Patient Navigator

West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group; Halstead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Halstead is seeking a patient navigator for their reception team. The role requires strong customer service skills and the ability to handle a busy environment. Candidates must be able to work flexibly, and those with prior healthcare receptionist experience will be preferred. The position offers a pay rate of £12.47 per hour and involves working within a supportive clinic environment.

Benefits

Paid holiday

Training program

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Highly motivated team player with empathy in distressing situations.
• Ability to work discreetly and maintain confidentiality.
• Flexibility to work additional hours when needed.

Responsibilities

• Answer calls and ensure all visitors sign in.
• Deliver accurate messages and handle queries.
• Ensure the smooth running of clinics and process payments.

Skills

Customer service skills

Excellent communication skills

IT and administration skills

Ability to work under pressure

Team player

Education

Previous medical or healthcare receptionist experience

Job description

About the Role

We are looking to recruit a patient navigator to join reception at the Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery in Halstead, on a zero‑hour contract. The successful candidate will join a team that takes pride in its ‘can do’ approach. You will work within what can be a busy, often demanding, but highly rewarding environment.

Hours of working: There are no normal hours of work, and you will be required to work on an “as required” basis and will vary according to the needs of the Practice. The practice has a requirement for zero hours staff, due to the fluctuating demands of the service. Pay rate: £12.47 per hour plus paid holiday.

Please note that there will be an initial four‑week training programme for the successful candidate at the start of employment.

Key responsibilities

• Answering telephone calls in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Ensuring that all visitors sign in and receive a badge.
• Delivering accurate and complete messages, transferring calls as appropriate to doctors, nurses and admin staff.
• Handling patient or other outside agency queries and assisting in finding solutions.
• Receiving prescription requests and directing these to the prescription team.
• Taking payments for private fees and processing credit card payments.
• Ensuring the smooth and efficient running of clinics.
• Receiving and recording requests for home visits.
• Ensuring that the clinicians are aware of patients who require immediate attention.
• Having a basic awareness / ability to deal with challenging behaviour.
• Making new and follow‑up appointments.
• Carrying out any other administrative duties as deemed necessary by the management or senior navigators.

Please note that should this vacancy attract sufficient interest, it may be necessary to close the vacancy at an earlier date. We therefore suggest that you apply at an early stage to avoid disappointment.

About the Candidate

General practice is a challenging environment that requires a calm and caring approach with the ability to work under pressure. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated team player who has customer service/patient experience, offers excellent communication skills, and has the following attributes:

• Ability to work in a polite, confidential and discreet manner, respecting patients and colleagues at all times.
• Experience of working with the general public, being sensitive and empathic in distressing situations.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong IT and administration skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Previous medical or healthcare receptionist experience is desirable.

Some flexibility is required, as you will sometimes need to work additional or alternative hours to cover for colleagues. All applicants should ensure that they live within reasonable commuting distance.

About Us

At Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery, we believe in providing excellent patient care while fostering a supportive and engaging environment for our team members. We are a semi‑rural GMS practice dedicated to serving our 16,800 diverse patient population. Our experienced multi-disciplinary clinical team includes 5 GP Partners, 1 Salaried GP, 2 Nurse Practitioners, 2 Paramedics, 5 Practice Nurses, 3 Healthcare Assistants, a Clinical Pharmacist, and a large highly committed administrative staff fostering a truly collaborative approach to patient care.

We also have a wide range of additional services and support available through our wider NHS community and Primary Care Network of Social Prescribers, MSK practitioner, Young Person’s Mental Health Practitioner, and Cancer Care Coordinators, as well as 2 more Paramedics and Pharmacists.

Halstead is a historic market town within Essex, situated on the River Colne which runs through its centre. It is home to a robust network of businesses supported by wider organisations, such as the Halstead & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce, which promote independent shops, pubs, restaurants, and other services. It is situated between between Chelmsford (19 miles) and Colchester (14 miles) with good transportation and road links.

The Practice has achieved a ‘Good’ CQC rating. We operate from a modern purpose‑built premises and leverage SystmOne and AccuRx to enhance efficiency and patient experience. We are also proud to be an established teaching practice for both Chelmsford and Colchester training programmes, offering opportunities for mentorship and development. We have a Gold Pride in Practice award and all staff receive training in material from the LGBT Foundation. We are a Veteran‑friendly practice with a named veteran lead. We are signed up to Safer Surgeries and the World Health Organisation. We are committed to the well‑being of our staff.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note 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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.