Job summary
The Office Managers atThe James Cochrane Practiceare seeking a Senior Care Navigator to join their friendly, patient focussed team. Being great with people is a must in this role, you'll also need to be highly organised and passionate about making a difference in healthcare.
Why you'll love working with us
* A friendly, collaborative team who value what you do
* Opportunities to build skills and develop within Primary Care
* Generous annual leave plus Bank Holidays
* Competitive NHS Pension Scheme
Main duties of the job
What were looking for
* Previous experience in healthcare administration or Primary Care
* IT literacy and familiarity with clinical systems (EMIS)
* Strong communication and organisational skills
* Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
* A proactive, flexible, and team-focused approach
* Problem solving skills
What youll be doing
* Supporting the Office Manager and Assistant Office Manager
* Playing a key role in ensuring the smooth day to day running of the practice
* Supporting the Care Navigators with complex administrative and appointment related queries
About us
We are a 2-site, part-dispensing practice in Kendal with around 17,500 patients, keen to attract caring, motivated, and passionate colleagues. We are a training practice with an active frailty and care home support team. We offer a wide range of enhanced services including minor surgery, women's health and menopause, coil/implant fitting, as well as Dermatology and ENT GPwER clinics.
We strive for a good work / life balance while achieving high-quality patient care and offer a fair allocation of work across all the GP team. We have a Quality Improvement culture, and continually develop our systems to respond to the changing environment of primary care, aiming to minimise administration workload and maximise job satisfaction to the benefit of our patients and our team.
We are a GP registrar and medical student training practice, an accredited Veteran Friendly practice, and a parkrun practice.
Details
Date posted
17 February 2026
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
Depending on experience £ £13.50 per hour depending on experience
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
A
Job locations
Helme Chase Surgery
Burton Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7HR
Maude Street Surgery
Maude Street
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4QE
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be
* Responsible for the day-to-day performance and quality standards within the Care Navigation / administration team.
* Supporting the Office manager and Assistant Office Manager in the leadership and supervision of a team of Care Navigators and Administrators, ensuring all duties are performed effectively and to the required standard, meeting the objectives of the practice.
Senior Care Navigator core duties
Supporting the Office Manager / Assistant Office Manager and covering when absent, including
* Supervision of the Care Navigation Team
* Proactively monitoring activity on the practice appointment system to maximise appointment usage each day.
* Direct requests for information
* Carry out system searches as requested
* Providing reception staff to support administrative staff during periods of staff absence
* Produce, maintain and participate in the receptionist rota
* SAR (Service Access Request), insurance / solicitors' letters and DVLA forms to the administrative team
Core administration responsibilities
* Signpost patients to the correct service
* Process personal, telephone and e-requests for appointments
* Answer incoming phone calls, transferring calls or dealing with the callers request appropriately
* Initiating contact with and responding to, requests from patients, team members and external agencies
* Photocopy documentation as required
* Data entry of new and temporary registrations and relevant patient information as required
* Input data into the patients healthcare records as necessary
* Manage all queries as necessary in an efficient manner
* Monitor and maintain the reception area and notice boards
* Ensuring general office areas are kept tidy and safe in accordance with the Health and Safety and Fire policies. Reporting any defects or unsafe practices to the Practice Manager.
* Support all clinical staff with general tasks as request
* Completing opening and closing procedures in accordance practice policy
* Partake in audit as directed by the audit lead
* Answering general enquiries explaining surgery procedures, giving results to patients after the doctor has made the necessary comments, making new and follow-up appointments
* Receiving and recording requests for home visits.
* On a PLT (Protected Learning Time) day to ensure that telephone message is telling patients that we are closed for staff training. Also restoring telephone services in the morning after the PLT
* Ensuring that Practice Notes, Docman, Accurx and Practice email messages are dealt in a timely manner and efficiently.
* Communicating information about any unresolved or urgent matter.
* Maintaining confidentiality regarding patient issues and the affairs of the practice
* Other specific duties which may be allocated to individual team members
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be
* Responsible for the day-to-day performance and quality standards within the Care Navigation / administration team.
* Supporting the Office manager and Assistant Office Manager in the leadership and supervision of a team of Care Navigators and Administrators, ensuring all duties are performed effectively and to the required standard, meeting the objectives of the practice.
Senior Care Navigator core duties
Supporting the Office Manager / Assistant Office Manager and covering when absent, including
* Supervision of the Care Navigation Team
* Proactively monitoring activity on the practice appointment system to maximise appointment usage each day.
* Direct requests for information
* Carry out system searches as requested
* Providing reception staff to support administrative staff during periods of staff absence
* Produce, maintain and participate in the receptionist rota
* SAR (Service Access Request), insurance / solicitors' letters and DVLA forms to the administrative team
Core administration responsibilities
* Signpost patients to the correct service
* Process personal, telephone and e-requests for appointments
* Answer incoming phone calls, transferring calls or dealing with the callers request appropriately
* Initiating contact with and responding to, requests from patients, team members and external agencies
* Photocopy documentation as required
* Data entry of new and temporary registrations and relevant patient information as required
* Input data into the patients healthcare records as necessary
* Manage all queries as necessary in an efficient manner
* Monitor and maintain the reception area and notice boards
* Ensuring general office areas are kept tidy and safe in accordance with the Health and Safety and Fire policies. Reporting any defects or unsafe practices to the Practice Manager.
* Support all clinical staff with general tasks as request
* Completing opening and closing procedures in accordance practice policy
* Partake in audit as directed by the audit lead
* Answering general enquiries explaining surgery procedures, giving results to patients after the doctor has made the necessary comments, making new and follow-up appointments
* Receiving and recording requests for home visits.
* On a PLT (Protected Learning Time) day to ensure that telephone message is telling patients that we are closed for staff training. Also restoring telephone services in the morning after the PLT
* Ensuring that Practice Notes, Docman, Accurx and Practice email messages are dealt in a timely manner and efficiently.
* Communicating information about any unresolved or urgent matter.
* Maintaining confidentiality regarding patient issues and the affairs of the practice
* Other specific duties which may be allocated to individual team members
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
* Strong communication skills
* IT literacy e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook
* Ability to prioritise workload
* Problem solving skills
Desirable
* Emis user skills
Experience
Essential
* Administrative experience in busy office environment
* Experience handling confidential information
* Experience of working in a primary care or health care setting
Desirable
* Evidence of continuing education / professional development
Qualifications
Essential
* General education to A level or equivalent
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
* Strong communication skills
* IT literacy e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook
* Ability to prioritise workload
* Problem solving skills
Desirable
* Emis user skills
Experience
Essential
* Administrative experience in busy office environment
* Experience handling confidential information
* Experience of working in a primary care or health care setting
Desirable
* Evidence of continuing education / professional development
Qualifications
Essential
* General education to A level or equivalent
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
The James Cochrane Practice
Address
Helme Chase Surgery
Burton Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7HR
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
The James Cochrane Practice
Address
Helme Chase Surgery
Burton Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7HR
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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