GP Surgery Business Administration Apprenticeship (Orchard Court Surgery)
Orchard Court Surgery
Darlington (DL3 6HZ)
Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026
Posted on 22 May 2026
Contents
Summary
A great opportunity to work in a busy, local, doctor’s surgery, assisting with reception and administration duties across all departments of the surgery. Full apprenticeship and role training will be provided for this exciting position in this fast-moving practice, working towards a Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard.
- Wage
-
£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday: Shifts between the hours of 7:15am and 6pm.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 July 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the manager, dependent on current and evolving workloads and staffing levels:
Duties of the post:
- Covering reception, meeting, and greeting patients.
- Taking telephone queries and booking of appointments.
- Working in the admin office within the staff team on a rotation basis, under the guidance of the Reception Manager.
- Logging a variety of information into patient records using a purpose-built clinical system.
- Provide a confidential, efficient, timely and accurate administration service.
- Using Excel and Word to perform specific tasks set by the Operations Manager.
- Scanning incoming correspondence into patients’ electronic records via the clinical system.
- Providing general administrative support such as filing, photocopying, and general letters and any other duties appropriate to the role.
- Sorting incoming post.
- Working in the reception office within the staff team on a rotation basis, under the guidance of the Reception Manager.
- Logging patient arrivals, booking appointments, and utilising the full range of services provided with the electronic appointments' system (training will be provided).
- Dealing with patients face-to-face in a professional manner.
- Calling patients.
- Contacting patients by e-mail/letter.
This list is not exhaustive, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by the Management Team which are relevant to your role within the company to meet the overall business needs. The role will evolve as time and duties progress.
Where you'll work
Orchard Court
Orchard Road
Darlington
DL3 6HZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
You will be completing the Level 3 Business Administrator Advanced Apprenticeship Standard with Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills, Darlington.
The Business Administration Apprenticeship is designed to equip participants with the fundamentals required to work in any business environment. The programme can be delivered using a blend of online, anytime learning and expert-led classroom training covering core topics.
Throughout this Apprenticeship, participants will be supported by tutors who have worked in a business environment and have gained many years of experience and who can truly support you to develop the skills and knowledge required to work in a wide range of administrative roles.
More training information
Training will be provided to achieve the following qualifications:
Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard.
Training will take place weekly, on a day release basis, at Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills training centre (DL1 1NL). Here you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to ensure these exceed the minimum requirements for the Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship standards.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4+ (C+))
- Maths (grade 4+/ C+)
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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
- You will be required to attend our training centre in Darlington (DL1 1NL) and you will need to make your own way there for day release training
- Travel to and from the employer, based at Orchard Road, Darlington (DL3 6HZ)
- You will need to pass a DBS check if successful
About this employer
We have 3 male doctors and 3 female doctors. Of the male doctors, 1 is full-time and 2 are part-time. Our female doctors are also part-time. We also from time to time have a medical student attached to the practice.
We have 2 female Practice Nurses, who offer a full range of services including health promotion, blood pressure management, immunisations, cervical smears and chronic disease clinics such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. We also employ a Practice Assistant to help our Practice Nurses with procedures such as taking blood samples.
We have a Practice Pharmacist, 1 Secretary, 9 Receptionists, a Practice Manager and a Deputy Manager. We also have other members of the Health Care Team who visit from time to time including District Nurses, Health Visitors, Community Midwives, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Counsellors, Well-being facilitators, Dementia nurses and pathway advisory services. We provide a full range of medical services including maternity care, contraceptive services child health surveillance and minor surgery services. The nurse also runs Diabetic, Asthma, Coronary Heart Disease and COPD clinics
The surgery is within NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
After this apprenticeship
Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to:
- Full time employment.
- Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Graham Curry
graham.curry@Darlington.gov.uk
07949845325
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033054.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026