About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised Patient Finance Officer to join our dedicated Patient Finance Team at Springfield Hospital.
This is a rewarding opportunity to support vulnerable patients by managing their financial affairs where the Trust acts as an appointee or deputy. The role involves administering patient finances, managing benefits and bank accounts, processing transactions, undertaking cashiering duties, completing reconciliations and liaising with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
About you
We are looking for someone with:
Excellent communication and customer service skills. Strong numerical and reconciliation skills. Experience of working with financial transactions and maintaining accurate records. Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel. The ability to prioritise a busy workload and work both independently and as part of a team. Working arrangements
This is a primarily desk-based role and requires regular attendance on site to support the Patient Finance service, including cashiering activities.
The successful candidate will be expected to work four days per week from Springfield Hospital and one day per week from home, subject to service requirements.
Main duties of the job
About the role
Key responsibilities include:
Managing patient finances, benefits and bank accounts. Supporting appointeeship and deputyship arrangements. Cashiering duties, including handling patient monies and staff petty cash. Completing journals and reconciliations for petty cash and patient monies. Liaising with banks, the Department for Work and Pensions, local authorities and Trust staff. Providing a high-quality service to patients, carers and colleagues.
About us
Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description Job responsibilities
This post is responsible for the efficient day-to-day administration of finances for patients who are deemed incapable by their hospital consultant and are placed either on an appointeeship or adeputyship.
Key Result Areas
To be responsible for the efficient and effective financial administration of duties related to appointeeships and deputyships
To be responsible for dealing with incapable patients benefit claims, reconciliation of patients finances and preparation of Deputyship Annual Reports. This includes: -Determining patients available financial resources. - - Establishing patients liabilities and drawing up a manageable schedule of payments to meet patients ongoing liabilities within available resourcesNegotiating manageable repayment arrangements with patients creditors in order to satisfy outstanding commitments.
To be responsible for ensuring that any money received on a patients behalf is used in accordance with their best interests, records are accurately maintained and their money is securely invested inaccordance to procedures.
To be responsible for checking appointeeship and deputyship bank accounts and preparing payments from those accounts. Assist in the opening and closing of bank accounts for all clients.
To be responsible for cashiering duties, including attending the till for patients money and staff petty cash, cashing up and related cashiering processes.
To be responsible for journals and reconciliations relating to petty cash and patients money.
To be responsible for resolving queries from Trust staff, other agencies or clients regarding appointeeship and deputyship issues and patients finances. Liaise with outside agencies e.g. banks, utility companies, landlords etc, negotiating agreements with regards to payments of regular bills and of outstanding patients debts.
To be responsible for completion of relevant forms and sending medical certificates to the Department of Work and Pensions for Incapable Patients.
To be responsible for maintaining Incapacity Review forms from Consultants
To be responsible for registering and redistributing private or Department of Work and Pensions letters to all wards and departments.
To be responsible for paying all household and utility bills (telephones, TV licenses, rents, electricity, gas and water) for community patients.
To contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures specific to the management of patients financial affairs.
To liaise with the London Borough of Wandsworth on appointeeship and deputyship matters.
To visit clients who we act a deputy for Senior Cashier
To cover for other team members in their absence.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications Essential
Educated to include GCSE English and Maths or equivalent Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable
Working toward NVQ or AAT qualification
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a Social Security or Benefits related area Experience of handling petty cash Experience of managing a busy workload with conflicting priorities Experience of using initiative and enthusiasm to problem solve
Desirable
Previous NHS or Local Authority experience Experience of dealing with outside agencies, e.g. DWP, OPG, banks
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address Springfield University Hospital
Springfield Drive
Tooting, London,
SW17 0YF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)