Pharmacy Dispenser

Helmsley Medical Centre; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused pharmacy in York and North Yorkshire is looking for a Pharmacy Dispenser. In this role, you will dispense prescriptions, support patients, and ensure compliance with standards. If you are passionate about customer service and continuously improving your skills, this position offers a chance to make a difference in the local community.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration

Comprehensive training

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a community pharmacy setting.
• Willingness to continue professional development.
• Ability to handle prescriptions and advise patients.

Responsibilities

• Dispense prescriptions accurately under supervision.
• Provide excellent customer service and patient support.
• Maintain compliance with legal and professional standards.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Communication

Multitasking

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Recognised Medicines Counter Assistant qualification

Job description

Are you a qualified Pharmacy Dispenser looking for anopportunity to make a real difference in your local community? Helmsley MedicalCentre is seeking a dedicated and patient-focused individual to join ourfriendly pharmacy team.

As a Pharmacy Dispenser, you'll be at the heart of ourpatient care, ensuring the accurate and efficient dispensing of medicineswhilst providing exceptional customer service. You'll work alongsideexperienced pharmacy professionals in a supportive environment where yourcontribution truly matters.

We're looking for someone who shares our commitment totreating people with dignity and respect, who takes pride in deliveringhigh-quality pharmacy services, and who thrives in a collaborative teamsetting. Whether you're handling prescriptions, advising patients on theirmedicines, or contributing to the safe sale of over-the-counter products,you'll play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of ourcommunity.

This is more than just a dispensing role it's anopportunity to develop your skills, take ownership of your professionaldevelopment, and be part of a team that values innovation, celebrates success,and puts patients first. If you're passionate about pharmacy, committed toexcellence, and ready to bring your skills to a practice that truly values itsstaff, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us at Helmsley Medical Centre, where everyday you'll know your work makes a difference.

Main duties of the job

Core responsibilities include:

• Accurately dispensing prescriptions in accordance with standard operating procedures under pharmacist supervision
• Handling prescription requests and interacting professionally with patients, providing advice within your scope of competence
• Supporting the safe sale of over-the-counter medicines and retail products
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with legal and professional standards
• Contributing to stock management, including date checking and ordering processes
• Recording and reviewing near misses and dispensing incidents as part of our quality improvement culture
• Participating in patient safety initiatives and team meetings
• Supporting the induction and training of new team members
• Ensuring the pharmacy environment remains clean, tidy and professionally presented
• Working collaboratively with pharmacy colleagues and other healthcare professionals to deliver excellent patient care

About us

Welcome to Helmsley Medical Centre, where our pharmacy team delivers outstanding patient care within a forward-thinking practice that combines compassionate professionalism with innovative healthcare approaches.

Our pharmacy operates in a supportive, collaborative environment where every team member is valued. We invest in comprehensive training, ongoing professional development, and genuine career progression opportunities. You'll work alongside experienced professionals passionate about pharmacy and committed to mutual success.

What makes us different? We genuinely live our values daily, treating staff with respect, honesty, and appreciation. We maintain open communication, celebrate achievements, and create a workplace where people feel valued and motivated. Our atmosphere is friendly yet professional, busy yet manageable, challenging yet rewarding.

We understand work-life balance matters. Our flexible rota planning accommodates your needs wherever possible. We offer competitive remuneration, opportunities to develop specialist interests, and the chance to contribute to service improvements benefiting our patients.

If you're seeking a pharmacy role where you'll be supported, challenged, and appreciated, where professional development is actively encouraged, and where you'll finish each day knowing you've made a real difference Helmsley Medical Centre could be perfect for you

Job responsibilities

About the Role

Join our dedicated pharmacy team as a Pharmacy Dispenser,where you'll combine technical expertise with excellent customer service todeliver outstanding pharmaceutical care. This is a varied and rewarding rolethat places you at the centre of patient care, working as part of acollaborative team committed to excellence.

Reporting directly to the Pharmacy Manager, you'll takeresponsibility for the accurate dispensing of medicines, patient interactions,and contributing to the overall success of our pharmacy service. We're lookingfor someone who combines attention to detail with a genuine passion for helpingpeople someone who understands that every prescription dispensed and everypatient interaction matters.

Your Key Responsibilities

You'll be responsible for the accurate and efficientdispensing of prescriptions, working under the supervision of registeredpharmacy professionals. This means successfully completing dispensingassessments, accurately labelling medicines, and maintaining meticulousrecords. You'll ensure all dispensing activities comply with our standardoperating procedures, always prioritising patient safety.

Your role includes communicating effectively with pharmacycolleagues, patients, and prescribers to resolve queries and maintain our highservice standards. You'll contribute to optimal stock management, includingregular date checking to ensure medication quality and safety.

Patient Interaction and Support

A significant part of your role involves direct patientcontact. You'll greet patients warmly, receive prescriptions, and gather theinformation our dispensing team needs to safely prepare medicines. You'llhandle payments efficiently, verify exemption entitlements, and hand outdispensed medicines with appropriate counselling within your competence level.

Whether communicating face-to-face, by telephone, orelectronically, you'll ensure every interaction is polite, professional, andpatient-centred. You'll know when to refer queries to senior colleagues andwill work within the boundaries of your knowledge and skills whilst continuallydeveloping your expertise.

Over-the-Counter Medicines and Retail

Supporting our retail operation, you'll assist customerswith over-the-counter medicine purchases, providing safe and accurateinformation about symptoms and products. You'll complete recognised MedicinesCounter Assistant training and maintain current knowledge relevant to OTCsales. This includes taking payments, managing retail stock, merchandisinggoods attractively, and ensuring our retail area always looks professional withaccurate pricing.

