25 hours per week (Monday to Friday – some early starts and some late finishes between 07.45 and 18.00)
Permanent
Closing Date: Tuesday 5th May 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 14th May 2026
An opportunity has arisen to join the Therapy Services team at George Eliot Hospital as a Receptionist / Administrative Support within a high‑performing outpatient service.
Our Therapy Services department delivers care to thousands of patients each year across multiple pathways. The administrative team plays a critical role in ensuring patients access the right care quickly, and that the service runs efficiently.
We are looking for someone who can operate in a fast‑paced environment, take ownership of their work, and contribute to a team that takes pride in delivering a high standard of care.
Main duties of the job
Purpose
* To arrange appointments for patients attending for Therapy Services (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy)
* To deal with non‑clinical Therapy queries through face‑to‑face and telephone.
* To provide administrative support
We are looking for someone who is reliable, organised, and able to perform under pressure.
You will need to demonstrate:
* Strong communication skills, including handling challenging conversations calmly and professionally.
* Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in administrative tasks.
* Confidence using IT systems (training will be provided for Trust‑specific systems).
* A team‑focused mindset with a willingness to support others.
* Experience in a healthcare or administrative environment is beneficial but not essential.
You will be a key point of contact for patients and staff, responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the reception and administrative function. This includes:
* Managing patient bookings and enquiries with accuracy and efficiency.
* Handling high volumes of calls and face‑to‑face interactions professionally.
* Supporting the coordination of clinics to maximise patient flow.
* Maintaining accurate patient records using Trust systems (including Lorenzo).
* Identifying and resolving issues proactively to prevent delays in car.
About us
Here at George Eliot the vision to excel at patient care takes centre stage. An ever‑evolving clinically‑led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:
Effective Open Communication
excellence and safety in everything we do
Challenge but support
Expect respect and dignity
Local health that inspires confidence
Benefits: On‑site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in‑house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on‑site parking.
Job responsibilities
To efficiently undertake basic administration and reception duties including:
* Provide a high‑class reception service to all users of Therapy Services.
* Provide general office and administration support to Therapy Services (the clinical staff, Managers and Clinical Assistants).
* Using the hospital computer system, make appointments for Therapy staff. This will involve having knowledge of the grade and speciality of the available therapists, and the locations where treatment is available, i.e. hospital or outreach clinics/surgeries. Appointments will be made by telephone, face to face or by letter, and involves understanding of the type of booking in line with hospital policy. Patients personal details should be registered or altered on the system as necessary. Computer generated appointment letters are printed off on a daily basis and put into the post.
* To allocate all new referrals received by post or electronically to the appropriate place, based on the diagnosis written on the referral.
* To ensure that all vacant appointment spaces are filled, contacting patients by telephone to fill gaps as necessary.
* To send out letters to GP referred patients containing appointments.
* To re‑arrange or cancel appointments as required by telephone or letter, sometimes at short notice, due to therapist absence.
* Photocopy, print and scan documents as requested to a high standard.
* Deal with incoming and outgoing post and carry out filing.
* Receive visitors to the department in a professional and courteous manner.
* Assist visitors by providing information and responding to routine queries.
* Make and receive telephone calls in a professional and courteous manner.
* Communicate with departments or individual staff members by telephone, email or in person, answering queries relevant to Therapy Services.
* Take clear, accurate messages and ensure these are passed on to the appropriate person.
* On a daily basis, to sort all post arriving for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), and distribute it to the appropriate place/person.
* To open and date‑stamp general un‑named physiotherapy post and distribute it as appropriate.
* Support the Therapy team to maintain accurate, timely and legible records.
* To check each printed clinic list against the computer each day, for any last‑minute amendments affecting the following day. Amended lists to be given to each Therapist as well as for Reception.
* To ensure all patients are accounted for on the system for each clinic at the end of the day, obtaining outcome information from the therapists if this has not been provided.
* To greet and check in patients against the appropriate clinic list on arrival.
* To monitor the safety, comfort and security of patients/visitors in the waiting room, and to bring any concerns to the attention of a Senior Therapist. To arrange a drink and/or sandwich for ambulance patients having delayed return home, in accordance with departmental policy, and if necessary, arrange for them to be collected from another area.
