Job Summary To work as part of the Primary Health Care Team under the direction of the Assistant Practice Manager in providing an administrative support service to the practice population. The Practice Administration Assistant takes an active role in providing administrative support services to the patients and clinical team at the practice, including: The surgery premises are appropriately stewarded and kept tidy. Administering of the appointments system. Enquiries from patients are efficiently and courteously handled. The secretarial duties of the Practice, both paper and computer-based, are undertaken efficiently and promptly. Effective communication with all Primary Healthcare Team members. Holiday and sickness cover for absent colleagues. Key Tasks The surgery premises are appropriately stewarded and kept tidy: Opening the premises and checking heating, ventilation, and safety risks. Resuming telephone services/setting answerphones. Ventilating and tidying the waiting room. Ensuring the reception area is always left tidy and ready for use. Closing the premises and checking telephone answerphone on, lights etc. off and the building is secure. Administering of the appointments system: Receiving and marshalling patients on arrival. Making new and follow-up appointments. Receiving and recording requests for home visits and telephone consultations. Collation of appointment statistics as requested by the practice manager or partners. Enquiries from patients are efficiently and courteously handled: Provision of general information to patients. Answering enquiries. Registering new patients. Explaining surgery procedures. Receiving & processing requests for repeat (and acute) prescriptions. Completion of relevant forms. Receiving & processing patients payments. The secretarial duties of the practice, both paper and computer-based, are undertaken efficiently: Accessing and filing of patients paper records as requested by any clinician or the Practice Manager. Updating the computerised patient records as required. Return of requested records (with computer print-out) to the Registrations Department. Typing of letters and other documents as requested by any clinician or the practice manager. Processing referrals. The provision of regular data to Primary Care organisations as requested. Administration of patient recall systems. Issue of invitations for health promotion activities. Administration of office supplies stock. Photocopying. Filing. Help with newsletter/poster campaigns. Computer entry of summarised notes. Communication with all Primary Healthcare team members: Receiving, recording, and passing of messages for other Primary Health Care Team members. The completion of all tasks allocated to you personally or to your team. Tasks that are not completed should be delegated to a colleague at the change of shifts; that they are provided with information about any unresolved or urgent matters. Holiday and sickness cover for absent colleagues: Planned cover for absent colleagues as per the contract schedule. Ad-hoc cover for unforeseen circumstances. Miscellaneous: Making tea and coffee. Other duties, which may be required, and which are consistent with the responsibilities of the post as it now stands, and as it develops over time.