Job summary: It is the responsibility of each receptionist to assist in the smooth running of the Practice in general, and the reception area in particular, and to project a positive and friendly image to our patients and other professionals who may contact us either in person or via the telephone. To facilitate patients accessing the clinical care provided by the practice. To support the GPs and Nurses in providing that care. To act as first point of contact for anyone accessing the practice. Job responsibilities: Greeting and booking in or patients for surgeries and clinics. Dealing with patient enquiries efficiently and courteously. The receiving and recording of telephone messages taking appropriate action Making appointments on EMIS, by processing appointment requests for today, future appointments from patients in person and on the telephone. Restoring the telephone service in the morning and checking for any messages. Dealing with all telephone queries/requests from patients, and acting as liaison with the Doctors/Nurses as necessary. Pulling and filing medical records as necessary. Processing repeat prescriptions and filing for collection within 48 hours Taking home visit requests Advising patients of relevant charges for private services Receiving specimens from patients ensuring all their details have been recorded whilst following Health & Safety policy Tidying waiting room after surgery, ensuring premises are kept tidy between visits from the cleaning staff, tidy and sort magazines and leaflets, discarding old and damaged items as necessary. 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: 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 confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health & Safety The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety an Infection Control policies. This will include (but will not be limited to): - Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / - contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice, including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff Knowledge of hand hygiene Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed. Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers Undertaking periodic infection control training Spillage control procedures, management and training Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance Maintenance of sterile environments Personal / Professional Development The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, 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