APPLICATION PACK

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST MATERNITY COVER

Sid Valley Practice

Blackmore Drive

Sidmouth

Devon

EX10 8ET

01395 512601

About Us

Sid Valley Practice is a coastal practice with five full time and four part time GP Partners. We serve the communities of Sidmouth, Sidford and Sidbury and have around 14,000 patients registered with us. We operate from two sites with the main surgery in Sidmouth and a Branch Surgery in Sidford. The Practice also has strong links to the Victoria Cottage Hospital in Sidmouth. Our Practice was awarded the R.C.G.P. Quality Practice Award in 2002 and more recently Health Care Provider of the Year 2013. We know we have an important role to play in local community health care and we are doing this by offering a number of clinics including Health Promotion and Baby Clinics

Applicant Information

We are committed to recruiting the best people to fill our vacancies in a fair and equitable way. An application form helps us to compare individuals on a like for like basis and for that reason we do not accept a CV and will not be able to process applications that are not completed fully. When applying, please ensure you upload an Application Form in the space where a CV is requested. Any uploaded documents need to be in a PDF format.

Sid Valley Practice is an equal opportunities employer and all appointments are made on merit. Short listing is carried out by assessing the information you provide against the requirements of the role as detailed in the Job Description.

All applications will be kept on file, confidentially within the Human Resources Department for a period of 12 months. We keep this file under regular view and should any suitable vacancies arise we will contact you.

Employment of Ex-Offenders

Appointment to this post maybe subject to a DBS Disclosure however all unspent convictions are requested to be listed on the application form. Please note that unspent convictions apply to any conviction within the last 5 years.

Qualifications/Examination Certificates

Candidates called for an interview should bring originals of all certificates to the interview where requested and where appropriate.

Right to Work Documentation

Candidates called for interview should bring with them evidence of their right to work within

the UK. Documentation that will need to be seen is either:

  • a valid UK passport; or
  • an official tax document along with a full birth certificate; or
  • If your passport is not from the United Kingdom, but from within the EEA there

should be a Residence Permit/Certificate of Entitlement/Registration Card or a

stamp;

  • If your passport comes from outside the EEA please call our HR department for further advice

Please note that we are unable to offer make an offer of employment unless proof of right to work has been seen.

Informal Enquiries

Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting the Practice Relations Manager on 01395 512601 or email

Returning Your Application

Your application needs to be returned to Sid Valley Practice in Sidmouth, Devon. The address is provided at the top of this document. We would prefer you to apply online via our website; however you can return your application by post or email to . Please check the deadline date.

Contacting Applicants

Short listing of applications can often take time, but we will always keep you informed. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk box. If you do not have an email, it is important that you provide us with alternative contact details. Due to high levels of interest, if you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, you have been unsuccessful.

Closing Date

All applications need to be received by Tuesday 17th January 2017.

EMPLOYMENT PACKAGE

Contract

This is a full time, maternity cover contract, working 37 hours per week over 4 days 0815-133 & 1345-1815.

This is a multi-site, 7-day operation and therefore there may be some requirement to work flexibly to meet the needs of the Business.

Salary

The starting salary is Band 2 on the NHS Agenda for Pay Scale, 2014.

Holiday

5.6 weeks holiday per year, inclusive of a pro rate entitlement to the normal public holidays. Extra days holiday are awarded to employees after 5 years and 10 years’ service.

Probationary Period

Your probationary period will be 3 months. During this period, should either you or Sid Valley Practice wish to terminate your employment, your notice period shall be 1 week. After 3 months of employment the notice period is 1 month.

Performance Reviews

An employee will receive a probationary review after 3 months of employment.

Pension Scheme

You will be automatically signed up to the NHS pension. An opt out form is available.

Sick Pay

No sick pay is paid during the first 6 months of employment. If an employee is sick during this period they will be asked to take time off as either holiday or unpaid leave.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST

REPORTS TO:OFFICE TEAM LEADER

BASED AT:MAIN HEALTH CENTRE & BRANCH SURGERY

Job summary:

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

Provide general assistance to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone

Job responsibilities:

  • Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice
  • Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
  • Using your own judgment and communication skills ensure that patients with no prior appointment but who need urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner.
  • Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover and ensure procedures are completed.
  • Receive and make telephone calls as required. Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.
  • Enter requests for home visits into the visit book, ensuring careful recording of all relevant details and where necessary refer to duty doctor.
  • Action repeat prescription requests and ensure that they are ready for collection by the patient within 7 days, either on the computer or manually.
  • Advise patients of relevant charges for private (non General Medical Services) services.
  • Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
  • Make and serve refreshments, ensure the kitchen is kept clean and tidy and air and tidy the waiting room in turn with other staff.
  • Premises:
  • Open up premises at the start of the day when first to arrive, de-activate alarm and make all necessary preparations to receive patients.
  • When last to leave at the end of the day, ensure that all doctors rooms are cleared down and prepare all necessary preparations for the next working day.
  • Ensure that all new patients are registered onto the computer system promptly and accurately
  • Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the Partners or the practice manager.

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 program 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 recognize 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 audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Essential:

IT skills: microsoft & clinical System, Communication skills, Good telephone manner, honesty and integrity. Ability to cope under pressure

Personal Attributes:

 Ability to present a positive professional image of Sid Valley Practice at all times

This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Team Leader. This job description will be reviewed at the end of a successful probationary period.

GUIDANCE SHEET

For further information about the job you can download the application pack. Please print the application form as a PDF to complete by hand or download the word document to complete your application on the computer. To apply on via our website any uploaded documents will need to be saved and uploaded in a PDF format.

Please read through the following guidelines that will help you complete the application form.

  • Complete all sections of the form.
  • Make sure the form is tidy and try to avoid mistakes by writing out a version first to make sure you are happy with the information you are providing. Always read through your final version before you send it.

To complete your application:

  • Please type or write clearly in black or blue ink.
  • Ensure you clearly state the job title you are applying for.
  • In the ‘Employment History’ section you must state why you have left a position.
  • Always explain any gaps in work history.
  • Proof of qualifications and membership to professional bodies may be required.

If you require an acknowledgement of your application:

  • If emailing you must activate a read receipt from your email account.
  • If sending by post you must enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
  • Please note with limited resources, we cannot verify if we have received your application over the phone.

References –PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IS SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY REFERENCING

We will take up professional references once you have been interviewed and provisionally offered the post. Please make sure that you have given the full contact details of your referees so that this does not delay processing reference requests.

If you have no employer references, we will take up references with named individuals at colleges where you have studied, or people who know you in a professional capacity. Please do not put down family members or people you live with as referees.

You will only be confirmed in the post once we are satisfied with the information received from your referees.

Supporting Statement

The 'Why you feel you are suitable for this position' part of the form is called your supporting statement. It is the most important part of the application form.

You should consider the following:

  • Applications can only be assessed on the information you provide. You need to clearly demonstrate your capabilities.
  • Often the strongest applications are those that link the three elements highlighted above and are presented in a clear format (e.g. numbered points that correspond to person specification).
  • We expect your supporting statement to be a minimum of ¾ of a side of A4 and a maximum of 2 sides.
  • Use concise, unambiguous sentences and avoid exaggerations.
  • Honesty is always the best policy; please do not make false claims.
  • If you are making a career change, stress what skills are transferable to the role you are applying for.
  • Ensure you return your application in good time before the closing date - aim for the day before the deadline.

Thank you for your application and your interest in Sid Valley Practice; any queries please refer to or call 01395 512601.