Lead Receptionist

Bupa; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dental care provider in Tees Valley is seeking a Lead Receptionist to manage the reception area and ensure excellent patient experiences. Responsibilities include overseeing staff rotas, managing appointments, and providing support to patients during their visit. Applicants should have strong communication skills and prior experience in customer-focused roles. The position offers competitive pay, healthcare support, and career progression opportunities, making it ideal for those passionate about delivering excellent service.

Benefits

Competitive pay with training opportunities

Healthcare & wellbeing support

Financial & lifestyle benefits

Career pathways and progression

Additional health perks

Qualifications

• Confident leading a team and ensuring a positive patient experience.
• Previous experience in a customer-focused role is required.
• Strong face-to-face and telephone communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee reception and staff rotas while maintaining patient satisfaction.
• Handle diary and appointment management efficiently.
• Assist patients with processes and treatment options professionally.

Skills

Team leadership

Customer service experience

Strong communication skills

IT system usage

Proactive and flexible approach

Professionalism and empathy

Job description

At Bupa Dental Care, our receptionists are the first point of contact for our patients - welcoming them warmly, supporting them throughout their visit, and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. This is a varied role where you'll be at the heart of the practice, helping us deliver the excellent customer care we’re known for.

What you’ll be doing

As a Lead Receptionist, you’ll play a key role in making every patient experience a positive one:

• Oversee reception and staff rotas
• Customer care at the heart - warmly greeting patients in person and over the phone, answering queries, and ensuring a relaxed, welcoming environment.
• Diary & appointment management - handling bookings, cancellations, and rescheduling to keep the practice running efficiently.
• Supporting patients with confidence - explaining processes and treatment options, supporting payment transactions, and helping patients understand their options (private vs NHS services).
• Administration you can rely on - keeping patient records accurate and up to date, managing confidential information, and maintaining a professional reception area.
• Problem‑solving with empathy - handling concerns and complaints professionally, always aiming for a positive outcome.
• Being part of the team - supporting clinicians with smooth handovers and the patient journey from reception to treatment. Assisting with admin and helping the Practice Manager keep everything running smoothly.

You’ll thrive in this role if you’re people‑focused, empathetic and enjoy creating positive experiences. You’ll bring

• Confident leading a team
• Previous experience in a customer‑focused role.
• Strong communication skills, both face‑to‑face and over the phone.
• Confidence using IT systems to manage bookings and records.
• A proactive, flexible approach - ready to help where needed to support the team.
• Professionalism, empathy, and a genuine passion for delivering excellent service.
• Confident in promoting and upselling Bupa Dental Care products and services including plan options, finance and insurance claims.

Benefits of working with us

• Competitive pay - with opportunities to increase through training and development.
• Healthcare & wellbeing support - including quick access to remote GP, physiotherapy, and mental health services through MyHealthcare, plus an annual allowance of around £350 to spend on Bupa products. You’ll also have access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Family Mental HealthLine, Bupa’s Personal Energy wellbeing programme, and discounted dental insurance for you and your family.
• Financial & lifestyle benefits - from retail discounts and tools to support your financial wellbeing, to reduced rates at gyms and digital fitness providers across the UK. You’ll also have the flexibility of Wagestream, giving you access to your pay before payday.
• Career pathways and progression - ongoing training and support to grow with Bupa Dental Care.
• Additional health perks - Cycle to Work Scheme, free annual flu vaccine, discounted eye tests, and Bupa’s Menopause Plan.
• … and much more, just ask!

Why join us?

At Bupa Dental Care, you’ll be part of a supportive, welcoming team where you can make a real difference to patients every single day. We’ll give you the tools and training you need to succeed, along with opportunities to grow your career in a business that puts people first.

If you’re organised, approachable, and love helping people, this could be the perfect role for you.

To find out more about working with us, find us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

We encourage all of our people to “Be you at Bupa”, we champion diversity, and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. That’s why we especially encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Bupa takes pride in being a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will aim to offer an interview/assessment to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. We are committed to ensuring you are treated fairly during the recruitment process and offer reasonable adjustments to anyone who may benefit from accommodations to the recruitment process.

Bupa Dental Care is an equal opportunities employer.