Secure Services Receptionist

Job summary

37.5 hours per week. Lee Mill Low Secure Unit is a 12-bed male inpatient ward set in a small village just outside of Plymouth. We provide specialist mental health care for men who have often been involved in the legal system due to their mental health needs. The staff at Lee Mill are passionate about providing the highest level of patient centred care to an often challenging and disadvantaged patient group.

The Lee Mill team has been the recipients of the Mary Seacole Peoples award which has celebrated our dedication to promote recovery and work collaboratively with our patient group, the kindness and respect demonstrated by the team and the high number of successful discharges out of secure care.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed band 2 to work in our security services reception and join our successful and highly motivated team. You will be front of house greeting patients, staff, visitors and sometimes members of the public. You will be flexible, enthusiastic, self-motivated & interested in working within a modern, forward thinking & effective specialist service. You will be a key member of our directorate who is efficient in completing tasks and managing a secure reception area.

The successful candidate will undertake a variety of tasks, including direct face to face patient contact and security checks and audits. You should be prepared to work in an environment that can be very challenging, but also very rewarding.

Main duties of the job

To act as the first point of contact and provide initial welcome to all patients, visitors and staff.

To provide a professional reception service working to the principle security starts at the front door.

To provide a quality customer care service which positively reflects the values of the organisation and will provide effective customer care is maintained for all patients, visitors and staff.

To maintain the reception waiting area so that is welcoming and comfortable for visitors. To support provision of information available to visitors; to include digital displays, noticeboards, leaflets, and welcome / information packs.

To maintain physical and procedural security of the secure reception and non-clinical area including perimeter checks, audits of restricted items, observe patient searches.

To operate the safety and security systems managed from the secure reception.

To support staff in maintaining physical and procedural security throughout the service.

To support the team with management of the environment to include coordination of maintenance and repairs.

To support the team with administration and communication to provide efficiency and records maintained to a high standard.

This role involves a lot of walking.

Please note that this role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Details

• Date posted: 21 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 2
• Salary: £25,272 a year pa, pro-rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: B9832-2027-AC-1970-2
• Job locations: Lee Mill Hospital, Beech Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9HL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

People management

Ensure all visitors entering the building are welcomed, have identification checked, are asked to sign in and hand washing facilities are signposted.

Respond, using a helpful and problem-solving approach, to all queries and requests for assistance from staff and other visitors.

Ensure all entry and exit of service users, staff, visitors and deliveries is via external airlock (unless emergency access is required).

Ensure all service users enter and exit the building safely under the direction of nursing staff.

Ensure service users are not permitted through the internal airlock until searches have been completed.

Receive and make telephone calls, using a helpful and problem-solving approach. Re-direct calls and take messages as appropriate.

Communicate via staff radio as appropriate.

Engage appropriately with all service users and report any change in presentation or conflict promptly to nurse in charge.

Monitor service users in the reception area and report any concerns to the nurse in charge.

Support the nursing team as the witness for any ‘green’ search conducted in line with Lee Mill RAG protocol when patients return from leave, or any items brought by visitors.

Delivery of initial security inductions to all new staff.

Processing of visitors to the service; to include explanation of prohibited and restricted items and appropriate storage of these items. Completion of required identity checks, completion of required documentation and issuing of visitors badge.

Processing of workmen / contractors visiting the service; to include explanation of prohibited and restricted items and appropriate storage of these items. Completion of required identity checks, completion of required documentation and issuing of visitors badge.

Ensure all regular maintenance is completed in a timely manner to include fire equipment, PAT testing of items and labelling new electronic equipment. Report any discrepancies to security lead and management team.

Security

Follow local security procedure for the allocation of master keys and alarms.

Support logging, ordering, replacement, and reconciliation of broken keys as per local security procedure.

Ensure lone worker devices are charged, in good working order & all checks completed.

Operate effective signing in and out procedures that are compliant with local fire procedures.

