Overview

💪 How we work

During working hours you should always dedicate your time, attention and abilities to your work.

While you’re working with us you should work to the best of your ability, and use your best endeavours to promote, develop and expand the work of the practice and it’s interests.

You should always act with consideration for the needs of our patients, your colleagues, and comply with the procedures and policies of the practice.

You should always carry our your work faithfully and diligently. Honesty is vital in our practices to ensure that we are all able to do our best work.

☺️ Behaviour at work

You should always try to be polite and courteous towards patients and colleagues. We understand that sometimes people may not be polite to you in return, but it’s important that we maintain our standards of behaviour anyway. Any behaviour that is unacceptable or not up to our standards will be treated seriously, and may result in disciplinary action.

• Have a look at our 😡Complaints & Difficult Patient Interactions page to find out more about how we deal with difficult situations with patients
• Visit our 🤗Positive Work Environment page to find out about how we deal with difficult situations with colleagues

We all have a responsibility to promote equality, inclusion and diversity at work. You can contribute directly by:

• Treating others with dignity and respect
• Not discriminating against fellow employees, workers, customers, clients, suppliers or members of the public you come into contact during the course of your duties
• Not persuading or attempting to persuade others to discriminate against another person
• Reporting any discriminatory action to the Operations Director

👕 Dress at work

We like to make a good impression on our patients and members of the public, so although we don’t have a strict dress code, it is important to us that you wear clothes that present a neat, clean and professional appearance. Generally this means smart casual wear. Clothes and footwear should also be appropriate for the work you perform.

We respect that you might have requirements of your faith to wear specific types of clothing or to dress modestly. You’re invited to do so, as long as this clothing doesn’t pose a health and safety risk to yourself, and doesn’t have a negative impact on any other person.

🤐 Confidentiality

While you’re working with us you might have access to information (formally or informally) about a patient, colleague or practice business. This information must be considered strictly confidential, and you must do everything possible to keep this information confidential.

An unnecessary breach of confidentiality could be considered gross misconduct, and result in us taking disciplinary action. Take a look at our 💾IG, Data Protection & Confidentiality page to find out more about our policies around confidentiality.

In some cases it might be necessary to breach confidentiality and disclose information about a patient, colleague or practice business (e.g. if there is a safeguarding concern about a patient). To find out more about when you might need to breach confidentiality, take a look at our 💾IG, Data Protection & Confidentiality page, or speak to your Line Manager if you have a specific concern.

🤨 Solicitation & distribution

You should not distribute literature of any kind, or solicit your colleagues or our patients without the permission of the Operations Director. Examples of solicitation might be asking for donations to a charity, or asking for signatures on a petition.

You should also not be involved in buying or selling of goods of any kind with our patients or your colleagues.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Fraternisation

Because of the nature of working in a healthcare setting, boundaries are important. Every patient is vulnerable when we have access to their confidential information. There is no justification for any kind of romantic involvement between a member of staff and a patient or former patient of the surgery. If we become aware of any relationship between you and a patient, this may result in a disciplinary action.

🍷 Alcohol & substance abuse

We have a duty of care to look after the health and wellbeing of all our staff, which includes promoting a responsible attitude to drinking alcohol.

If your ability to carry out your work suffers due to alcohol or substance use, or if there is any unacceptable behaviour at work (including possession), this may result in disciplinary action. Careful consideration will be given to individual circumstances in these matters.

FAQs