Job summary Prescribing Clerk with Reception Duties Full Time 37 hours per week. Due to forthcoming retirement, we have a vacancy for a Prescribing Clerk with Reception Duties, to join our team. The main responsibilities will be to accept, and process repeat medication requests from patients. These requests are received via telephone calls, online requests and via patients handing in completed request slips into our reception. You will also be dealing with hospital correspondence with medication requests. You will be working as part of a team. This is a full-time post which will be 37 hours per week Monday to Friday. Flexibility is required to cover leave for other team members. This is a rewarding role as you will be helping patients with their medication needs. We are looking for a well organised, positive, caring, calm, resourceful, tactful and flexible person. Your personal skills and team fit are most important to as full training will be given. Previous experience in a healthcare setting is very desirable, but we are also interested to hear from you if you have worked in busy front line customer care role or in a pharmacy, as you are likely to have transferable skills. PROPOSED INTERVIEWS TO TAKE PLACE ON 5TH JUNE 2025 Applications are also invited by letter and CV to Dawn Mancini, Reception Manager. dawn.mancini@nhs.net Main duties of the job Accept, and process repeat medication requests from patients. Receive and handle incoming calls and electronic requests from patients, relatives, carers, other health care providers, contractors and any other category of caller. Promote the use of online access and the NHS APP. Meet, greet and respond to all queries and requests for assistance from patients and other visitors. Signpost patients and others to the person(s) either external or internal to the Practice best placed to initially deal with the request. Contribute to the continuity of patient care by directing patients to their usual GP for the purpose of appointments, triage, messaging etc. Chaperone duties once trained. Ensure total familiarity with all appointments systems in use Actioning requests from the Clinical Team Operation of Telephone System Receive and make calls as required. Divert calls and messages as appropriate. About us St James and Orchard Medical Centre is based over two sites, one the in the centre of Taunton and the second site in a more rural location in Norton Fitzwarren. The Practice has a population of over 19,000 patients. The Practice team is made up of 7 GP partners, Salaried GPs, a team of Advanced Clinical Practitioners, nursing team, secretarial, reception and administration teams. Date posted 02 May 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £12.21 an hour Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number A1080-PX2025 Job locations Coal Orchard Taunton Somerset TA1 1JP Orchard Medical Centre Morse Road Norton Fitzwarren Taunton Somerset TA2 6DG Job description Job responsibilities Job Description. Job Title Prescription Clerk with Reception Duties Post reference number PX2025 Date of this job description 1st May 2025 Reviews At appraisal / learning plan interviews Post holder name Weekly hours 37 hours A. MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POST To support the Primary Healthcare Team by providing a frontline focal point of communication to help meet the healthcare needs of patients and the contractual responsibilities of the Practice. B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES Prescription Duties Receive and handle incoming calls and electronic requests from patients, relatives, carers, other health care providers, contractors and any other category of caller. . Resolve patient grumbles but escalate any problems to the Reception Manager. Ensure working areas are kept neat and tidy. Promote the use of online access and the NHS APP. Reception Duties Receive and handle incoming calls and electronic requests from patients, relatives, carers, other health care providers, contractors and any other category of caller Meet, greet and respond to all queries and requests for assistance from patients and other visitors. Establish brief details of the reasons for the patient request and record on the clinical system. Resolve incoming requests for assistance where it is practical and safe to do so. Signpost patients and others to the person(s) either external or internal to the Practice who is best placed to initially deal with the request e.g. NHS 111, Pharmacy, Practice Website, Medical Secretary, allocating a GP message slot, triage or appointment. Contribute to the continuity of patient care by directing patients to their usual GP for the purpose of appointments, triage, messaging etc. Monitor the flow of patients into the consulting room, including advising patients if a consulter is running late. Ensure that patients without appointments but who need an urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner. Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover. Ensure procedures are completed. Advise patients of relevant charges for private services, accept payment and issue receipts for same. Record requests for home visits and other messages stating the time received and include all relevant information. Alert a clinician for any emergency cases or situations giving cause for urgent concern Resolve patient grumbles but escalate any problems to the Reception Manager. Action requests for ambulance and other transportation and record details. Ensure reception and waiting areas are kept neat and tidy. Chaperone duties once trained. Promote the use of online access. Appointment System Ensure total familiarity with all appointments systems in use, including regular and ad-hoc variations. This includes booking of appointments for patients of other practices under the Improved Access scheme. Book appointments and recalls in accordance with Practice policy. Maintain