Dispensary Receptionist

NHS; Stowmarket; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Stowmarket is seeking a part-time Dispensary Receptionist for approximately 19 hours per week. The role involves supporting clinicians in managing prescriptions and patient records, with responsibilities such as serving patients, generating repeat prescription requests, and ensuring confidentiality. Ideal candidates will have GCSE qualifications in English and Maths, possess strong customer service skills, and have attention to detail. This role is vital for maintaining high-quality patient care. Training and support will be provided.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role preferred.
• Ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
• Understanding of prescription handling and medication queries.

Responsibilities

• Serve patients courteously and efficiently.
• Handle prescription requests and medication queries.
• Ensure proper record keeping of dispensing transactions.

Skills

Customer service skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

GCSE in English and Maths to at least grade 4

Job description

We currently have a vacancy for a patient facing part time dispensary receptionist approximately 19 hours per week. This is a fixed term contractfor 10 months.

The working pattern is

Tuesday 1.30pm to 6.30pm

Wednesday 11am to 6.30pm with 30 minute lunchbreak

Friday 11am to 6.30pm with 30 minute lunchbreak

Main duties of the job

Dispensary Receptionist

A dispensary receptionist works as part of the practice team, supporting clinicians in the management and handing out of prescriptions to patients. Dealing with patient records, medication queries and data entry are essential parts of this role.

Cover for holiday and sick leave will be required.

About us

Stowhealth is an inclusive, friendly, flexible, forward thinking, multi-disciplinary Primary care team based in Stowmarket, Suffolk.

We currently care for approximately 23,000 patients.

We have a reputation for award winning innovation and novel working practices, developed to fit around our individual clinicians.

We are part of the Stowmarket locality of East Suffolk PCN.

We use the AskmyGP online consultation service allowing us to manage our own workload, with control over face to face appointment lengths and timings.

Our team of doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses and physician associates deal with daily clinical enquiries.

Our skilled care navigators, receptionists and admin staff deal with non-clinical issues on our behalf.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Serving all patients in a courteous and efficient manner ensuring customer satisfaction is of prime importance.
• Generating repeat prescription requests.
• Ensuring the correct handing out of prescriptions to patients.
• To collect all due prescription charges and ensure that the declaration on the reverse of the prescription is completed and signed in accordance with NHS legislation.
• Contacting managed delivery patients to confirm their next monthly order.
• Keeping the dispensary shop well stocked and professional in appearance, ensuring at all times that relevant retail and safety laws are adhered to.
• To ensure correct pricing, reordering levels of stock and maintain full shelf merchandising and management.
• Weekly cashing up and till reconciliation as required.
• Issuing and dispensing dosette boxes
• Ensuring that drugs are received and stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and any MHRA recalls are actioned
• Ensuring that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintaining the temperature control record
• Date checking to be performed as per Standard Operating Procedure
• Maintaining full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions including the electronic Controlled Drug register
• Handling and safe destruction of patient returned medication
• To undertake any necessary training.

Confidentiality

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health and Safety

• The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and other's health safety and security as defined in the Practice health and safety policy to include.
• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines.
• Identifying risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programmes implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
• Monthly training sessions as necessary.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

Stowhealth is an equal opportunities employer and you will be expected to comply with all relevant policies and procedures.

Work Visa/Permits/Leave to Remain

If you are a non-resident of the United Kingdom or European Economic Union, you are required to have a valid work visa and leave to remain in the UK, which is renewed as required. The Practice is unable to employ or continue to employ you if you require but do not have a valid work visa and/or leave to remain in the UK.

Code of Conduct

All staff are required to work in accordance with the code of conduct for their professional group (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Professionals Council, General Medical Council, NHS Code of Conduct for Senior Managers).

Infection Control

It is the responsibility of all staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, to familiarise themselves with and adhere to current policy in relation to the prevention of the spread of infection.

Complaints

From time to time, complaints may occur, no matter how professionals the approach of our staff. All complaints are investigated promptly and the full co-operation of staff is required.

Clinical Governance and Risk Management

The Practice believes everyone has a role to play in improving and contributing to the quality of care provided to our patients. As an employee of the Practice you are expected to take a proactive role in supporting the Practices clinical governance agenda by:

• Taking part in activities for improving quality such as clinical audit.
• Identifying and managing risks through incident and near miss reporting and undertaking risk assessments.
• Following policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Staff making entries into patient health records are required to follow any Practice standards of record keeping.

Information Quality Assurance

As an employee of the Practice it is expected that you will take due diligence and care in regard to any information collected, recorded, processed or handled by you during the course of your work and that such information is collected, recorded, processed and handled in compliance with the Practice requirements and instructions.

Freedom of Information

The post-holder should be aware of the responsibility placed on employees under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and is responsible for helping to ensure that the Practice complies with the Act when handling or dealing with any information relating to Practice activity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE in English and Maths to at least grade 4.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.