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Job summary

Main area
Receptionist/Clerical Officer
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 08:00 - 12:30)
Job ref
435-D075-25
Employer
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Accrington PALS Health Centre
Town
Accrington
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/08/2025 17:00

Employer heading

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Receptionist/Clerical Officer

NHS AfC: Band 3

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care.  We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the ELHT Community Administration Team as a Receptionist / Clerical Officer. This is a part-time permanent position based at Accrington PALS Primary Health Care Centre, Accrington.

We invite candidates that are keen, enthusiastic and committed to improving patient services with excellent communication skills and the ability to work under pressure, in order to provide comprehensive administration support to all services based at the Health Centre. The successful applicant will be required to provide an efficient and high quality service to the general public, patients and staff. 

Main duties of the job

A flexible approach to work is essential with a willingness to work at other Trust sites as you could be required to cover for holidays or sickness absence. You will be trained on all systems used at the Health Centre. Your duties will include but are not limited to, operating a busy switchboard, answering queries from patients, staff, all building tenants and stakeholders queries, the electronic booking system for the Treatment Room, Podiatry Service and other ELHT services, this will include greeting and arriving patients and making follow up appointments.  You must be able to deal with people confidently and sensitively both face to face and over the telephone. You will be responsible for the booking of multi-purpose rooms within the building, reporting repair requests, and dealing with all aspects of incoming and outgoing, external and internal mail.  With your previous reception experience and proven organisational skills you will have the ability to multi-task, work effectively as part of the team whilst having the ability to work alone whilst prioritising, organising and planning your workload.

Working for our organisation

The Community Administration team covers a vast majority of the East Lancashire area with 11 buildings in 5 localities providing community service support for our patients. As a member of the ELHT family you will be rewarded with a pension scheme and generous holiday entitlement which starts at 27 days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time positions).

We also offer a structured in-house training programme, dedicated supervision and support, together with a comprehensive appraisal system to encourage your personal development. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a general enquiry and reception service for the building, for the patients, visitors and staff.

To operate the switchboard for the Centre, answering queries and transferring calls to other health care professionals within the building.

To provide an efficient and effective message taking service in response to all enquiries from patients, visitors and staff redirecting accordingly. 

To manually or electronically book patient appointments, using EMIS/CERNER either over the telephone, by post or face to face at reception, in a sensitive, competent and confidential manner.

To print off the daily appointment lists.

Receive patients onto the data bases for their appointments or alternatively confirm their attendance on appointment lists.

Responsible for adding patient referrals onto EMIS, maintain the integrity of the data base.

Deal with any security issues that may arise, calling for support as required from the Centre Manager and deputy (where applicable), other staff in the building, the security guard and the local PCSO or police.

Implement manual procedures in the event of IT system failures, report to IT and monitor progress.

Book patient transport requests with the PTS service after treatment. 

To provide comprehensive administration support to a variety of health professionals including laminating, photocopying, filing and typing highly sensitive and confidential reports.

To type and process correspondence, reports and other documents as requested on a daily basis using Microsoft Office programmes such as Databases, Excel and Outlook for Email and Internet use. 

Book and organise appointments for health professionals.

To deal with all aspects of incoming and outgoing and external and internal mail. Including sorting and accurately re-directing and forwarding to the correct department and liaising with the Royal Mail staff.

Receive and receipt any delivered goods for the building, contacting the department, ensuring delivery to the correct department and reporting any discrepancies.

To be responsible for ordering and maintaining stationery stock levels, including non-stock items via NHS supply chain or e-procurement. Also responsible for receiving and receipting of delivered goods and reporting discrepancies.

Responsible for the booking of multi-purpose rooms within the building manually or electronically, for meetings/training and organise provision of equipment as necessary. 

Responsible for issuing any aids and equipment as necessary including the building wheelchairs and maintain records.

Use a variety of office machinery/equipment including the printers and photocopiers.

Deal with any breakdowns with the office equipment and reporting them to the service departments as necessary.

Provide cash reimbursement to patients attending clinics and verifying eligibility to claim travel expenses following Trust Policy.

To provide administration/reception cover at other Primary Health Care Centres as necessary.

To issue security keys and fobs as instructed, and following up fobs / keys not returned at the end of the day.

Provide rapid response to various alarm systems, including nurse calls and accessible WC within the building, following protocols and any further actions as necessary. 

Receiving and reporting all repair requests for the building, both manually or electronically, following up and monitoring progress as required.

Directing requests for new work to the Centre Manager. 

To liaise with building contractors and personnel and undertake inductions if required.

To undertake relevant equipment checks which the Centre Manager has responsibility for e.g. fire extinguishers, defibrillators, mobile phones, wheelchairs, hearing loops, first aid kits, emergency bags and other appropriate Health and Safety tasks.

Receive lost property and maintain accurate record, disposing of goods according to Lost Property procedures.

Deal with complaints from service user and stakeholders and redirect as appropriate. 

Escort staff, patients and visitors around the building 

Any other duty and reasonable request as identified by the Centre Manager.

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria
  • Qualifictions
  • Experience
  • Knowledge and Skills
  • Other
Desirable criteria
  • ECDL
  • EMIS/CERNER experience
  • Telephone
  • Customer Care Training

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleCare quality commission - GoodDisability confident committedStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sandra Dixon
Job title
Centre/Locality Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01254 736237
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