Profession veterinary receptionist

Veterinary receptionists provide reception and office/administrative support in a veterinary practice, scheduling appointments and receiving clients, sale and advice on animal related products, in accordance with national legislation. 

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Animal welfare legislation

    The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

  • Biosecurity related to animals

    Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.

  • Veterinary terminology

    Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.

  • Animal welfare

    Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

  • Signs of animal illness

    Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.

  • Safe work practices in a veterinary setting

    Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.

Skills

  • Communicate with customers

    Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.

  • Process booking

    Execute a booking of a place according to client's requirement in advance and issue all appropriate documents.

  • Manage animal biosecurity

    Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.

  • Handle customer complaints

    Administer complaints and negative feedback from customers in order to address concerns and where applicable provide a quick service recovery.

  • Monitor the welfare of animals

    Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.

  • Manage veterinary practice waiting area

    Manage the waiting area in a veterinary practice and ensure that both the clients' and the animals' needs are monitored and prioritised.

  • Provide support to veterinary clients

    Assist clients seeking veterinary treatment and during the provision of veterinary services. Aid clients with the care of their animals by demonstrating care techniques and use of veterinary products. Provide support during difficult situations.

  • Use different communication channels

    Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

  • Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting

    Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.

  • Process payments

    Accept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attention to safety and the protection of personal data.

  • Manage infection control in the facility

    Implement a set of measures to prevent and control infections, formulating and establishing health and safety procedures and policies.

  • Perform multiple tasks at the same time

    Execute multiple tasks at the same time, being aware of key priorities.

  • Communicate by telephone

    Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.

  • Handle veterinary emergencies

    Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.

  • Maintain administrative records in the veterinary office

    Create and maintain administrative records for activities such as appointments and sales in the veterinary office.'

  • Maintain the veterinary reception area

    Maintain the reception area, including appearance and hygiene, to give a positive impression of the organisation.'

  • Receive veterinary clients and their animals for appointments

    Receive veterinary clients, making sure that they and their animals are prepared for appointments.'

  • Manage animal hygiene

    Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.

  • Have computer literacy

    Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

  • Deal with challenging people

    Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.

Optional knowledge and skills

sell veterinary materials animal behaviour interview animal owners on animals' conditions physiology of animals manage clinical environments make decisions regarding the animal's welfare collaborate with animal related professionals apply numeracy skills maintain veterinary clinical records maintain stocks of veterinary materials address problems critically create solutions to problems calculate rates per hours manage a small-to-medium business handle financial transactions anatomy of animals

Source: Sisyphus ODB