awareness of the demand for and the availability of appointments for all consulters in session. Medical Records Ensure that paper medical records are filed correctly in alphabetical order, correctly assembled, maintained in good condition and available if needed. Ensure that medical records are returned promptly to the NHS contractor. Process GP links for patient registration purposes. Update medical records for summaries, home / night visits and test results. Input and retrieval of data as required. Actioning requests from the Clinical Team Undertaking duties to support patient wellbeing to include processing of EMIS Web tasks, booking appointments proactively required by the Clinical Team, issuing recalls, updating records, giving out test results etc. Preparation of Consulting Rooms Ensure that the consulting rooms are prepared in readiness for each consultation session, checking full range of forms and requirements and re stocking as necessary. Ensure that consulting rooms are checked at the end of each session and left tidy and secure. Operation of Telephone System Receive and make calls as required. Divert calls and messages as appropriate. Ensure that the system is operational at the beginning of each day and switched over to the out-of-hours answer phone at the end of the day (if automated, check that it is working). Start and End of Day Procedures Open up premises at the start of each day and make all necessary preparations to receive patients. Secure premises at the end of each day and activate alarm upon leaving the building. Prescriptions Receive requests for prescriptions and handover signed prescriptions to patients or their agents after checking of legitimacy of collections. OTHER DUTIES Perform other duties as required by the needs of the service. C. SUPERVISION RECEIVED The post holder reports directly to the Reception Manager. D. SUPERVISION EXERCISED The post holder has no direct line management responsibility. E. DECISIONS EXERCISED The post holder is able to take decisions on day-to-day matters within existing protocols and operating procedures, including signposting of patients. F. CREATIVITY The post holder needs to be resourceful and at the point of initial enquiry, think about how to best manage patient need. The post holder can contribute to quality improvement initiatives. G. CONTACTS The post holder has contact with a wide range of people including patients, GPs, nurses, professions allied to medicine, NHS bodies, and other professionals. H. SPECIAL CONDITIONS There are no special conditions attached to this post. I. REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST An understanding, acceptance, and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality. An ability to use own judgement and resourcefulness, common sense, and local knowledge to respond to patient enquiries and requests. Excellent communication skills. Knowledge of Care Quality Commission Requirements 4 or more GCSE or equivalent and /or extensive experience in similar role / transferrable skills. J. Grade St James Medical Centre Receptionist G Job description Job responsibilities Job Description. Job Title Prescription Clerk with Reception Duties Post reference number PX2025 Date of this job description 1st May 2025 Reviews At appraisal / learning plan interviews Post holder name Weekly hours 37 hours A. MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POST To support the Primary Healthcare Team by providing a frontline focal point of communication to help meet the healthcare needs of patients and the contractual responsibilities of the Practice. B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES Prescription Duties Receive and handle incoming calls and electronic requests from patients, relatives, carers, other health care providers, contractors and any other category of caller. . Resolve patient grumbles but escalate any problems to the Reception Manager. Ensure working areas are kept neat and tidy. Promote the use of online access and the NHS APP. Reception Duties Receive and handle incoming calls and electronic requests from patients, relatives, carers, other health care providers, contractors and any other category of caller Meet, greet and respond to all queries and requests for assistance from patients and other visitors. Establish brief details of the reasons for the patient request and record on the clinical system. Resolve incoming requests for assistance where it is practical and safe to do so. Signpost patients and others to the person(s) either external or internal to the Practice who is best placed to initially deal with the request e.g. NHS 111, Pharmacy, Practice Website, Medical Secretary, allocating a GP message slot, triage or appointment. Contribute to the continuity of patient care by directing patients to their usual GP for the purpose of appointments, triage, messaging etc. Monitor the flow of patients into the consulting room, including advising patients if a consulter is running late. Ensure that patients without appointments but who need an urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner. Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover. Ensure procedures are completed. Advise patients of relevant charges for private services, accept payment and issue receipts for same. Record requests for home visits and other messages stating the time received and include all relevant information. Alert a clinician for any emergency cases or situations giving cause for urgent concern Resolve patient grumbles but escalate any problems to the Reception Manager. Action requests for ambulance and other transportation and record details. Ensure reception and waiting areas are kept neat and tidy. Chaperone duties once trained. Promote the use of online access. Appointment System Ensure total familiarity with all appointments systems in use, including regular and ad-hoc variations. This includes booking of appointments for patients of other practices under the Improved Access scheme. Book appointments and recalls in accordance with Practice policy. Maintain awareness of the demand for and the availability of appointments for all consulters in session. Medical Records Ensure that paper medical records are filed correctly in alphabetical order, correctly assembled, maintained in good condition and available if needed. Ensure that medical records are returned promptly to the NHS contractor. Process GP links for patient registration purposes. Update medical records for summaries, home / night visits and test results. Input and retrieval of data as required. Actioning requests from the Clinical Team Undertaking duties to support patient wellbeing to include processing of EMIS Web tasks, booking appointments proactively required by the Clinical Team, issuing recalls, updating records, giving out test results etc. Preparation of Consulting Rooms Ensure that the consulting rooms are prepared in readiness for each consultation session, checking full range of forms and requirements and re stocking as necessary. Ensure that consulting rooms are checked at the end of each session and left tidy and secure. Operation of Telephone System Receive and make calls as required. Divert calls and messages as appropriate. Ensure that the system is operational at the beginning of each day and switched over to the out-of-hours answer phone at the end of the day (if automated, check that it is working). Start and End of Day Procedures Open up premises at the start of each day and make all necessary preparations to receive patients. Secure premises at the end of each day and activate alarm upon leaving the building. Prescriptions Receive requests for prescriptions and handover signed prescriptions to patients or their agents after checking of legitimacy of collections. OTHER DUTIES Perform other duties as required by the needs of the service. C. SUPERVISION RECEIVED The post holder reports directly to the Reception Manager. D. SUPERVISION EXERCISED The post holder has no direct line management responsibility. E. DECISIONS EXERCISED The post holder is able to take decisions on day-to-day matters within existing protocols and operating procedures, including signposting of patients. F. CREATIVITY The post holder needs to be resourceful and at the point of initial enquiry, think about how to best manage patient need. The post holder can contribute to quality improvement initiatives. G. CONTACTS The post holder has contact with a wide range of people including patients, GPs, nurses, professions allied to medicine, NHS bodies, and other professionals. H. SPECIAL CONDITIONS There are no special conditions attached to this post. I. REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST An understanding, acceptance, and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality. An ability to use own judgement and resourcefulness, common sense, and local knowledge to respond to patient enquiries and requests. Excellent communication skills. Knowledge of Care Quality Commission Requirements 4 or more GCSE or equivalent and /or extensive experience in similar role / transferrable skills. J. Grade St James Medical Centre Receptionist G Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working with the general public Experience of working in a customer service role Confidentiality and data protection awareness Excellent communication skills (written and oral) Strong IT skills Clear, polite telephone manner Competent in the use of Office and Outlook Effective time management (planning and organising) Ability to work as a team member and autonomously Good interpersonal skills Ability to follow clinical policy and procedures Polite and confident Flexible and cooperative Motivated Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required High levels of integrity and loyalty Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient Commitment to ongoing professional development Effectively utilises resources Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort Other requirements Flexibility to work outside of core hours Desirable Experience of working in a primary care environment Experience of working in a healthcare setting EMIS or alternative clinical software experience Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working with the general public Experience of working in a customer service role Confidentiality and data protection awareness Excellent communication skills (written and oral) Strong IT skills Clear, polite telephone manner Competent in the use of Office and Outlook Effective time management (planning and organising) Ability to work as a team member and autonomously Good interpersonal skills Ability to follow clinical policy and procedures Polite and confident Flexible and cooperative Motivated Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required High levels of integrity and loyalty Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient Commitment to ongoing professional development Effectively utilises resources Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort Other requirements Flexibility to work outside of core hours Desirable Experience of working in a primary care environment Experience of working in a healthcare setting EMIS or alternative clinical software experience 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. Employer details Employer name St James Medical Centre Address Coal Orchard Taunton Somerset TA1 1JP Employer's website https://stjamesmedicalcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) Employer details Employer name St James Medical Centre Address Coal Orchard Taunton Somerset TA1 1JP Employer's website https://stjamesmedicalcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab). Location : Orchard Medical Centre, Coal Orchard, TA1 1JP Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom