Receptionist

Merchant Street Practice is looking for a friendly, professional, and organised Receptionist to join their busy and welcoming practice team. The reception team plays an essential role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the practice. As the first point of contact for many patients, you will help deliver a positive patient experience while providing essential administrative support to the clinical and management teams.

The successful candidate will be approachable, reliable, confident in communicating with patients and colleagues, and able to work effectively in a busy healthcare environment.

Main Duties of the Job

• Cover reception desk, telephones, and main reception duties in keeping with the Practice Protocol in a prompt and courteous manner, giving your name as a first point of contact.
• Always be polite and courteous to patients, presenting a positive image of the surgery, and always maintain patient confidentiality.
• Take and redirect messages both accurately and in a timely manner.
• Liaise and answer questions from patients and all members of the Health Authority.
• Supervise and assist, when necessary, any administrative staff or students in work placement.
• Make tea and coffee as necessary.
• Book and/or email interpreters as and when required.
• Arrange appointments and send out recall letters for allocated Chronic Disease Quality Marker Clinics.
• Adhere to and assist with the coordination of office rotas to ensure sufficient cover during breaks, annual leave, and sick leave.
• Facilitate changeover between morning and afternoon shifts.
• Be flexible in the workplace in terms of hours worked and as and when the need arises.
• Attend practice and reception meetings, contributing to discussions on matters of practice policy affecting patients and staff.
• Open premises at the start of the day when first arrive, deactivate alarms, and make all necessary arrangements to receive patients.
• Assist in the closing and securing of the building at the end of the working day.

About Us Merchant Street Practice is a well-established and busy practice based in the Bow area of Tower Hamlets, with a patient list of over 12,000. The practice has a large and diverse multidisciplinary team working together to provide high-quality care to the local community.

Person Specification Qualifications:

• Good General Education
• Ability to communicate in English both verbally and written
• To work on own initiative
• Ability to remain calm under Pressure
• Previous work with the public
• Friendly and helpful
• Compassionate and sympathetic
• Commitment to work as part of a team

Desirable Qualifications:

• Well-developed IT skills
• Working knowledge of EMIS
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Common sense
• Tidy appearance
• Flexible approach to working times
• Approachable

Experience:

• Some customer service experience
• Experience of working in General Practice (desirable)

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.