• Answering telephone calls
• Booking appointments
• Dealing with queries
• Greeting patients and visitors

About us:

Clifton Medical Centre is a large town centre Practice with 13000 patients. We have a branch surgery at Wickersley and have an established multi-disciplinary team.

Job responsibilities:

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

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 senior receptionist/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 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
• Clearing and re-stocking of consulting rooms as required
• Providing clerical assistance to practice 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
• Dealing with clinical waste
• Provide cover across both main and branch sites
• 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, notice-boards and leaflet dispensers tidy and free from obstructions and clutter

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, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will 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, free from hazards
• Actively reporting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holder's role
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
• Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

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 recognises 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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, with 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 team's performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise people's 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:

Experience:

• Experience of working in a patient/customer facing role, within a fast paced environment.
• Experience of working in primary care.

Qualifications:

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths, or equivalent experience.
• IT skills, preferably within a NHS healthcare setting, however not essential.

Skills:

• Ability to provide quality care with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Knowledge:

• A good understanding of the role of a receptionist within a primary care setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.