Receptionist NHS - Casual

Penrose Health; Greater London; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

Penrose Health in London is seeking a Receptionist NHS - Casual to be the first face patients see. This hands-on, front-of-house role involves greeting patients, checking them in, taking vitals, and supporting the clinical team.

Full training is provided; no clinical background is required. You must enjoy working with people, stay calm under pressure, and be accurate and patient-focused in a busy NHS environment.

Qualifications

• No prior clinical experience required; full training provided.
• You enjoy being with people, stay calm under pressure, and take pride in small, accurate work.

Responsibilities

• Stand at the front of the practice to greet patients and visitors as they arrive – active, on-your-feet role
• Move between the entrance, waiting area and observation space to check patients in for appointments
• Take and record patient vitals and observations ahead of their consultation
• Prepare patients for their appointment, ensuring the clinician has up-to-date information
• Support safe and smooth patient flow through the practice
• Use empathy and de-escalation skills with anxious, unwell or upset patients
• Keep observation and waiting areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Escalate urgent in-person concerns to the clinical team when needed

Skills

People skills

Communication

Calm under pressure

Attention to detail

Flexible shifts

Job description

Receptionist NHS - Casual

Department: Patient Welcome

Employment Type: Zero Hours

Location: South East London Sites

Compensation: £12.82 - £13.20 / hour

Description

We're looking for Patient Coordinators to be the first face patients see when they walk through our doors. This is a hands-on, front-of-house role - You wont be answering phones, that is handled centrally. Instead, you'll be out at the front of the waiting area, greeting patients as they arrive, checking them in for their appointment, and taking their vitals to help prepare them to see the clinician.

Patients don't always arrive at their best - they may be unwell, anxious or worried. You'll be the calm, reassuring presence that helps them feel looked after from the moment they step inside, while making sure their information and observations are accurate and ready for the clinical team.

No previous clinical experience is required - full training is provided. What matters most is that you're someone who genuinely enjoys being with people, stays calm under pressure, and takes pride in getting the small things right.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stand at the front of the practice to greet patients and visitors in person as they arrive - this is an active, on-your-feet role
• Move between the entrance, waiting area and observation space to check patients in for their appointments face-to-face
• Take and record patient vitals and observations ahead of their consultation
• Prepare patients for their appointment, ensuring the clinician has accurate, up-to-date information
• Support safe and smooth patient flow through the practice
• Use empathy and de-escalation skills to support patients who are anxious, unwell or upset
• Keep the observation and waiting areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Escalate urgent in-person concerns to the clinical team when needed

What we're looking for:

• You'd rather be up and moving, working directly with people, than sat behind a desk
• You're a natural at putting people at ease, even when they're stressed or unwell
• You stay calm and clear-headed when things get busy
• You take pride in accuracy and attention to detail, even when working quickly
• You're comfortable picking up new systems and processes (full training given — no clinical background needed)
• You see yourself as part of the patient's care, not just their check-in
• You're happy working rota-based shifts, including opening and/or closing the practice — we don't offer middle-of-the-day-only shifts
• You can work flexibly across early and late shifts within our compressed hours (8:00am – 6:30pm)
• You're comfortable with the responsibility of opening and closing the practice, including locking up