Job Description
Do you have excellent customer service skills?
Are you able to work under pressure, multitask and deal with queries in an efficient and professional manner?
If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!
We are looking for a dental receptionist to be based at our clinic in Dartford west health centre. You will be greeting people on a daily basis; whether it be face-to-face or over the phone. The post involves using our IT system to make appointments, generate letters, check patient details, take payments and answer patients queries.
This can be an extremely busy role so you must be able to work under pressure and be able to organise your time efficiently.
There may also be a need to work at other clinics on an adhoc basis.
The position is for 15 hours a week over two days. You are not required to work weekends.
To ensure the smooth running of the community dental service (CDS) clinic providing full reception support to the department.
The post holder will be required to provide administrative support for the dental service using dental software (training will be provided).
Maintaining concentration in a busy office/reception environment
Be able to multitask, dealing with a variety of queries.
Remain patient focused to ensure quality of service delivery. We pride ourselves in demonstrating our service values to the patients we see.
When required to assist patients with mobility difficulties within the dental reception
So what else?
This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused – you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
Informal visits can be arranged on request.
We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
Communication and relationship skills
Working closely with the duty dentist and dental nurse ensuring all necessary paper work is ready for them to be able to carry out their duties
Ability to put patients at ease, dealing with patients from diverse backgrounds with varying degrees of need, this may include communicating with carers and support workers as and when required
Contacting interpreter’s service to book as and when required
Dealing with phone calls from patients, parents, carers, general dental practices and other medical professionals
Regular contact via the phone with dental HQ, providing information as and when requested
Communicating with other CDS receptionists regarding transfer of patient notes and sharing of information
Attend team meetings when necessary to discuss existing procedures and future plans for the service
Occasional note taking at team meetings
Knowledge, training and experience
Good customer care skills
Professional telephone manner
Good standard of education
Computer skills – microsoft office / excel
Maintain relevant statutory and mandatory training
Flexibility to work in other dental clinics when required to ensure smooth running of service
Work as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility in a changing environment.
Ability to work independently using own initiative
Analytical and judgement skills
The post holder should:
Managing cash transactions taken when patients who are not exempt from NHS charges, including necessary banking processes.
Ability to follow archiving procedures for archiving of patient records
To be responsible for dealing with petty cash requests
All of the above to be carried out in accordance with MCH policies and procedures.
Planning and organisational skills
The post holder should:
Produce daily lists for clinics and inpatient sessions
To contact patients that are on the clinics recall list to book appointments, confirming in writing when required and other general correspondence
To liaise with other professional staff, e.g. doctors, GDP’s, dental nurses and other healthcare professionals
Maintain accurate and efficient appointment systems, waiting lists and recall systems for all clinical staff, ensuring clinic sessions are used effectively
Prepare cash for banking including all necessary paper work ensuring ready for collection
Assist in the management of dental claims
Be responsible for the filing of patient records and x rays
Proactively assist in reducing patient DNA and late cancellations
To attend departmental team meetings
Maintain statutory and mandatory training in accordance with MCH Policy
Monitor stationary levels at clinic and submit request to dental HQ for more stock
Physical skills
When required, to assist patients with mobility difficulties with the dental reception area
The post holder will be required to monitor and operate clinics using the dental sensei software
The post holder will on occasion be required to travel between different dental sites to cover sickness and annual leave
To adhere to the organisations policy for health and safety
Responsibility for patient / client care
The post holder should:
Ensure a professional and ethical level of communication and confidentiality is maintained in their day to day activity
Ensure all patient information leaflets are up to date and available for patients and staff
Develop and maintain accurate patient records, both paper based and electronic
Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
The post holder will be:
Responsible for ensuring that organisational policies, procedures and guidelines (including amendments and updates) are implemented within the service are adhered to within their own area of work.
Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
The post holder will be:
Receive payments from patients and issue receipts following the organisational standing financial instructions
Ensure that reconciliation of payments are correct at the end of every day and documented following organisational standing financial instructions
Prepare money for banking
Maintain a cash float
Responsible for dealing with petty cash requests
Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
To maintain own training in line with MCH policy
To promote MCH values
Act as a buddy demonstrating own area of work to new or less experienced employees such as apprentices or volunteers.
Responsibilities for information resources
To maintain accurate patient records both paper based and electronic
To ensure all correspondence being sent from clinic adheres to MCH governance standards.
Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)
The post holder will be required to maintain competencies necessary for the role and to highlight any shortfall to the administration manager
Freedom to act
The post holder should:
Work within the service guidelines and be governed by policies and procedures outlined by the organisation
