Apprentice Receptionist/Administrator
DUNELM MEDICAL PRACTICE
Durham (DH1 2QQ)
Closes in 14 days (Monday 29 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 June 2026
Contents
Summary
I fantastic opportunity has become available at Dunelm Medical Practice in Gilesgate. The role involves offering general assistance to the practice team and projecting a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone, whilst working towards Level 3 Business Admin qualification.
- Wage
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£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Suggested hours and working pattern: 37.5 hrs
Monday 8am- 6pm (reception) 9.5 hrs with 30 min break
Tuesday 8am- 6pm (reception) 9.5 hrs with 30 min break
Wednesday 1pm- 6pm (reception) 5 hrs
Thursday 8am- 4pm (admin) 7.5 hrs with 30 mins break
Friday 8am-1pm (reception) 6 hrs
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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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 by members of the practice administration/reception team may include any or all of the items in the following list.
Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Practice Business Manager and management team, dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels:
- Speak to patients coming to the Practice, marking them into pre-booked appointments
- Answer and make outgoing telephone calls to book appointments, help with patient queries and relay messages on behalf of the clinical team to the patient
- Open up and close the surgery with support, ensuring clinical rooms are appropriately stocked and ready for the day, including computer equipment
- Process prescription requests, repeat issues and acute requests
- Organise incoming post and scan patient information onto the clinical system (SystmOne)
- Support in the packing or unpacking of the internal courier bags which enable the practice to transfer items between sites
- Liaise with the practice aligned care homes to support patient treatment
- Run reports and perform searches in SystmOne and pass these reports to appropriate members of staff
- Administer the practice Recall system, producing reports to identify relevant patients and using mail merge systems to send letters to patients
- Distribute pathology results received via the clinical system to appropriate members of the clinical team
- Distribution of Electronic communications from the 111 service
- Supply copy notes to organisations requesting this service, as authorised by the Operational Manager
- Assist the team in dealing with patient records received from Capita and filing records in the practice records system according to protocol
- Attend meetings as appropriate and assist in the production of minutes with a view of developing skills to produce minutes independently
- Update and amend the practice website and social media platforms as appropriate
- Assist in the completion of GP2GP tasks in the clinical system, with a view to developing skills in order to perform this role independently
- Action information received via GP links where appropriate
- Enter patient information/data on to the computer as required ensuring accuracy at all times
Patient notes and correspondence
- Retrieve and re-file records as required, ensuring strict alphabetical order is adhered to
- Ensure correspondence, reports, results etc are filed/scanned promptly and in the correct records, ensuring that all recent correspondence is available when patients are seen
- Follow Practice procedures for safety and security of the premises
- Undertake training in administrative and reception functions such as typing and system specific modules
This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and consultation. You may also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties which may be requested from time to time by the Partners or the Practice Business Manager.
Where you'll work
Dunelm Medical Practice
40a Sunderland Road
Gilesgate
Durham
DH1 2QQ
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
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
The apprentice will attend East Durham College 1 day per month and receive regular visits from a trainer coach in the workplace
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
About this employer
Dunelm Medical Practice provides services to patients from three locations: Gilesgate, Bearpark and Framwellgate Moor. We are a well-established training practice providing high standards of patient focused care.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- 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 5188262
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037248.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Monday 29 June 2026 at 11:59pm)