If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application.

JOB TITLE:  RECEPTIONIST – EDISON PARK.

REPORTING TO: CLIENT CARE MANAGER/ ASSISTANT CLIENT CARE MANAGER.

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this position is to serve as a member of the reception team providing an excellent service to our clients and visitors. This will include arranging appointments, keeping accurate records, various clerical duties related to animal patient care and treatment and helping to facilitate accurate communications between clients, veterinary surgeons, our nursing staff and practice manager. This role is part-time working 16 hours a week.

Our receptionists should create the image and the first impression of our business, remaining calm, courteous and professional at all times, regardless of a client or visitor’s behaviour. Our receptionists should make a positive impression and make clients feel confident in our service as a whole and helps to put them at ease if they are worried or apprehensive.

This position requires a practical knowledge of the practice’s organisation and services; the basic rules and regulations governing visitors; dispensing restrictions; basic animal patient treatment; recognition of an emergency; accuracy in transcribing information/messages and a practical knowledge of the standard procedures, veterinary records and terminology used in the practice. Processing insurance claims both for direct payment and on behalf of clients may be a key aspect of this role.

MAIN PURPOSE & GOALS

• To be efficient, pleasant, courteous, polite, concerned and helpful to all clients under all conditions at all times. Clients can often be distressed or worried and need extra understanding and empathy from the reception team. If, however, a client becomes abusive or shows signs of violence – always follow the practice procedure for handling this situation.
• To be courteous and kind to other colleagues. To liaise efficiently with other staff members of the practice and treat with respect.
• To arrive promptly at the beginning of your shift.
• Ensure that the client leaves the practice, where appropriate, with another visit scheduled for their continued pet health care. Specifically, organise a follow-up, recheck, or re-vaccination appointment.
• Answer the phone promptly and courteously and convert telephone enquiries into appointments where appropriate.
• Keep reception and the waiting room area tidy and well organised.
• See that appointments remain on schedule by being totally familiar with times required for different procedures and problems, organising a double appointment if necessary.
• Follow up, in a concerned manner any missed appointments, (check where necessary with the relevant veterinary surgeon). Records should always be marked if a client fails to keep an appointment.
• To take, record and pass on messages accurately (and quickly if urgent). Correct use of the message board as appropriate.
• Promote our services and products.
• To co-ordinate and ensure a smooth client and pet flow within the practice from the waiting room to payment processing.
• To work towards the goal of 100% collection of fees for services rendered
• To process payments accurately and efficiently and allocate against the appropriate invoiced items on the client’s record on computer.
• To adhere to the uniform attire as set out in staff hand book.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To work on a rolling rota to include Late nights, early mornings, weekends including 12 hour shifts and bank holidays.
• Ensuring all clients emails are answered that come through our enquires emails.
• Greet and receive clients and their pets on arrival and then monitor and manage waiting times.
• Scheduling all appointments efficiently, trying to be flexible around the client and being polite if the client appears to be difficult or inflexible.
• To ensure all client information held on the database is correct and adhere to GDPR.
• Be familiar with the practice website, to guide clients and enquirers through to relevant sections.
• Complete all paper forms as accurately and fully as possible.
• Liaise with the nurses regarding admissions and discharges, ensuring that any medication is ready, the invoice has been paid and any further appointments have been arranged (unless the veterinary surgeon concerned is to discharge the pet personally).
• Ensure you are familiar with all routinely dispensed products regarding nutrition, obesity, worming and flea problems, and check that you have access to relevant information on certain products.
• Counsel clients with regard to available products and also basic pre and post-operative care where appropriate promote sales where appropriate. For example; ask clients who are here for boosters if they have enough flea supplies/wormers etc. to last until their next visit.
• Assist the client with any invoice queries to ensure they are clear on what services have been provided and the cost.
• Ensure daybooks are completed at the appropriate times. Inform management of any discrepancies/ refunds.
• Merge daily banking of all three branches, ready for banking.
• Deal with requests for help from vets wherever possible.
• Deal with client complaints according to the practice complaints procedure and escalate to the appropriate person where necessary.
• Use common sense and sensitivity particularly in cases of euthanasia, terminal illness or severe injury.
• Keep clients informed if they are likely to be kept waiting - why, how long, etc. Explain that other people may seem to be going in before them but this is because they are seeing another vet.
• Monitor reception room cleanliness and clean if necessary. Tidy the magazines check the client toilets at regular intervals as well as the general area.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• A minimum of 12 months’ experience dealing with customers in a customer facing role.
• Confident using the telephone
• Reception or Client Care experience
• Cash handling and till operation
• Previous experience of working in a veterinary/doctors surgery
• Knowledge.
• IT skills – confident in the use of Word, Excel and Outlook as a minimum
• Knowledge of client-based computer system and using a multiple line software-based telephone system.

For more information on this role please contact our Talent Acquisition team member on [email protected] 

We are proud to be Linnaeus, part of Mars.

Linnaeus is a forward-thinking group of highly respected primary care and specialist referral practices in the UK and Ireland. Being family owned and part of Mars Veterinary Health, the largest veterinary company in the world, allows us to focus on advancing the veterinary profession to provide industry-leading pet care and unique career opportunities for our people.

Why Linnaeus?

-    We pride ourselves in offering high-quality excellence of service and clinical care for our clients and their pets

-    We lead on sustainability and collectively drive positive change for people, pets and the planet

-    We prioritise your mental health and wellbeing – valuing equity, diversity and inclusion

-    We support your personal and professional development with best-in-class career frameworks and training programmes. We will empower and support you to grow your career from day one.

We team up within our Mars family in partnership for a stronger future.

Linnaeus is an equal-opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We treat each other fairly and equitably and we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse for all our Associates.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people.

If you would like to apply for this role, please click the ‘Apply’ button or for more information or please reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected]