Medical Receptionist/ Dispensary AssistantinMaidstoneinMaidstonePUBLISHED TUE 18 MAR 2025

The ideal candidate will form part of a very friendly, supportive and dedicated team, much loved by the local community, working in a village dispensing practice on the outskirts of Maidstone.The position is a dual role split between Reception and Dispensary. Full training will be provided.

• Reception Duties

• • Greeting patients politely and ensuring thatappointments are booked accurately and appropriately.

  • Respond to all queries and requests for assistance to the practice from patients and other visitors appropriately.

  • Keep the reception area clean and tidy.

  • Ensure that all patient details are dealt with confidentially in accordance with practice.

  • Maintain a working knowledge of the appointment system, i.e. times of clinics and duration of appointments, knowledge of EMIS Web.

  • Provide non clinical patient care, dealing with requests for information, test results, requests to speak to clinical staff ensuring confidentiality and privacy.

• Adhere to practice protocols re: confidentiality.

Dispensary Duties

• Bagging medications once the clinical check has been completed by the GPs
• Ensure patient signs prescription and collect charge as required
• Record private prescriptions and collect specified charges
• Answering telephone calls and passing on messages as appropriate
• Dealing with problems and enquiries
• Keep efficient stock rotation

• Fully observe legal requirements relevant to a dispensing Practice, including HA regulations and controlled drugs
• Ensure the cleanliness of the dispensary
• To carry out any duties appropriate to grade/level as required
• To work flexibly within the team and to provide cover as necessary
• To ensure maximum profit is maintained and losses are kept to a minimum
• To dispose of returned patients medications safely using the correct disposal process

About us

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 assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identifying the 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
• Reporting potential risks identified.

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 recognizes the importance of peoples 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-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme 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.

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 recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize 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.