Senior Pharmacy Receptionist
Job Description
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Pharmacy Receptionist to play a pivotal role within our modern, fully automated dispensary and distribution service. Based at our busy Pharmacy Reception, you will be at the heart of patient interaction, providing a welcoming first point of contact while working collaboratively with colleagues across the wider healthcare team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, brings a passion for innovation, and is dedicated to delivering an outstanding patient experience at every touchpoint.
Main duties of the job
Maintain and oversee the delivery of an efficient, effective and courteous reception service for patients and hospital staff, in line with dispensary procedures, responding promptly to queries from both patients and colleagues.
Contribute to the smooth management of workflow entering and leaving the dispensary, ensuring appropriate prioritisation and escalating issues to senior dispensary staff when required.
Ensure the Prescription Tracking System (PTS) is accurately updated so that it reflects the real-time workload within the dispensary.
Train, support and supervise volunteers and trainees working at the dispensary reception
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our valuesWe not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
Act as one of the first points of contact for the dispensary service, maintaining a courteous and professional manner with patients and staff at all times.
Receive prescriptions and other requests in line with agreed procedures, liaising with patients, carers and hospital staff to resolve queries, and escalating complex issues to senior dispensary staff.
Check that prescriptions contain complete demographic details, allergy status and weight where required.
Ensure patients claiming exemption from prescription charges complete the appropriate declaration, request proof of exemption, and issue unpaid forms when evidence is not provided.
Support patients using the payment kiosk, assisting where possible and escalating more complex issues when needed.
Use the pharmacy stock control system to check availability of less commonly prescribed outpatient medicines and advise patients if items need to be ordered.
Signpost patients with FP10 prescriptions to community pharmacies when appropriate.
Ensure prescriptions are promptly booked onto the Prescription Tracking System (PTS) and escalate delays to senior staff.
Flag prescriptions approaching or exceeding their target completion time to the appropriate team members and assist with prioritisation.
Communicate any delays in processing prescriptions to patients and ward staff.
Provide induction for new volunteers working in Pharmacy.
Deliver training on customer service and reception duties to other Pharmacy staff
Please refer to the attached JD.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English or equivalent skill level
Desirable
- Level 2 NVQ units in relevant Pharmaceutical area or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working to deadlines
- Experience of data inputting
- Customer orientated services
Desirable
- Experience of working with pharmaceutical products
- Experience in an NHS setting
Skills
Essential
- Ability to organise own day to day work tasks
- Ability to prioritise ad-hoc work tasks
- Standard keyboard skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent telephone manner
- Ability to supervise the work of others
- Accurate inputting of data
- Problem-solving skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of customer care
- Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
- Basic knowledge of hospital dispensary business
Desirable
- Awareness of medicine names
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)
