Receptionist / Trainee Admin Assistant

NHS; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A rural health practice in Gillingham is seeking a Receptionist to support our patients as a first point of contact. The successful candidate will engage with patients, manage appointments, and ensure accurate record-keeping. Training will be provided for administrative tasks, including the use of the SystmOne system. Applicants should demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and a professional attitude. The role offers flexible working hours across four days with a competitive rate of £12.21 per hour plus pension contributions.

Benefits

14.38% employer pension contribution within NHS Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer service role preferred.
• Willingness to train in other aspects of work within the practice.
• Ability to multi-task and keep calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Answer the telephone and deal with enquiries.
• Make appointments by telephone and personal requests.
• Register new and temporary patients.
• Input data to the computer system.
• Lock-up of surgery at closing time.

Skills

Good telephone manner

Ability to work under pressure

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Computer use experience

Tools

SystmOne

Job description

Overview

At Silton Surgery we are seeking an additional member of staff to work as a receptionist with a view to train in admin, being the first point of contact for patients and liaising with clinical teams that support our patients. As every patient is unique, the practice is a complex place to work but full training will be provided. We use a computer system called SystmOne which is used at many GP practices across the country.

Main duties

DUTIES ONCE TRAINED:

• Answer the telephone and deal with enquiries.
• Make appointments by telephone and personal requests.
• Register new and temporary patients.
• Take accurate note of any changes in patients’ personal details and update computer and written records.
• Input data to computer system.
• Scanning documents onto the computer system.
• Deal with patients collecting medication: give prescription form and ensure it is correctly completed; collect appropriate fees and record accurately; ensure that correct medication is given to the patient or their representative; ensure accurate records are kept of the above.
• Lock-up of surgery at closing time, including switching off computers, printers, photocopiers, etc.
• The successful candidate will need to be flexible and prepared to provide cover for training, holiday and sickness.

About us

Silton Surgery is a small, rural general practice with just over 2400 patients and an experienced group of staff including: 1 GP Partner, 2 Locum GP, 3 Practice Nurses, 1 GP assistant and 4 admin/reception staff who dovetail a range of duties, including reception tasks, dispensing, administration and secretarial tasks. We are looking for someone with a professional attitude and excellent interpersonal skills who will be able to interact positively with our patients, as well as with other members of the practice team. The ability to multi-task and keep calm under pressure are important in this role, as is attention to detail. A clear understanding of the confidential nature of dealing with patients is essential. We are a friendly, tight-knit team but flexibility is essential in this role as cross cover with other team members is required for training time, holiday and sickness cover.

Job responsibilities

Receptionist / trainee admin assistant

At Silton Surgery we are seeking an additional member of staff to train as a qualified dispenser. Silton Surgery is a small, rural general practice with just over 2400 patients and an experienced group of staff including: 1 GP Partner, 2 Locum GP, 3 Practice Nurses, 1 GP assistant and 4 admin/reception staff who dovetail a range of duties, including reception tasks, dispensing, administration and secretarial tasks. We are looking for someone with a professional attitude and excellent interpersonal skills and who will be able to interact positively with our patients, as well as with other members of the practice team. The ability to multi-task and keep calm under pressure are important in this role, as is attention to detail. A clear understanding of the confidential nature of dealing with patients is essential. We are a friendly, tight-knit team but flexibility is essential in this role as cross cover with other team members is required for training time, holiday and sickness cover.

A system is used: SystmOne. If you are not a trained dispenser we are able to offer you dispensary training; there is a nationally recognised qualification provided by Buttercups Training which the staff member will be expected to work towards, and it usually takes in the region of two years before sufficient experience has been attained to pass this and allow unsupervised dispensing.

Hours: 22 over 4 days

Flexibility: Flexible to cover extra hours and days if necessary.

Duties once trained:

• Answer the telephone and deal with enquiries.
• Make appointments by telephone and personal requests.
• Register new and temporary patients.
• Take accurate note of any changes in patients’ personal details and update computer and written records.
• Input data to computer system.
• Scanning documents onto the computer system.
• Deal with patients collecting medication: give prescription form and ensure it is correctly completed; collect appropriate fees and record accurately; ensure that correct medication is given to the patient or their representative; ensure accurate records are kept of the above.
• Lock-up of surgery at closing time, including switching off computers, printers, photocopiers, etc.
• The successful candidate will need to be flexible and prepared to provide cover for training, holiday and sickness.
• Other duties as agreed with the GP Partner Dr Neil Harding.

Expectations: Good telephone manner; pleasant approach to patients; confident; able to work on own initiative; reliable; accurate; able to work as part of a small team; flexible; respectful of patients confidentiality; smart appearance; experience in use of computers; willingness to train in other aspects of work within the Practice.

Training: Practice procedures and Practice Computer System (SystmOne) will be available.

Salary: £12.21 per hour (negotiable depending on experience), plus employer pension contribution of 14.38% within the NHS Pension scheme.

Please do not hesitate to contact the practice if you have any further questions about the role.

To apply for the role, we would be grateful if you could provide a CV along with a covering letter before the closing date of 25 February 2026.

Person specification

Flexibility

• The successful candidate will need to be flexible and prepared to provide cover for training, holiday and sickness. She/he may need to do dispensing on a day when they would normally be in reception or doing admin tasks, and vice versa.
• Good telephone manner; pleasant approach to patients; confident; able to work on own initiative; reliable; accurate; able to work as part of a small team; flexible; respectful of patients confidentiality; smart appearance; experience in use of computers; willingness to train in other aspects of work within the Practice.

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.

£12.21 an hour plus overtime and NHS pension.