Job summary Our well-run GP surgery in Forest Hill, London, is looking for a dedicated receptionist to join our exceptional team. In this role, you'll be the first point of contact for our patients, providing a warm welcome and ensuring smooth operations within the practice. You'll work in a supportive and collaborative environment. If you're ready to be part of a great team that values excellence and compassion, we would love to hear from you Main duties of the job Job Summary o To provide reception and administrative duties to Woolstone Medical Centre, its patients, clients and visitors in a timely and efficient way. o To undertake a variety of administrative duties to assist in the smooth running of the practice. On a daily basis, individual staff will take the lead for certain areas within this job description as agreed with the Practice Manager. Lead responsibilities will be shared and will rotate on a regular basis to develop a core set of skills for all patient services staff. Provide general support to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors both in person and via the telephone. About us Located in the heart of Forest Hill, South East London, our practice is dedicated to providing exceptional healthcare services to our community. With a team of three partners, four salaried doctors, and four skilled nurses, we are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of our approximately 9,500 patients. Our administration team plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our practice, supporting both our medical staff and patients with care and efficiency. We pride ourselves on being a caring and considerate employer, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all applicants. At Woolstone Medical Centre, we are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and continuously strive to improve the health and well-being of our community. Date posted 07 January 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience £12.50 starting wage for 20-23 hours per week Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number A5086-WMC-Rec-2025-01 Job locations Woolstone Road London SE23 2SG Job description Job responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities: Reception Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the Practice. Manage the reception/waiting area, including being aware of your surroundings and patients in the waiting room, which doctors and nurses are currently working in the building and whether they have arrived for their clinics, observe clinics running late and advise patients waiting and offer apologies. Welcome all to the practice in a friendly, polite, professional and timely manner. Deal with patient and visitor enquiries, either face-to-face or by phone/e-mail, in a helpful and timely way. Inform and communicate with patients regarding services, including an update on waiting times and access to clinical staff. Make new/follow-up appointments as required by either the Practice or the patient. Take messages as appropriate with clear information, ensuring that the relevant partner, clinician or manager is informed in a timely way and with minimum disruption to clinical management. Be aware of safeguarding issues and be able to raise concerns, keeping up to date with training accordingly. Patient Services Co-ordinate practice appointments ensuring patient demand and maximum use are met, including follow up of non-attendees. Liaise with the Senior Receptionist regarding the needs of the patients and the appointments process. Respond to and resolve routine patient complaints within the structure defined by the Practice. Assist access to practice services for patients who have difficulty with routine access because of mobility, communication and other reasons, e.g. housebound patients, patients who dont speak English. Patient Literature Ensure that patient information in non-clinical areas is in good condition, informative and current. Co-ordinate with the nursing staff a calendar of health promotion displays in the non-clinical areas e.g. flu and travel immunisations, screening for heart disease and diabetes, child safety. Patient Administration Manage correspondence received by the Practice and ensure it reaches the appropriate person in a time way, taking action to reduce any delay or to inform the patient/person who has written of any delay, e.g. annual leave, recording action taken on the correspondence. Enter patient information on to the computer as required and as appropriate and within the correct time frame for safety of receipt of the information. Scan patient information correspondence, reports, results, etc promptly and in the correct records, ensuring that all recent correspondence is available when patients are seen. Collect and enter on database patient data e.g. ethnicity and profiling, defined clinical data, defined summarising tasks and the transfer of manual patient records to electronic. Ensure that clinicians have patient correspondence and results in a timely way and to undertake any administrative follow up action required such as follow-up/to come in letters and/or phone calls. Take the required administrative action regarding private medical work reports, completion of forms and ensuring the Practice Administrator is informed. Where appropriate, receive payments (e.g. for travel vaccinations, private medical reports, etc) ensuring that cash is kept secure. Assist patients in accessing services between primary and secondary care, e.g. chose and book, and other health care provision. Issue repeat prescriptions within clearly defined guidelines. Liaise as requested with other health care staff including community staff and pharmacies. Work with the Practice Manager regarding the day to day maintenance of practice patient administration systems, including the monitoring of and reporting on practice activity. Job description Job responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities: Reception Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the Practice. Manage the reception/waiting area, including being aware of your surroundings and patients in the waiting room, which doctors and nurses are currently working