Receptionist (Maternity Cover) - Upper Eden Medical Practice

Cumbria Health; Kirkby Stephen; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Kirkby Stephen seeks an enthusiastic Receptionist for maternity cover at Upper Eden Medical Practice. The role offers 25.5 hours per week and requires someone reliable, flexible, and able to work well in a team. Responsibilities include managing patient interactions, processing confidential information, and maintaining a high standard of confidentiality. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and previous NHS experience, in a supportive and patient-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Reliable and flexible team player who enjoys working with the public.
• Experience in a similar role and within the NHS is beneficial.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for patients arriving at the Practice.
• Maintain confidentiality and process patient information.
• Alert relevant professionals for patients with worsening symptoms.
• Participate in ongoing development and adhere to policies.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to prioritise and manage own workload

Friendly, helpful and can do approach

Excellent organisational skills

Able to work under pressure

Education

GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)

ECDL or equivalent

NVQ Business Administration

Job description

Receptionist (Maternity Cover) - Upper Eden Medical Practice

We are looking for an enthusiastic Receptionist to join our team at Upper Eden Medical Practice on a part-time basis - 25.5 hours per week. This position is a maternity cover for 9 months, with the possibility of extension.

The role is ideal for someone who is reliable, flexible, a team player and enjoys working with the public. We require our reception team to work with autonomy and a high degree of confidentiality, sensitivity, discretion, empathy and tact.

You’ll be working as part of our reception team, and will contribute to delivering high-quality support for patients. We pride ourselves on being responsive, understanding, and doing the best that we can to address the needs of our patients, and are looking for someone like-minded to join us. We’re caring, inclusive, and a great bunch to work with.

Maternity cover for 9 months - 25.5 hours per week available:

Monday 8.30am - 6.30pm

Tuesday 8.30am - 8.00pm

Closing Date: 6th January 2026

Interview Date: 13th January 2026

Important Notice: This vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment.

WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR MOBILE NUMBER ON YOUR APPLICATION SO WE CAN CONTACT YOU IF NEEDED. PLEASE ALSO CHECK YOUR SPAM OR JUNK FOLDER REGULARLY AS EMAILS FROM US MAY OCCASIONALLY BE FILTERED THERE.

Please note that we are unable to offer an Employer Sponsored Visa for this role.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the efficient running of the reception area at Upper Eden Medical practice.

This includes general administration, data entry, equipment checks and liaison with multi-disciplinary teams.

All staff are expected to work to Cumbria Health Values:

• Clinically focused - Everything every one of us does is for the patient
• Responsive - We listen, and we respond quickly in a patient focussed way
• One Team - We work together to provide a high-quality service which is organised and consistent, and in partnership with both the local Acute and Community Trusts
• High Standards - We provide skilled professionals working to the highest standards who are passionate about improving patient care
• Growth & Sustainability - With our strong roots we will continue to thrive andb>Communities - Connecting and engaging to meet local needs

About us

Cumbria Health places the patient, their family and their community at the heart of everything we do. We are an award-winning organisation, the first out-of-hours organisation in the country to be rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

We provide primary health care services, both in and out of hours, across Cumbria. We are values-driven and place great emphasis on inclusivity and the wellbeing and development of our staff, while striving to provide a consistently high-quality service. Our service is designed to improve health and wellbeing.

Working for Cumbria Health can offer flexible opportunities in terms of location, hours and working patterns so you can enjoy a great work life balance. In order to provide the best patient care we understand the importance of ensuring staff satisfaction and are consistently trying to ensure we offer our staff a positive working environment whether that be through training or social events.

Listen to your heart. Have the work life balance you'd love.

Job responsibilities

This list of duties and responsibilities, which follows, represents the broad range of tasks which may be required to be undertaken either routinely or periodically. This list is not exhaustive, and the role may include additional duties which are not listed here.

• Tobe the first point of contact for patients arriving at the Practice.
• Processing confidential patient information to pass to Clinicians.
• Contacting patients with appointment times.
• Keep a watchful eye on patients waiting to be seen and in the case of worsening symptoms, alerting a relevant professional.
• Alerting Emergency Services in the event of an emergency and/or gain help from within the department.
• Gain a understanding of coordinating workload to capacity.
• To work autonomously, managing own workload effectively referring to line manager when necessary.
• To adhere to all CH Policies and Procedures.
• Participate and ensure own on-going development.
• To maintain a high level of confidentiality and comply with the Data Protection Act. Be aware of the nature of information dealt with and work in a manner which ensures confidentiality and security.
• Undertake any other activities deemed appropriate and necessary by the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)
• ECDL or equivalent
• NVQ Business Administration

Skills and Aptitudes

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent telephone manner
• Ability to prioritise & manage own workload
• Friendly, helpful and can do approach
• Ability to carry out work accurately to specified deadlines
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Previous experience working within the NHS.
• Previous experience in a similar role.

Personal Circumstances

• Positive
• Confident
• Well organised
• Good team player
• Flexible
• Ability to build rapport and effective relationships at all levels
• Demonstrate initiative
• Ability to maintain workload in a sometimes busy and demanding environment

Experience

• Previous experience working within the NHS.
• Previous experience in a similar role.

Other requirements

• Willingness to undertake further training

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.