Receptionist

You will be responsible for the general reception duties within the Practice and work with our established processes, policies and procedures to provide a comprehensive high quality service and deal efficiently and courteously with patient enquiries. You will receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way. You will provide 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. You will have excellent communication skills, a compassionate and friendly nature who can operate in a busy environment with a range of people and professions, as you will be working our clinical and administration teams. This role is ideal for someone who is highly organised and an effective communicator who can provide a professional and warm welcome to our patients, ensuring every contact is of the highest quality. Job Responsibilities RECEPTION Receiving patients, consulting with members of practice team Handing completed repeat prescriptions to patient and checking names and address. Be able to cover all reception position as necessary Taking messages and passing on information Processing personal and telephone requests, telephone consultations and ensuring callers are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional or service. Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team member and associated healthcare agencies and providers Ensure that system is operational at the beginning of each day and switched over to night service and that the answer phone operational at the end of each day. APPOINTMENT SYSTEM MANAGEMENT Book/edit/cancel appointments and recalls ensuring sufficient information is recorded to retrieve medical record. Monitor effectiveness of the system and report any problems or variations required. Deal with home visit requests, carefully noting all details Arrange transport to hospital appointments for housebound patients CONFIDENTIALITY Maintain confidentiality of information, acting within the terms of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott guidance on patient confidentiality at all times. Maintain an awareness of the Freedom of Information Act. 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 manage their own and others health & safety and infection control as defined in the Practices Health & Safety Policy, the Practice Health & Safety Manual, and the Practices Infection Control Policy and published procedures. Comply with Practice health & safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures Actively report health & safety hazards and infection hazards immediately Keeping work and general areas clean and tidy, and using appropriate infection control procedures to keep work areas hygienic and safe from contamination. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually) Awareness and compliance with national standards of infection control, hygiene, regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines. Correct personal use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring correct use of PPE by others, advising on appropriate circumstances for use by clinicians, staff and patients. Reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY The post-holder will support, promote and maintain the Practices Equality & Diversity Policy.