* To inform the therapist if a patient arrives late or on the wrong day for an appointment, and to rearrange if necessary.
* To arrange ambulance transport for patients at the discretion of the therapist. This is an online booking system. Liaise with the Ambulance Service by telephone with regard to late arrivals or departures.
* To contact a therapist or therapy assistant when a patient presents in the department for a walking aid, or if a patient in the waiting room requires other assistance i.e. to use the toilet.
* To arrange for a porter to collect or return patients to other departments.
* At the request of the therapists, to contact other departments, e.g. Estates Department, IT, to report faults/defects, hospital call centre to expedite patient consultant appointments.
* At the request of the therapists, to obtain patients medical notes by tracking them in and out on the computerised system.
* To ensure that the reception area is kept tidy and stationery/paperwork is replenished from the store or by photocopying as necessary.
* Depending on start and finish times, to collect the department keys and open up the department or close up the reception area at the end of the day and ensure all departmental computers are switched off. As necessary to secure the department by closing all windows and inside doors, locking outside doors and returning the keys.
Communication and Relationship Skills
* Provide excellent customer service both written and verbal in person, by telephone and email using tact, discretion and sensitivity.
* Talk to colleagues and visitors to the department in a courteous manner both in person and on the telephone ensuring they receive a friendly and helpful service.
* Keep accurate, complete records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
* Ensure confidentiality of both written and verbal information.
* Display a professional attitude at all times.
* Able to provide information to new starters and staff on learning programmes.
Knowledge, Training and Experience
* Use programmes for making and changing appointments, completing word documents and entering data into spreadsheets.
* Take responsibility for personal performance and own development needs.
* Seek to improve administration skills and understanding of the Therapy Services.
* Participate in the annual appraisal and development review process and work towards agreed objectives.
* Maintain 100% compliance with statutory and mandatory learning.
* Adhere to Trusts policies, procedures and guidelines.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
* Use own judgement and problem solve as appropriate, referring to the appropriate person when necessary.
* Demonstrate an energetic, dynamic and positive approach to challenging situations.
Planning and Organisational Skills
* Work within the limits of own competence and responsibility and refer issues beyond these limits to appropriate person.
* Able to work independently in organising own time and workload to meet deadlines.
* Attend and take part in team meetings and regular reviews with line manager.
* Be a flexible and supportive member of the team.
Physical Skills
* Able to input data into electronic or paper‑based systems.
* Able to move tables, chairs and equipment in Therapy Services.
* Able to assist with the movement of other equipment within Therapy Services.
* Able to shelve books and tidy bookshelves.
Special Requirements
* This post requires the post holder to be able to work flexibly to ensure the needs of the service are met. The above duties and responsibilities are intended to represent current priorities and are not meant to be a conclusive list as the role will inevitably vary and develop over time. The post‑holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any changes will be made in discussion with the post‑holder in the light of service needs.
For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
* Previous experience of reception duties/booking appointments
* Experience of providing customer service
* Experience of using a computer in a work environment
* Experience of using telephone and email in an office environment
* Experience of inputting data into access data bases/exel
* Previous experience of working within the NHS
* Experience of using Lorenzo system
Qualification a nd Professional Training
* Functional skills maths and English level 1 OR GCSE Enaglish and maths A-D3-9 grade or equivalent
Skills and Abilities
* Good written and oral communication skills
* Good interpersonal skills
* Ability to communicate with staff at all levels and maintain good working relationships
* Ability to work under pressure to meet required deadlines
* Able to produce clear, well‑presented documents and letters
* Able to move equipment
* Able to maintain confidentiality of information at all times
* Able to recognise when to ask for help
* Able to manage own time
* Able to work independently and as part of a team
* Previous working with Lorenzo computer system
Personal Qualities
* A positive can do attitude to change and flexible working practices to meet chnaging service and demands of a very busy office
* Ability to deal with stress and stressful situations
* Ability to concentrate despite interruptions in a busy office
* Flexible and adaptable to meet the service needs
* Diplomatic and sensitive to other needs
* To follow the Trusts values of EXCEL and COMPACT
* Team player
* Good timekeeper
* Able to attend external meetings occasionally
Other
* Able to commit to flexible working and weekend working (as required)
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.
J-18808-Ljbffr