Job responsibilities Summary of Post: The receptionist is the first contact between the patient and the practice. She should be pleasant, helpful and accurate in communication. The reception staff are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the reception area. Key Elements of the Job: To maintain medical confidentiality. To provide a friendly, helpful, accurate and prompt service to the patients. Answering the telephone and conveying messages To perform the administrative tasks needed. To participate in the necessary training for the position. Confidentiality Maintenance of confidentiality is obligatory. The administration staff must not pass on medical information about a patient to anyone outside the Practice, without the express instruction from a Doctor or the Practice Manager. 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 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 and 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. Communication The patients communicate with the practice either in person or via the telephone. Communication should be pleasant and helpful. Information must be passed on accurately and with the appropriate urgency. The post holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Appointments You will be responsible for a proportion of the administration of the appointment systems, for the G.P.s and Practice Nurses. Home Visits You will also be responsible for the administration of the home visit book, with the responsibility of recording home visits as requested by the patient, G.P., and District Nurse, with the responsibility of passing on urgent house calls to the on-call Doctor. Repeat prescriptions You will be responsible for taking requests for repeat prescriptions by the patients, either in person or over the telephone. Information for Patients The receptionists are responsible for the communication of information to the patients at the Doctors, Practice Manager and Practice Nurse request. You will also facilitate the communication between other members of the Primary Health Care Team. You will be responsible for dealing with day-to-day general enquiries from patients. Clerical Duties As part of your duties you will be required the file and retrieve patients medical records, results and hospital letters. You will also be responsible for entering information on to the practices computer system, and retrieving information from the computer system. Key Tasks Answer telephone calls and deal with queries promptly, responding or taking messages as appropriate ensuring that an accurate, quality information service is provided. To manage the appointment system so that patients are able to see clinicians in appropriate time and manner. Signpost patients to the most appropriate service for their care To open and organise the distribution of the post To file information into patients notes using scanning where appropriate. To photocopy and file information To work flexibly with colleagues to cover the opening hours of the surgery, including opening and closing the surgery by arrangement. To attend training sessions where relevant to work. Collecting data and entering data on to the clinical system. Assist in the recording and retrieving of information for QOF. Helping new reception staff and training of new reception staff. In addition: Some staff with specific training will be required to: Issue repeat prescriptions for checking and signing by the Doctors. Arrange clinics and process data as required. Maintain stock rotation scanning of documentation into records Dealing with tasks Please note that this post will require you to travel between sites. The sites are approx. 2 miles apart, Hours of work are between 8am and 6.30pm