The purpose of the role is to: Work within a team of receptionist to provide an efficient reception service to patients; Deal with patients in a courteous and effective manner presenting a friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone; Undertake a variety of administrative duties to assist in the efficient running of reception services including the provision clerical support to clinical staff and other members of the practice team: Communicate effectively with patients, staff and other healthcare professionals. Duties and responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities of the medical receptionist post are outlined below - duties may vary from time to time to accommodate emerging and evolving issues affecting practice services: Work with colleagues to provide good customer care to all our patients; Receive callers both in person and by telephone and process requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations and ensuring callers are triaged to the appropriate healthcare professional; Taking messages and passing on information to members of the clinical team; Using the surgery clinical systems to process patient data including the booking of appointments, processing repeat prescription requests and the processing and recording of associated patient information in accordance with practice procedures; Scanning of patient information, maintaining filing systems and retrieving paperwork as required; Conform to practice policies, information governance and procedures; Providing clerical assistance to support the practice in its day to day business including word/data processing and photocopying, processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail; Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare agencies and providers; Assist in maintaining surgery security and health & safety requirements. Any other duties as directed. 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. Health & Safety: The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks; Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills; Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards; Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised; Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role; Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually); Report Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation; Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues; Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. 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: Mandatory training and events; Learning programmes to maximise skills and performance; Undergo an annual review of progress and performance. Quality: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk; Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision; Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance; Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs; Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. Communication: 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. Contribution to the implementation of the Surgerys Services: The post-holder will: Apply practice policies, protocols, standards and guidance as directed; Participate in team meetings and discussions to promote good practice and excellence in service; Participate in audit and co-operate in external inspections where necessary.