Dispensary Lead Technician

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Frimley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Lead Dispensary Technician for a 12-month fixed-term position. The role involves overseeing the dispensing service, managing pharmacy staff, and ensuring adherence to quality standards. Ideal candidates will have the ACT qualification and knowledge of EPIC. This position offers competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working patterns

Qualifications

• Experience in managing staff and handling performance-related issues.
• Ability to oversee inventory management and maintain quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day workflow and operations of the Dispensary.
• Lead and support a team of Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants.
• Investigate and respond to drug errors and complaints.

Skills

Organisational skills

Experience of dealing with difficult situations/discussions

Education

ACT

Knowledge of EPIC

Job description

This 12-month fixed-term Band 6 Lead Dispensary Technician role offers an excellent opportunity to develop management, leadership, and operational skills within a busy hospital dispensary.

Working as one of two Lead Pharmacy Technicians, you will ensure the efficient, safe, and cost-effective delivery of the dispensing service using the EPIC electronic prescribing system.

The role involves coordinating daily workflow across multiple workstreams to maintain a timely service and overseeing all aspects of inventory management, including stock control, safe storage, and waste minimisation.

You will be responsible for investigating discrepancies, incidents, and complaints as required.

As a line manager, you will lead and support a team of Pharmacy Technicians, Dispensary Assistants, and Pharmacy Porters, undertaking recruitment, induction, appraisals, rota management, and handling performance and attendance issues to ensure high-quality, patient-focused service delivery.

Main duties of the job

• Working closely with the Dispensary Manager, the postholder will manage the day-to-day workflow and operations of the Dispensary, ensuring efficient service delivery and adherence to quality standards.
• Responsibilities include preparing staff rotas, planning and coordinating training, allocating and delegating daily tasks, and addressing operational queries to meet departmental needs.
• The role involves maintaining and enforcing processes for the safe transport and handling of medicines, including refrigerated and controlled drugs, in line with MHRA, CQC and GPhC requirements.
• The postholder will investigate and respond to drug errors and complaints, often involving sensitive and complex discussions.
• As a line manager, they will oversee staff performance, manage sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and ensure accurate and timely documentation.
• Acting as a professional lead, the postholder will model effective communication, leadership, and negotiation skills to promote a safe, efficient and supportive working environment.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo

Job responsibilities

• To be actively involved in the recruitment and selection of staff and to carry out appraisals, developing staff in line with their objectives.
• To line manage staff including monitoring sickness absence, disciplinary, grievance and performance issues, maintaining accurate documentation throughout.
• To organise and provide a detailed induction to new staff members in compliance with local and trust requirements.
• To help maintain and enter data onto the electronic Healthroster system used for annual leave, entering shift patterns, sickness and overtime.
• To manage the workflow and day to day running of the Dispensary in conjunction with the dispensary manager, including preparing rotas, planning training, following up queries and allocation/delegation of daily tasks to meet the needs of the department.
• To ensure the operational pharmacy services are underpinned by appropriate SOPs and policies are developed in a manner that reflects Trust objectives, national policy and initiatives.
• To be a professional lead within the department and to demonstrate appropriate influencing and negotiating skills whilst carrying out the role.

For a full list of responsibilities, please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• ACT
• Knowledge of EPIC

Experience

Skills and Knowledge

• Organisational skills
• Experience of dealing with difficult situations / discussions

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.

£40,617 to £48,778 a yearper annum incl HCAS