About this role
Job summary
*Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
*Knowledge and understanding of data protection and maintain strict
*Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
*Strong IT skills
*Clear, polite telephone manner
*Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
Main duties of the job
Receive all patients, colleagues and visitors, both face to face and on the telephone in a professional, sympathetic and supportive manner.
Liaise with nursing staff, and volunteers to ensure the effective running of the service
Arrange transport for patients when required
Ensure that all health records are appropriately traced and distributed as appropriate in accordance with the health records policy
Direct patients and visitors to other departments and wards as requested.
Answer telephone enquiries from a variety of internal and external sources
File documentation as necessary and return notes to Coding when patient discharged
Priorities workload, multi-tasking to deal with reception desk, telephone, filing as well as demands of other members of Team and patients
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
Communication and Key Working Relationships
Effective and efficient liaising is required between staff within the department.
Build good working relationships with colleagues to ensure there is good and efficient teamwork.
Always maintain a courteous and helpful manner.
Check patients' demographic details and overseas visitor status; update the patient record system as necessary using the NHS spine or GP surgeries where necessary.
Ensure that each patient is treated as an individual.
Deal with all patients' concerns, passing on appropriately those which cannot be immediately resolved.
Respond to emergency situations by initiating the cardiac arrest number 2222.
Manage internal and external telephone calls to the department in a professional and helpful manner.
Work flexibly as part of the team maintaining efficient systems and processes relating to outpatient appointments including maintaining accurate records.
Liaise with nursing staff, and volunteers to ensure the effective running of the
Notify patients of any possible delays in investigations/clinic appointments as appropriate.
Develop effective working relationships with all staff groups to ensure everyone achieves optimum results and maintains good patient care.
To work flexibly as part of the team to ensure the department operate effectively.
Planning and Organisation
Ensure discharge summaries are posted to patients if not completed on
Maintain IT systems and keep live
Ensure that work is prioritised and that any work not completed at the end of the shift is communicated via the communication book for following receptionist in a clear and logical manner.
Receive and distribute internal and external mail as
Update ward whiteboards
Send faxes and e-mails, photocopy documents, shred waste, as
Priorities workload, multi-tasking to deal with reception desk, telephone, filing as well as demands of other members of Team and patients
Analytics
To independently manage own workload on a daily basis; and to demonstrate the flexibility required to respond to interruptions and changing priorities.
Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
Receive all patients referred, register any new patients and book them onto the computer system from the information given by the
Update all patient details as necessary.
For more details on the role please refer to the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to GCSE level or equivalent Good standard of literacy and numeracy and spoken English
Desirable
Five GCSEs at grades A-C or equivalent one of which must be English language
Experience Essential
Experience of administrative duties
Desirable
Experience of working with the general publicExperience of working in a health care setting
Additional Criteria Desirable
Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skillsKnowledge and understanding of data protection and maintain strictExcellent communication skills (written and oral)Strong IT skillsClear, polite telephone mannerEffective time management (Planning & Organising)
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.
Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)