Communication jobs in United Kingdom

StreatfieldHealth Centre is a friendly, team-orientated GP practice in Harrow, London HA3. We are looking to recruit a part-time practice receptionist to work with our team to serve our population of approximately 8000 patients. We are looking for an enthusiastic, versatile and dynamic team player person who is multi skilled with a passion for patient care. We are an established training practice with 2 GP partners, 4 salaried doctors, an Enhanced Nurse Practitioner and 2 healthcare assistants. We have very high QOF and target achievements; we were rated as 'Good' by the CQC at our last inspection.

Offer assistance to the Practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone.

Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way.

Facilitate effective communication internally and externally.

We are a friendly, supportive and efficient training practice. Our multi‑skilled team work in collaboration to provide excellent care to our patients.

Mentoring and support is at the heart of everything we do.

EMIS practice.

The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken by members of the reception team may include any or all of the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Practice Manager, dependent on current and evolving Practice workload and staffing levels:

Opening up/locking‑up of Practice premises and maintaining security in accordance with Practice protocols

Maintaining and monitoring the Practice appointments system - Patchs

Processing personal and telephone requests for appointments, visits and telephone consultations and ensuring callers are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional

Processing and distributing incoming (and outgoing) mail

Taking messages and passing on information

Filing and retrieving paperwork

Processing repeat prescriptions in accordance with Practice guidelines

Computer data entry/data allocation and collation; processing and recording information in accordance with Practice procedures

Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team member and associated healthcare agencies and providers

Clearing and re‑stock consulting rooms as required

Providing clerical assistance to Practice and Trust staff as required from time to time, including word/data processing, filing, photocopying and scanning

Ordering, re‑ordering and monitoring of stationery and other supplies

Dealing with clinical waste

Keeping the reception area, notice‑boards and leaflet dispensers tidy and free from obstructions and clutter

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post‑holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:

The post‑holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines.

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised.

Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holder’s role.

Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually).

Reporting potential risks identified.

Equality and Diversity:

The post‑holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non‑judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post‑holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality:

The post‑holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance.

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication:

The post‑holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post‑holder will:

Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.

Participate in an audit where appropriate.

• GCSE English and Maths Grade C / 6 or above.
• Basic IT skills
• EMIS Web

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.