Medical Receptionist in Birkenhead

St Catherine's Surgery is a well-established GP practice on the Wirral and has over 15,000 patients. We have an exciting opportunity for a receptionist to join our caring, hard-working, dedicated practice team. We are seeking someone with experience of working within a customer focused setting who will work 37.5 hours per week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday including late cover (until 1830). Salary will be £24,245 per annum on completion of probation. The closing date is 15th February and interviews will be held week commencing 23rd February. Informal visits to the surgery will be available for those candidates shortlisted; if you have not been contacted about an interview please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you have applied previously and not been selected for interview please do not re-apply. For informal enquiries please contact the Patient Services Manager (Janine Clarke, 0151 643 6700).

Main duties of the job:

• 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.
• Any other duties as required.

Duties and responsibilities:

• 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-stock 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.
• 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. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

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.

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.

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment.

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to communicate effectively with other team members, patients and carers.

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will apply practice policies, standards and guidance.

Person Specification:

• Computer literate with excellent keyboard skills.
• Self-starter, able to work on own initiative, following set procedures and protocols.
• Reception/Customer Care experience.
• Use of clinical system software e.g. EMIS.

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.