Main duties of the job Before we get to the job description, please note our 'practice beliefs' below. -We wish to provide a patient-focused, friendly, efficient service. -We want to try and help patients, team members & our NHS colleagues whenever possible. -We promote an inclusive working environment -We believe in booking the right appointment with the right clinician (asking questions in the right way & offering alternatives and signposting to more appropriate services). -We promote a child-friendly environment & attitude. We encourage a no fear, comfortable environment for children as we wish to create & nurture future practice/patient relationships from a young age. -We are always willing to help. We do not want to be obstructive or seen to be creating barriers for patients. -We like todays work done today (whenever possible). -We don't believe in asking patients to ring back tomorrow. We strive at all times to try & deal with their query at the time. -We have created & try to maintain a positive, friendly environment to work in. -We have created and work hard to maintain good relationships with patients & other agencies (ICB, Trusts, PCNs, Community Teams etc). We are lucky to have a helpful, friendly and sympathetic team who work hard to maintain good relationships with each other, our patients and the wider team & we continue to build upon our good reputation. -The safety and well-being of our team is extremely important and with this in mind, we do not tolerate anyone abusing our staff Overview of your organisation Imeary Medical Group is a small, very friendly, forward-thinking, digitally motivated GP Practice with 4,250 patients situated in South Shields, very close to good transport links, schools, independent shops & businesses. We aim to provide excellent clinical care to our patients within a supportive, sustainable environment for our team. We are part of Primary Care Network South, delivering services to patients in the close surrounding area, as well as the whole of South Tyneside. JOB TITLE: PATIENT SERVICES (MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST) HOURS: 24.5 (must be available for overtime when required, for example covering colleague sickness, annual leave and Extended Access sessions) REPORTS TO: PATIENT SERVICES MANAGER Job responsibilities: Reception Welcome patients on arrival in a friendly & courteous manner and monitor the flow of patients during consultations, informing them about changes or delays and dealing with queries as required Assist patients with online registration, eConsult, self-check in and all relevant online services To participate in covering Reception and all associated work in regards Extended Access and Extended Hours (shared working of some evenings, early mornings and weekends) To work in accordance with written protocols Deal with administrative tasks as requested by clinical staff (eg contacting patients for review following test results, changing appointments etc) Ensure all messages from patients, medical personnel, other health service staff and the general public are recorded accurately and passed on to the appropriate staff member via electronic means whenever possible (ie task, notification or e-mail as per protocol) To liaise confidently and professionally with health care professionals and attached staff Ensure patients are informed about medical students, doctors or other clinical staff in training and ask for consent as required Safely send emails and texts to patients and other agencies as required following protocol Use eConsult Lite to assist you when making appointments Promote/register patients with onlinePatient Access, advise patients of the Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS) and the NHS App Issuing repeat prescriptions and sending electronically to GP Managing the Medicines Management workflow prescription requests Open and stamp all incoming post and pass to Admin for processing in a timely manner Regularly check the script box for out of date scripts & the sick note collection box for sick notes more than 3 months old and record and destroy as per policy Regularly check the 'Letters/Reports Collection Box' and record/destroy out of date items as per policy Arrange and print off specimen/blood forms using ICE system (at clinician request) Giving results to patients Deal appropriately with incoming urgent documents and work Manage all aspects of reception position as necessary There may be very occasional times when you are required to work alone in the practice (we have a lone worker policy you must adhere to). Appointments Process appointment requests from patients by telephone and in person via eConsult Lite following protocols to allocate to appropriate clinician and prioritise urgent requests Record visit requests on EMIS in line with protocols Make appointments as advised by Admin/HCA/Practice Manager i.e. contact patients to make annual chronic disease review appts etc Computer/IT To be proficient in the use of EMISWeb appointments, tasks, notifications, electronic repeat prescriptions and accessing records in accordance with protocols and using practice templates where available. Registration of new patients computer data entry and medical records. Process patients change of address and contact details computer data and medical records (have knowledge of practice area). Process repeat prescription request in accordance with practice guidelines. During each shift check and respond to NHSmail e-mails as appropriate Use technology available ie AccuRx for sending texts to patients Create posters and information documents as required Telephone Have working knowledge of telephone system, during and after hours. Logging in and out of phone system appropriately Deal with incoming calls or re-direct to the appropriate member of staff Ensure phone messages are correct and up to date ready for closures via online portal Other Tasks & Housekeeping Duties Ensure working areas are kept clean and tidy as required Ensure public areas (Reception/Waiting Room) are kept tidy and welcoming Ensure reception office is kept tidy and professional Management of stock in your work area Any other tasks appropriate to your role as requested by Management Skills & qualities required for the role of Medical Receptionist Excellent understanding of confidentiality in general practice/NHS Ability to work as part of a team and autonomously when required Must be able to signpost effectively Must be open, honest and trustworthy Must be professional and have integrity Must have IT skills (EMIS knowledge essential)) Must have excellent communication skills (be articulate, be able to listen, use facial expressions & body language, take accurate notes etc) Must be reliable, well organised and flexible Must have the ability to remain calm and be calming Must ensure decision-making process considers effects on patients, staff and business Must be friendly, enthusiastic, courteous & compassionate Must have pride in self, team and workplace Must be driven & highly motivated with the ability to motivate, a forward thinker with a can do attitude Must be able to use initiative and delegate, but also be able to take and give direction Must have the ability to be assertive and firm when required and to act fairly & with empathy whilst considering the rights, needs and wants of others 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.