Complete all non-clinical security checks required to maintain the safety of the ward.

Monitor and supply patient restricted items, keeping an up to date record of items and ensuring no items are unaccounted for.

Complete daily audit of restricted items and follow local procedure if items are missing.

Complete regular checks of SAS and fire alarm systems

Record and distribute mail to service users, ensuring that all parcels are opened in the presence of the service user, prior to entering the ward and contents are checked for restricted/prohibited items. Any restricted/prohibited items found to be managed in line with unit policy

Open and sort the mail for staff according to agreed procedures.

Ensure security handover is completed to NIC and security nurse each shift with any breaches escalated as per unit policy.

Complete “security estates log” paperwork when logging any security related jobs with estates (in addition to electronic log).

Ensure management team and security lead are informed of all security related estate logs via email.

The environment

Complete audits and inspections of the building, reporting any repairs to the relevant department promptly.

Ensure that the reception and waiting areas are kept safe and tidy.

To inform the estates department of any works that need to be undertaken on the unit and keep accurate records, monitor completion and report back outstanding works to the clinical team on a weekly basis.

Ensure NIC is informed of any estates/contractors entering the patient area before allowing access.

Notify the NIC of any testing/maintenance being carried out on the unit and escort contractors/estates to complete in patient areas.

Follow agreed procedure for access to loft space for any estates/contractors.

Complete perimeter check twice daily and associated records including any breaches and escalation process if damage is found.

Support and implement the emergency and contingency planning situations that may arise within the service.

Administration

Undertake any administrative/ secretarial tasks requested by the unit manager and the clinical team.

Arrange appointments and access to and manage diaries for the clinical team.

Have up to date knowledge of computer systems.

Plan, ensure the smooth running of and take minutes of meetings.

Scan correspondence and reports into the computerised record, ensuring that they can be easily retrieved.

Photocopy, laminate or disseminate relevant documents at request of the team.

Ensure that the telephone system is operational at the beginning of each day switched over at the appropriate times. Report any difficulties with the operation of the telephone system.

Use internal and external mail and the internet to keep up to date and to send and receive messages.

Financial and/or physical resources

To follow agreed processes in the allocation of petty cash and patient monies.

Complete daily audit of money held in unit safe with another staff member and follow escalation process for discrepancies.

To place orders required for the secure services on EPROC and receipt.

Support liaison with couriers and use of systems to ensure secure delivery of post, items to and from pharmacy, and samples to pathology services. Receive deliveries.

Support liaison with appropriate departments concerning the unit vehicles; e.g. service, maintenance, repair, processing of penalty notices, processing of fuel receipts.

Support the team to maintain accurate levels of equipment on the ward, to include PPE, and implementing timely stock ordering to prevent running out

Storage and use of photographic equipment, including e-storage of photographs of visitors, staff, patients and any photographs that may be required as evidence to provide to the police.

Correct storage, charging and issuing of mobile telephones and lone worker devices.

Provide a communication link for staff working with patients in the community that will enable an appropriate and timely response in the event of an untoward incident.

Issuing of unit vehicle keys and fuel card, including using system to ensure security / safety checks are completed on vehicle.

Operate systems for staff to book unit vehicles, book clinical areas / services, book rooms as per local guidance.

Hold details of lone working staff.

Ensure that meeting rooms are tidied at the end of the day and left ready for the following day.

Implementation of policy and/or service developments

Knowledge of QNFMHS Low Secure standards relating to physical and procedural security.

Awareness of service development needs to adapt to changes in Low Secure Standards as they arise.

Inform appropriate staff of any day-to-day problems, together with any possible solutions.

Be aware of and abide by approved policies and procedures.

Other Responsibilities

Participate in the Staff Appraisal process.

Attend any training that is identified as part of the Personal Development Plan and mandatory training as stipulated by the organisation.

Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post.

Support investigation of concerns / complaints relating to the secure receptions.

Act on any reasonable request made by the senior nurse / modern matron / service manager.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).