in the building and whether they have arrived for their clinics, observe clinics running late and advise patients waiting and offer apologies. Welcome all to the practice in a friendly, polite, professional and timely manner. Deal with patient and visitor enquiries, either face-to-face or by phone/e-mail, in a helpful and timely way. Inform and communicate with patients regarding services, including an update on waiting times and access to clinical staff. Make new/follow-up appointments as required by either the Practice or the patient. Take messages as appropriate with clear information, ensuring that the relevant partner, clinician or manager is informed in a timely way and with minimum disruption to clinical management. Be aware of safeguarding issues and be able to raise concerns, keeping up to date with training accordingly. Patient Services Co-ordinate practice appointments ensuring patient demand and maximum use are met, including follow up of non-attendees. Liaise with the Senior Receptionist regarding the needs of the patients and the appointments process. Respond to and resolve routine patient complaints within the structure defined by the Practice. Assist access to practice services for patients who have difficulty with routine access because of mobility, communication and other reasons, e.g. housebound patients, patients who dont speak English. Patient Literature Ensure that patient information in non-clinical areas is in good condition, informative and current. Co-ordinate with the nursing staff a calendar of health promotion displays in the non-clinical areas e.g. flu and travel immunisations, screening for heart disease and diabetes, child safety. Patient Administration Manage correspondence received by the Practice and ensure it reaches the appropriate person in a time way, taking action to reduce any delay or to inform the patient/person who has written of any delay, e.g. annual leave, recording action taken on the correspondence. Enter patient information on to the computer as required and as appropriate and within the correct time frame for safety of receipt of the information. Scan patient information correspondence, reports, results, etc promptly and in the correct records, ensuring that all recent correspondence is available when patients are seen. Collect and enter on database patient data e.g. ethnicity and profiling, defined clinical data, defined summarising tasks and the transfer of manual patient records to electronic. Ensure that clinicians have patient correspondence and results in a timely way and to undertake any administrative follow up action required such as follow-up/to come in letters and/or phone calls. Take the required administrative action regarding private medical work reports, completion of forms and ensuring the Practice Administrator is informed. Where appropriate, receive payments (e.g. for travel vaccinations, private medical reports, etc) ensuring that cash is kept secure. Assist patients in accessing services between primary and secondary care, e.g. chose and book, and other health care provision. Issue repeat prescriptions within clearly defined guidelines. Liaise as requested with other health care staff including community staff and pharmacies. Work with the Practice Manager regarding the day to day maintenance of practice patient administration systems, including the monitoring of and reporting on practice activity. Person Specification Skills Essential Good communication skills, both orally (in person and over the telephone) and in writing Time management skills Attention to detail Good IT skills Ability to accurately enter data Customer care skills Abilities Essential Ability to work on own initiative Ability to maintain strict confidentiality Able to work under pressure Calm and patient manner Ability to work to deadlines Ability to multitask and prioritize own workload Self-motivated with a high degree of personal integrity An organised approach to work Reliable Flexible with an adaptable approach Possessing sensitivity, tact and diplomacy Ability to analyse reports and audits Qualifications Essential Education to GCSE level / NVQ Level 2 or equivalent Desirable Higher qualification e.g. NVQ level 3, A Levels, or equivalent Experience Essential Customer service - not necessarily in Health sector Computer literacy - navigating through Windows environment Desirable Experience in a GP Practice or Health Care Organisation Experience with database systems Basic knowledge of clinical problems and medication usage Read code training Knowledge Essential Computer literate Desirable Basic knowledge of clinical problems and medication usage Knowledge of QOF and its requirements Person Specification Skills Essential Good communication skills, both orally (in person and over the telephone) and in writing Time management skills Attention to detail Good IT skills Ability to accurately enter data Customer care skills Abilities Essential Ability to work on own initiative Ability to maintain strict confidentiality Able to work under pressure Calm and patient manner Ability to work to deadlines Ability to multitask and prioritize own workload Self-motivated with a high degree of personal integrity An organised approach to work Reliable Flexible with an adaptable approach Possessing sensitivity, tact and diplomacy Ability to analyse reports and audits Qualifications Essential Education to GCSE level / NVQ Level 2 or equivalent Desirable Higher qualification e.g. NVQ level 3, A Levels, or equivalent Experience Essential Customer service - not necessarily in Health sector Computer literacy - navigating through Windows environment Desirable Experience in a GP Practice or Health Care Organisation Experience with database systems Basic knowledge of clinical problems and medication usage Read code training Knowledge Essential Computer literate Desirable Basic knowledge of clinical problems and medication usage Knowledge of QOF and its requirements 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. Employer details Employer name Woolstone Medical Centre Address Woolstone Road London SE23 2SG Employer's website https://woolstonemedicalcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)