NVQ2 Dispensary assistant

NHS Jobs; Farnham; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs is seeking a Dispenser to join a general practice team, under the supervision of the Dispensary Manager. You will ensure safe, accurate, and timely supply of prescribed medication and provide administrative support to clinicians.

You will assist with audits, support medication queries from patients, and maintain records while staying aligned with safeguarding and governance expectations.

Responsibilities

• Check medicines dispensed to promote safe dispensing.
• Receive and store medicines ensuring the cold chain.
• Ensure all repeat prescriptions are processed within the allotted timeframe.
• Provide patients with advice regarding prescription matters.
• Support antimicrobial stewardship and medicines optimisation.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly returns.

Job description

The post-holder is a Dispenser and is an integral part of the general practice team, working within their professional boundaries. This role will work under the supervision of the Dispensary Manager to ensure the safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medication to patients, and to provide administrative support to the clinicians. The Dispenser will support the practice clinical teams with queries regarding medication from patients. The Dispenser will support the Dispensary Manager in ensuring a high level of service is delivered at all times while supporting the multi-disciplinary team in line with the strategic objectives of the organisation. The Dispenser will complete audits regarding patient safety in the prescribing of medication and present the information for sharing with the clinical team. The core responsibilities of the Dispenser in delivering health services.

• a. Be responsible for checking all medicines dispensed to promote safe dispensing processes a. Support with national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices and care homes. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g., use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures
• b. Collect prescription charges in accordance with dispensary protocol
• c. Ensure controlled drugs are maintained in accordance with practice policy
• d. Ensure the safe disposal of returned and/or out of date medicine and working with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
• e. Receive and store supplies in accordance with current policy, ensuring the cold chain is maintained
• f. Ensure all repeat prescriptions are processed within the allotted timeframe
• g. Provide support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
• h. Process prescription requests via all means of communications
• i. Provide patients with advice regarding all prescription matters
• j. Process multi-compartment compliance aids (Dosette box)
• k. Assist the Dispensary Manager in the preparation of monthly returns
• l. Always maintain accurate records, including appropriate coding entries
• m. Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing
• n. Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits
• o. Supervise practice reception teams in sorting and streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs to review the more clinically complex request
• p. Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
• q. Be an integral part of the general practice team
• r. Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
• s. Support in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
• t. Be aware of guidance to ensure that the dispensary conforms to regulatory guidance
• u. Undertake stock-takes in accordance with guidance
• v. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• w. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
• x. Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
• y. Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)
• z. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels