Dispensary Clerk

Job title**:DISPENSARY CLERK**

Hours: 16 hours per week

Holidays: 28 days pro rata plus 8 bank holidays

Reports to Dispensary Manager

**The Fakenham Medical Practice**

The Fakenham Medical Practice is a nine-doctor dispensing practice providing care to around 15,000 patients in and around Fakenham in North Norfolk.

We work from modern, purpose-built premises. The partners and staff have a shared belief in the delivery of high quality, traditional personal family healthcare. Patients’ interests are kept very much to the fore and there is a strong commitment to develop patient services. To promote a multi-disciplinary team approach, we share our premises with other providers including a pharmacy, adult social services, and local community services e.g., physiotherapy and midwifery.

The practice is part of Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and has a branch surgery at Walsingham. We are a training practice for GP Trainees.

**Practice Mission Statement**
- Fakenham Medical Practice is committed to working with compassion and understanding to provide all its patients with accessible, responsive, and efficient services that deliver good, safe, and effective care._

**Main purpose of role**
- To support the delivery of an efficient, effective and safe dispensary service.
- To project a positive, friendly and professional image of the practice to patients, carers and other visitors to the practice both in person and via the telephone.
- To facilitate efficient and effective communication between patients, clinicians, secondary care and other associated healthcare professionals/agencies.

**Key relationships**

Partners, salaried doctors, trainees, nurse prescribers, Practice Manager, Dispensary Manager, other Dispensary staff, all other Fakenham Medical Practice staff, patients, carers, Patient Participation Group members and other service and community providers.

**Job duties and responsibilities**:
1. To support the delivery of a high-quality dispensing service to patients, carers and others visiting and/or otherwise contacting the dispensary, in particular:

- Adhere to current practice Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols regarding the processing of prescriptions
- Receive and transfer prescriptions
- Collect repeat prescription requests from the appropriate post points
- Process prescription requests from repeat, secondary care and as per GP request
- Deal with patient enquiries both face to face, via tasks and over the telephone; explain procedures to new patients; ensure all required documentation is completed
- Respond promptly and appropriately to patient needs e.g. queues, confusion, sickness, calling for help as and when required to do so
- Ensure that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and to maintain a temperature control record/logbook
- Dispose of patient returned, unused medicines and sharps bin returns
- Ensure that the dispensary is kept clean to maintain a high level of hygiene and that all equipment is in good working order
- Monitor refrigerator temperature and report any anomalies
- Process and order all requests for North West Ostomy Supplies
- Bag dispensed items as appropriate to await collection
- Assist with the training of new dispensary staff

2. To support the dispensary team and undertake a variety of administrative duties that contribute to the smooth running of the dispensary service, particularly:

- Use the Practice clinical system (SystmOne) to process and record information in an accurate and timely fashion in accordance with Practice policies and procedures.
- Advise patients of charges, accept payment and issue receipts as required; ensure that all monies received or handled on behalf of the practice are appropriately stored and a record kept of all financial transactions.
- To ensure that the 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 kept in good working order.
- Share information as appropriate in a timely and accurate manner.

3. To provide cover for members of the Dispensary Team during periods of sickness and annual leave.

4. To communicate politely and effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and other contacts, recognising people’s needs for alternative methods of communication e.g. translation services and responding accordingly. In this way, through good communication and working collaboratively with colleagues and other agencies to support the provision of a seamless co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

5. At all times, to maintain the highest standards of behaviour, to comply with and follow practice and CQC policies, protocols and procedures, including information governance, confidentiality, health and safety, infection control, equality and diversity and to report any breach or suspected breach immediately.

6. To undertake regular training and development, to keep personal developme