Prescription Clerk

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**JOB TITLE: PRESCRIPTION CLERK**

**REPORTS TO: DISPENSARY MANAGER/PARTNERS**

**HOURS: Negotiable
- up to 30 Hours per week**

**Job summary**:
To process all relevant prescription requests as authorised by prescribers where appropriate, in accordance with the principles of good practice.

As a prescription clerk you will be a vital part of the support for the prescribing and clinical teams at the practice. You will be required to work alongside the dispensary team as well as being able to work under your own initiative.

The role is for 30 hours across 5 days per week, these hours can be negotiable and can be within school hours.

**Job responsibilities**:

- Prescribing clerks are responsible for the accurate and timely processing of both electronic and paper prescription requests. There will also be the opportunity to enrich the role by being involved in performing searches and audits, managing weekly issued prescriptions and liaising with care homes.
- To take prescription enquiries over the telephone and liaise with other service providers.
- To operate efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the practice, with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage through out of date stock.
- To ensure that shelves and all work surfaces are regularly cleaned to maintain a high level of hygiene within the dispensary and that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and is in good working order.
- To assist dispensary as required within the scope of competence under the supervision of the GP partners and practice management team.
- To ensure practice policies and dispensary standard operating procedures in relation to the role are adhered to at all times.
- To undertake any necessary work as may be required and appropriate to maintain a high standard and efficient prescription service.

**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 may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, 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

**Health & safety**:
The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others’ health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):

- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
- Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
- Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Use and monitoring of the correct use of Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning and infection control
- Responsible for correct hand hygiene of self and others
- Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols within the team
- Active observation of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes
- Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
- Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
- Activel