Part time dispenser in Reading

The role is part time, for 20-27.5 hours per week. You will usually work a combination of morning, afternoon and full day shifts. Monday and Friday afternoons are mandatory. Covering of ad hoc shifts will be required for annual leave within the team. Shifts will vary, the earliest starting time will be 8.30am and the latest finish 6pm. Hours will be discussed at interview.

To provide efficient, safe, and accurate dispensing of medication to patients and to assist with ensuring effective financial control of the dispensary. To provide excellent customer service to patients in a friendly and professional manner.

Main duties of the job:

• Accurately and efficiently dispense repeat prescriptions within five working days of the patient request being made.
• Ensure compliance with legal regulations when handling and dispensing Controlled Drugs to maintain patient safety.
• Update patients' medication records promptly and correctly to reflect any changes.
• Dispense private prescriptions with attention to detail, ensuring adherence to practice standard operating procedures.
• Manage the handout of prescriptions and accurately process NHS dispensing fees.
• Process and dispense repeat prescription requests received through various channels, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
• Dealing with patient queries regarding prescriptions.

About us:

The practice was established in the 1950s, the current premises were opened in 1970 and the practice has grown to now care for almost 10,000 patients. From here GP partners and salaried doctors provide high quality, traditional general practice care. The practice falls within the boundary of the NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and obtained a report of Outstanding at the most recent review in June 2019. The practice ethos is that of a strong close-knit practice team, maintaining high standards of patient care in an efficient, well-organised and friendly environment. Patients' interests are kept to the fore with a strong emphasis on continuity of care, personal doctoring and integrity in the workplace. A high level of achievement under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets demonstrates this commitment to high quality healthcare. The doctors are keen and willing to give new ideas a try and are not afraid of change providing it does not have a detrimental effect on the patients or current practice team. The partners work together to provide the team with strong and effective strategic management. All partners have a strong commitment to the NHS remaining in public ownership. The practice has its own dispensary and provides this service for around 30% of its registered population. The practice is an approved training and teaching practice.

Job responsibilities:

• Accurately and efficiently dispense repeat prescriptions within five working days of the patient request being made.
• Ensure compliance with legal regulations when handling and dispensing Controlled Drugs to maintain patient safety.
• Update patients' medication records promptly and correctly to reflect any changes.
• Dispense private prescriptions with attention to detail, ensuring adherence to practice standard operating procedures.
• Manage the handout of prescriptions and accurately process NHS dispensing fees.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and compliant dispensary area.
• Process and dispense repeat prescription requests received through various channels, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
• Dealing with patient queries regarding prescriptions.
• Issuing instructions to patients when requested by a doctor.
• Checking prescriptions and bringing any anomalies to the attention of the dispensing lead GP.
• Ensure accurate counting and recording of end of month prescriptions ready for submission.
• Ordering appropriate quantities of goods via the wholesalers computer link.
• Checking goods as and when they are delivered and recording accurate information for controlled drugs.
• Returning incorrect goods to the wholesalers.
• Stocking shelves, refrigerators and other storage areas using rotation method, highlighting stock that is near expiry.
• Disposal of returned unused medicines.
• Compliant with Standard Operating Procedure when completing tasks.
• Ongoing awareness of IT systems and updates required for this post.

Person Specification:

Behaviours:

• Willingness to learn the functionality of clinical systems.
• Evidence of an understanding and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality and discretion.
• Hard working, reliable and resourceful.
• Willingness for continuous learning.
• Ability to work individually/on own at times/self-motivated.
• Well organised and task focused.
• Performing under pressure.
• A real desire to provide quality service to patients.
• Diplomatic.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Strategic thinking with vision.

Experience:

• Working in a dispensary or pharmacy.
• Working with Standard Operating Procedures.
• Practical experience of working with others.
• Promoting excellent customer service including meeting the needs of diverse patients in a flexible way.
• Experience of using own initiative.
• Relevant experience of primary care/GP dispensary.

Skills:

• Work independently using initiative, as well as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Manage own workload and enjoy working to deadlines, within a changing environment, and remain calm under pressure.
• Excellent attention to detail and work in a methodical manner.
• Flexibility and the ability to undertake additional hours, if required e.g. sickness cover, annual leave.
• Ability to manage change.
• Ability to follow instructions.

Qualifications:

• Relevant Dispensing/Pharmacy Sciences qualification(s) to NVQ2 (or equivalent) level or registration as a Pharmacy Technician.
• GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent.
• Relevant Dispensing/Pharmacy Sciences qualification(s) to NVQ3 (or equivalent) level or registration as a Pharmacy Technician.

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.