Apprentice Medical Receptionist

East Durham Medical Group

Horden (SR8 4LD)

Closes in 14 days (Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 7 April 2026

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Summary

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the Team at East Durham Medical Group. During your apprenticeship, you will gain experience in primary care and Customer Service/secretarial work. As a Medical Receptionist, you will usually be the first person patients speak to when they come to the surgery.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week (hours to be agreed at interview).

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 4 May 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

  • To provide a high standard of patient service
  • To have thorough knowledge of practice procedures and to work in accordance of written protocols
  • Provide general assistance to the practice team to both clinical and non-clinical
  •  Project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone
  • Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare they require
  • Resolve queries/problems from patients, clinicians and associated staff
  • Deal with external agencies such as other practices, secondary care and 3rd party organisations
  • To ensure the provision of a high quality patient service within a safe, efficient working environment by providing effective support to clinicians and staff
  • Undertake all clerical, reception and administration duties applicable to the medical practice

Where you'll work

Seaview Health Centre
Fourth Street
Horden
SR8 4LD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
  • Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
  • Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate patience and calmness.
  • Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
  • Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
  • Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Training schedule

The successful candidate will complete the Level 2 Customer Service Apprenticeship Standard. This will be delivered in the workplace, with a tutor visiting once a month.  

The only times you would be required to attend college would be for induction, and if you have any Maths and English functional skills to complete. Maths and English classes would be weekly until the exams are passed. If you hold either GCSE grade 4 or above, or a level 2 in Maths and English or equivalents, you will not be required to do these again. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or C and above)
  • Maths (grade 4 or C and above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this employer

East Durham Medical Group is situated in the beautiful coastal area of County Durham. The Practice works from 6 sites across the region. We are a very successful, high achieving, PMS training practice with a patient list of over 18 500 patients.

We are an extremely forward thinking Practice and our core values include Caring, Commitment, Consistency and Celebrating success. We work to make a difference by providing the highest quality patient-centred care in an honest supportive environment that is realistic, sustainable and rewarding, and which values patients and staff.

We offer great team working and friendship, competitive rates of pay and access to the NHS pension scheme.

http://www.eastdurhammedicalgroup.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Progression onto the next level of qualification and the possibility of full-time employment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Sarah English

sarah.english@eastdurham.ac.uk

0191 518 8262

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000024982.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 11:59pm)