Quality and Safety

Patient safety is paramount. You'll actively participate inour governance activities by recording and reviewing all near misses anddispensing incidents, undertaking necessary corrective actions, andcontributing to continuous improvement. You'll attend patient safety meetings,providing feedback and implementing required changes.

Your responsibility extends to identifying potential risksin pharmacy activities and promoting safe working practices. We encourage youto speak up about concerns and suggest corrective actions your insights arevalued.

Professional Development and Team Contribution

We're committed to your professional growth. You'll takeownership of your learning and training, including mandatory trainingrequirements. We expect you to contribute to inducting and training new teammembers, sharing your knowledge and skills generously.

You'll have opportunities to champion specific areas withinthe pharmacy, taking accountability for their performance. Under guidance fromthe Pharmacy Manager, you may conduct or supervise clinical and organisationalaudits, ensuring learning translates into tangible improvements.

Contributing to our high-quality outpatient service, you'llwork collaboratively with dispensing assistants, technicians, pharmacists, andmanagers across both our sites. You'll help ensure medicines are storedappropriately with proper temperature monitoring, and that we have robustprocedures for safely disposing of returned or expired medications.

You'll assist in updating patient information leaflets,posters, and promotional materials, ensuring our communications are alwayscurrent and helpful. Your interactions with patients, relatives, carers,prescribers, and healthcare colleagues will consistently reflect our highstandards.

Business Awareness

Understanding our key performance indicators and businessobjectives is important. You'll contribute to achieving targets and maintainingexcellent performance standards. We expect you to use resources effectively andcontribute to our financial success through mindful spending and maximisingappropriate sales opportunities.

You'll participate in quality improvement initiatives,working with pharmacists and managers to implement improvements that enhancepatient care and service efficiency.

Working Arrangements

Our pharmacy operates over five days to ensure accessibilityfor our community. We work hard to balance business needs with staffpreferences, and we believe in fair and transparent rota planning.

Working Conditions

This is an active role requiring you to stand or move aroundfor extended periods. You'll regularly lift, bend, and stretch. While there areopportunities to sit when using computers, much of your day will be spent onyour feet.

The working environment can be busy and unpredictable, withperiods of high demand requiring sustained concentration amidst backgroundnoise and distractions. You'll need excellent focus to maintain accuracy whilstmultitasking.

Patient-facing work occasionally involves stressfulsituations or exposure to verbal aggression, though we provide full support formanaging challenging interactions professionally.

Our Values in Action

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, which weexpect you to embrace:

We treat people how we would like to be treatedlistening with respect, maintaining dignity, and making everyone feel valuedthrough politeness, honesty, and friendliness.

We do what we say we're going to do being clear inour communications, making time to care, and explaining honestly when somethingisn't possible.

We focus on what matters most listening withoutassumptions, making difficult decisions when they're right, and using resourcesresponsibly.

We are one team and we are best when we work togethermaintaining professionalism, setting common goals, and communicatingeffectively.

We are passionate and creative in our work valuingideas, seeking innovative solutions, and celebrating achievements.

Additional Responsibilities

You'll maintain the pharmacy environment to high standardsof cleanliness and organisation, uphold legal and professional standards, andcomply with all policies and procedures. You're responsible for safeguardingvulnerable adults and children, following infection prevention and controlpolicies, and maintaining strict confidentiality in accordance with GDPR andData Protection legislation.

This role offers genuine variety, realresponsibility, and the satisfaction of knowing your work directly improvespatient care. If you're ready for a rewarding pharmacy career where you'll besupported, valued, and challenged, we'd love to welcome you to our team.

Person Specification

Pressure Management and Organisation

• - Ability to work effectively under pressure whilst maintaining quality standards
• - Strong organisational skills with ability to manage own time to meet deadlines
• - Competent at multitasking and prioritising workload in unpredictable environments
• - Works at appropriately fast pace whilst maintaining safety and accuracy

Professional Attitude and Continuous Development

• - Responsible and professional approach to all duties with self-motivation
• - Responsive to feedback with willingness to reflect and implement changes
• - Genuine commitment to own learning and professional development
• - Demonstrates reliability, punctuality, and common sense in decision-making

Communication and Customer Service Excellence

• - Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to interact professionally with patients, colleagues, and healthcare professionals
• - Excellent patient-focused approach with genuine commitment to delivering outstanding customer service
• - Ability to explain information clearly and adapt communication style to different audiences

Experience

• - Demonstrable experience of working in a community pharmacy setting
• - Understanding of near misses and dispensing incident procedures
• - Experience handling prescriptions and interacting with patients
• - Experience counselling patients on their medicines within appropriate boundaries
• - Previous involvement in training or supporting new team members
• - Understanding of comprehensive pharmacy services beyond dispensing
• - Experience in stock management and inventory control

Accuracy and Attention to Detail

• - Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of work, particularly dispensing activities
• - Ability to work with diligence and maintain high degree of accuracy even under pressure
• - Demonstrated ability to maintain concentration in busy, distracting environments
• - Systematic approach to checking work and identifying potential errors

Teamwork and Flexibility

• - Proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, supporting colleagues and contributing to team goals
• - Willingness to adapt to change and embrace service improvements
• - Collaborative approach with positive attitude towards shared responsibilities
• - Passionate about pharmacy and patient care with enthusiasm for the role

Qualifications

• - NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification recognised by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• - Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to pharmacy practice
• - Recognised Medicines Counter Assistant qualification

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.