Job responsibilities
Job summary
Patients who live more than a mile from a pharmacy are able to get their medication from their GP Practice. We offer our dispensing patients a service between 0800 and 1800 Monday to Friday. The Dispensary hatch is closed between 12:00 and 14:00.
The post-holder will support the Dispensary Manager in all areas of dispensing, ensuring a high-quality service is delivered, and freeing-up the Dispensary Manager to focus on managing and developing the dispensary.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the dispensary assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.
- Acting as the focal point for patients, answering the dispensary phone and hatch.
- Collecting prescription charges in accordance with dispensary protocol.
- Maintaining stock levels within the dispensary, liaising with the dispensary manager to facilitate reordering.
- Receiving and storing supplies in accordance with current policy, ensuring the cold chain is maintained where applicable.
- Safe disposal of returned and/or out-of-date medicines.
- Supporting the processing of repeat prescriptions, ensuring a 48-hour turnaround is achieved.
- Process prescription requests via email, fax, face-to-face and online.
- Assisting the Dispensary Manager in the preparation of monthly returns.
- Maintaining a clean and safe working environment at all times.
- Keeping accurate records at all times, coding entries appropriately.
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the dispensary assistant may be required to:
- Partake in audit as directed by the audit lead. For example, drug monitoring recall and audits.
- Remain current with the latest guidance ensuring the dispensary conforms to NICE, CQC etc. guidance.
- Maintaining effective security of the dispensary at all times.
Other general requirements include:
- Ensure all paperwork and admin is of high-quality and completed without undue delay.
- The post-holder will be expected to ask for clarification, support or second-opinion from peer colleagues when required.
- Maintain appropriate levels of communication with patients and other agencies.
- Ensure professional and respectful conduct with patients and colleagues at all times, and ensuring appearance and attire is suitable for a health professional.
- Be aware of and comply with all relevant Practice policies and guidelines (e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, infection control, data protection, health and safety, appraisal).
- Report any issues that may affect their ability to work or work performance.
- To take responsibility for their own, and others, health and safety in the working environment.
- Carry out any additional duties as may be reasonably required in negotiation with the Dispensary Manager.
Probationary period
The first six months of employment is considered a probationary period, during which time the period of notice of termination is four working weeks (for both employee and employer). After the initial probationary period is successfully passed, the mutual notice period is three calendar months.
Equality and diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, including:
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation, particularly the Equalities Act 2010 and UK employment legislation.
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
- Behaving in a manner that is welcoming, non-judgmental and respectful of patient and colleagues circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
- St Georges will make Reasonable Adjustments to support the post-holder fulfil their role and duties.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)
This practice is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities to for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. All personnel are to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.
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 carer(s), practice 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. Breaching patient confidentiality is likely to be considered misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.
Safeguarding
As a member of St Georges Medical Centre team, the post-holder has an obligation to understand, and follow the policies, procedures and practices that keep patients safe from harm, including raising concerns where necessary.
As a safe employer, before being offered a contract, the recruiting manager will need to be satisfied with the outcome of all three of the following:
- The documentary evidence of identity, educational qualifications, and the right to work in UK.
- The results of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.
- The outcome of two verbal references from a current, and a previous, employer (or equivalent).
