Receptionist

Cumbria Health; Rottington; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

A local health service provider in Rottington is seeking an enthusiastic Receptionist to join their established team at Waterloo House Surgery. This part-time role offers 30 hours a week over 5 days and is responsible for delivering a friendly and efficient service to patients. Key duties include managing calls, supporting patient appointments, and general administration. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and some relevant qualifications. This position offers a chance to contribute to high-quality patient care in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills are essential for managing patient interactions.
• Previous experience in a similar role is preferred but not mandatory.
• A willingness to undertake further training is required.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for patients arriving at the health centre.
• Process confidential patient information to pass to clinicians.
• Open the premises at the start of the day and check alarms and conditions.
• Contact patients regarding appointment times and manage patient flow.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with the Data Protection Act.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Excellent telephone manner

Ability to prioritise and manage own workload

Friendly, helpful, and can-do approach

Excellent organisational skills

Ability to work on own initiative

Able to work under pressure

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Education

GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)

ECDL or equivalent

NVQ Business Administration

Job description

Cumbria Health are looking for an enthusiastic Receptionist to join our established team at Waterloo House Surgery, Millom. This position is part time, with 30 hours per week available over 5 days.

This role is responsible for delivering a friendly, efficient, and professional service to the practice by managing incoming calls and supporting patients when attending appointments or accessing other services. The post holder will act as a key point of contact, ensuring patients receive clear guidance and support in a courteous and respectful manner. A strong emphasis is placed on effective communication, helping to maintain clear and timely information flow between patients, members of the primary health care team, and relevant secondary agencies to support high-quality patient care.

Part time - 30 hours per week, over 5 days

Closing Date: 27th January 2026

Interview Date: 04 February 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.

We are unable to offer an EmployerSponsored Visa for this role.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the efficient running of the reception area at the Waterloo House Surgery, Millom.

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 Trust
• High Standards - We provide skilled professionals working to the highest standards who are passionate about improving patient care.
• Communities - Connecting and engaging to meet local needs
• Growth & Sustainability - with our strong roots we will continue to thrive and grow

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 though 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.

• To be the first point of contact for patients arriving at the Health Centre.
• Processing confidential patient information to pass to Clinicians.
• Open up the premises at the start of the day, set the alarm to day function, including checking the heating/air conditioning and panic alarms and make all necessary preparation to receive patients.
• 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 an understanding of coordinating workload to capacity.
• Carrying out equipment checks and reporting issues to the Practice Co-ordinator.
• To work autonomously, managing own workload effectively referring to line manager when necessary.
• Receive and make calls as required with the ability to handle heavy phone/patient traffic. Divert calls and take messages as appropriate. Ensure that the telephone system is operational at the beginning of each day.
• Scanning and attaching patients data to patients electronic records.
• Pulling, filing and photocopying of patient paper records.
• Sort, screen and distribute incoming internal mail. Process outgoing mail following the procedure.
• Securing premises at the end of the day ensuring the building is totally secured, internal lights are switched off and the alarm activated.
• To adhere to all Cumbria Health Policies and Procedures.
• Participate and ensure own on-going development.
• Receiving all incoming deliveries, opening and distributing accordingly.
• 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

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

Other requirements

• Willingness to undertake further training

Knowledge

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

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.