Peripatetic Receptionist

Royal Devon; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a part-time Peripatetic Receptionist for the Surgical Division. This 1-year fixed-term post is 22.5 hours per week, with shifts across 0830–1700 and cross-cover across multiple Surgical Reception areas including Heavitree.

You will be the first point of contact, delivering courteous, empathetic patient service and assisting consultants and hospital staff.

Qualifications

• Excellent patient care and empathy when interacting with patients and carers.
• Strong communication and customer service skills for a healthcare setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an Administrative Team in NHS environment.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients and gather required personal data for patient records.
• Book appointments and respond to enquiries efficiently.
• Liaise with hospital staff and cross-cover during absences.
• Handle telephone calls and assist colleagues across the department.

Skills

Excellent patient care

Great communicator

Customer service

Team player

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Receptionist to work as part of an established Administration Team in the Surgical Division for a 1 year Fixed Term.

The key aspects of the role to include:

• Providing excellent patient care. Hospital visits can be stressful and daunting, so you will be a great communicator with strong customer service skills to put our patients at ease, treating them with tact and empathy
• Ensuring all administrative processes and enquiries are dealt with in an efficient and timely manner. Typical tasks that you will complete are:
• Greeting patients, ensuring you collect all relevant personal data for the patient record upon booking in a patient to clinic, in line with the access policy.
• Booking appointments when asked to do so
• Liaisingwith other Health staff
• Assisting and supporting other members of the Administrative Team across the Department or Division, including dealing with telephone calls and resolving enquiries for patients, their carers and visitors.

About the Role

More detail about the role

We have an exciting opportunity for someone looking to work within the Surgical Division as a Peripatetic Receptionist post arising in our Surgical Receptionist team. We have a 1year Fixed Term post available at 22.5 hours per week. The department is staffed Monday to Friday between 0830 -1700. The post-holder will work alongside other Peripatetic Receptionists on our various Surgical Reception areas including Heavitree site on occasion and, they would be expected to provide cross-cover between the team and to provide cover absence. This is a fun dynamic team to work in.

Your role is to ensure all patients and visitors are provided with above-and-beyond service. The post holder's approach to patients will always be with care and compassion, ensuring courtesy and respect at all times. An outgoing personality, approachability and a professional demeanour is essential as you will be the initial point of contact for our patients and visitors as well as assisting consultants and other hospital staff.

You will assist in providing a reception service, including responding to telephone enquiries, greeting and directing patients and visitors around the department.

You must be highly motivated with excellent communication skills, an ability to use your own initiative and work well under pressure. You will be adaptable, proactive, reliable and an excellent team member with good customer service skills and/or experience. Knowledge of working in a hospital environment and being proactive and organised is desirable. You will be working with a wide range of people and communicating with people across the Trust.

Applicants will be encouraged to undergo any courses relating to the role to advance them.

Here at the Royal Devon University Hospital, our aim is to enrich patient care by promoting clinically excellent outcomes.

Our vision is to provide safe, high quality seamless services delivered with courtesy and respect. To achieve our vision, we expect all our staff to uphold our Trust values. Our Trust values are:

• Compassion
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Empowerment

Our vision is to provide safe, high quality seamless services delivered with courtesy and respect. To achieve our vision, we expect all our staff to uphold our Trust values. Our Trust values are: Compassion, Inclusion, Integrity and Empowerment.

Working Pattern: 3 days a week from 08.30 - 5pm TBC

Interview Date:Friday 20th November 2026

For further information please contact: Sally-Anne Long, Admin Line Manager on 01392 402646 or [e-mail]

This is a fixed term contract for 12 months. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation TrustandNorthern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.

• Salary Band 2: £25,272 per annum pro rata
• Frequency Annual
• Vacancy Reference 185-1483-14636
• Contract Type Fixed Term
• Closing Date 12 November, 2026
• Job Category Administration