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Job summary

Main area
Receptionist/Telephonist
Grade
NHS AFC: Band 2
Contract
Fixed term: 1 year (to cover maternity leave)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Job ref
354-AC-21218
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Chapel Street Clinic
Town
Chichester
Salary
£24,465 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

Receptionist/Telephonist

NHS AFC: Band 2

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

Would you like to make a difference and use your people and administration skills to support the provision of mental health services in the community?

We are looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to cover maternity leave for a year. You will be joining our busy Assessment & Treatment Service, based at Chapel Street Clinic, Chichester. As well as Chichester, our services cover care in the community for Bognor, Midhurst and the surrounding areas. There is a requirement for occasional cross-cover of our reception at the Bedale Centre in Bognor Regis.

The post holder will provide front of house services in the form of reception and switchboard duties, as well as providing clerical support to the Referrals Administration Co-ordinator. The roles will alternate on a weekly basis to ensure plenty of variety.

Effective communication and keyboard skills, an eye for detail and a commitment to caring for patients in the community are required for this rewarding role.

Main duties of the job

The role supports service users and a multi-disciplinary team with:

  • Answering and transferring telephone calls.
  • Taking comprehensive messages and relaying them verbally where necessary.
  • Typing emailed messages to professionals.
  • Updating patients' notes where appropriate.
  • Welcoming patients, visitors and carers to sites.
  • Supporting the Referrals Administration Co-ordinator with booking assessment appointments following triage.
  • Supporting typing of standard letters from templates, e.g. assessment appointment letters.
  • Opening and directing incoming post.
  • Booking rooms for outpatient appointments and meetings.
  • Preparing and typing weekly staff rotas.
  • Uploading documents to our patient information system.
  • Photocopying and collating.
  • Occasional cross-cover of our reception at the Bedale Centre in Bognor Regis.

Ideally you will have:

·       A good standard of secondary education.

·       Experience of working with the public in a patient facing or customer service role.

·       Experience of working in a team.

·       Experience with Outlook, Word and preferably with patient/customer IT administration systems.

·       Excellent and accurate keyboard skills.

·       An eye for detail.

·       An ability to multi-task and remain calm under pressure.

Working for our organisation

We are a busy, friendly and caring administration team, based at Chapel Street Clinic in the heart of Chichester's city centre. We provide secretarial and administrative support to a variety of clinical staff across the patch. The administration team consists of telephonists, receptionists, secretaries and senior administrative staff.

As part of our commitment to quality and professionalism, the Trust ensures that all new staff undertake a thorough induction programme. Additional training will be provided at local level and full support is always available as part of ongoing growth and development.

As a mental health trust, we place a large focus on the wellbeing of our staff and ensure our reward packages reflect the important work you do.

As well as knowing you are making a valuable contribution in supporting the care of service users in the community, you can expect to receive:

·       Generous holiday entitlement, starting at 27 days + bank holidays per annum.

·       Car parking reimbursement.

·       NHS pension.

·       Access to a host of discount schemes (e.g. gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars).

·       Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes.

·       Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development.

·       The opportunity to grow professionally in the Trust.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As well as the above, you will require excellent interpersonal skills for effective communication with service users and the multi-disciplinary team, which consists of psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, managers, mental health practitioners and support workers.

A background within healthcare services would be an advantage, but other reception or customer facing experience will be considered.

This is a full time role, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Please read Job Description and Person Specification attached before submitting your application.

For any questions, please contact Nina McLagan, Admin Team Lead (see contact details below).

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ2 or equivalent / good standard of secondary education; GCSE at Grade C or above
  • PC skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office software

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous reception and switchboard experience
  • Experience of working with the public

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

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

Due to high numbers of applications this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date. We will not be able to accept late applications to this post.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Nina McLagan
Job title
Admin Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0300 304 0400
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