Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and patient-focused Dispensary Manager to join our team. We are a busy rural GP practice with almost 6000 patients, of which just over half are dispensing patients.
This is an exciting opportunity for an organised and skilled dispensary manager to lead our dispensary team. The successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day running of the dispensary, support staff development, and work closely with the clinical and administrative teams to maintain excellent service standards within the practice.
Suitable candidates must have previous experience as a Dispenser with a minimum of an NVQ level 2 in Dispensing services.
Main duties of the job
- Oversee the daily operation of the dispensary to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant service delivery.
- Manage and support dispensary staff, including rotas, training, and performance monitoring.
- Ensure accurate dispensing, stock control, ordering, and medicines management.
- Work closely with GPs, nurses, and administrative teams to streamline prescribing and improve patient experience.
- Maintain high standards of record-keeping and compliance with NHS, CQC, and legal requirements.
- Handle patient queries and support the development of quality improvement initiatives within the practice.
About us
At Harbury and Bishops Itchington Surgeries we have 5 GPs, a nursing team and a wider clinical team that includes Clinical Pharmacists, Social Prescribers and Health and Well Being Practitioners. We are also a training practice with a regular team of registrars, medical students and nursing students year round. We all work together to provide a high standard of care to our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To ensure the provision of quick, efficient and accurate dispensing of medication to the patients of Harbury & Bishops Itchington surgeries, and to ensure effective financial control of the dispensary.
- To be responsible for planning and allocating work for all dispensary staff
- Hold responsibility for opening and closing the dispensary morning/evening and ensuring the dispensary is secure, even if this task is delegated.
- To provide cover for annual leave and sickness as required.
- To be responsible for the training of dispensary staff, including encouraging and organising attendance on relevant recognised courses
- To complete annual appraising of dispensary staff
- To assist with the recruitment of dispensary staff
- To complete HR related tasks relating to dispensary staff, this may include: sickness reviews, training needs, probationary reviews and disciplinary procedures
- To oversee all dispensing matters within the practice to promote safe dispensing processes
- To review and update the Dispensary SOPs and risk assessments and ensure adherence.
- To promote and ensure financial efficacy. To maintain close links with relevant agencies to ensure that the best available prices are continually being obtained
- To brief both Practice Manager and the GP Partner dispensing lead on relevant matters that effect the efficient running of the department, including staffing and financial matters
- To undertake all returns to the NHS Prescription Services and any other agencies
- To be responsible for the collection of prescription charges
- To cross reference number and value of prescription charges against statements, ensuring accuracy
- To oversee the management of the return of medicines from patients
- To oversee uncollected medications in accordance with current policy
- To ensure controlled drugs are managed in accordance with practice policy
- To ensure the safe disposal of returned and/or out of date medicine and work with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
- To manage the receipt and storage of supplies in accordance with current policy
- To manage the processing of prescription requests via all means of communications
- To ensure that patients receive advice regarding all prescription matters
- To manage the cold chain process effectively, ensuring all staff are aware of the requirement to accurately record temperatures and store items appropriately
- To manage the repeat prescriptions process to ensure that all are provided within the allotted timeframe
- To manage and undertake the stocktake process in accordance with guidance
- Operate efficient stock control, appropriate to the needs of the practice
- To provide management support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines
- To manage the process for multi-compartment compliance aids (Dosette box)
- To always maintain accurate clinical and administrative records
- To assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive
- schemes and patient safety audits
- To be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
- To be an integral part of the general practice team
- To demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
- To 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
- To be aware of guidance to ensure that the dispensary conforms to regulatory guidance
- To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
- To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
- To attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months
- To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
- To attend clinical and other staff meetings held at the Surgery, contributing where appropriate.
- To check the drug tariff for price and category changes, checking MIMS for new or discontinued drugs, and following up changes with drug company representatives where necessary
- In association with the GP Partner dispensing lead, maintain and update the computerised Drug formulary
- Dispensary Services Quality Scheme, inclusion of staff competency recording, development and maintenance of standard operating procedures, recording of significant events, carry out and complete an annual audit in line with guidance from DSQS.
- To take prompt action in response to any drug alert bulletins that may be received from time to time.
- To record and report any untoward incidents, significant events, drug errors or any other issues of quality and risk immediately to the Practice Manager and the GP Partner dispensing lead
- To undertake any other necessary work as may be required and appropriate to maintain a high standard and efficient dispensing service
- This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the post holder. The post holder is required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested by the partners or the practice manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To ensure the provision of quick, efficient and accurate dispensing of medication to the patients of Harbury & Bishops Itchington surgeries, and to ensure effective financial control of the dispensary.
- To be responsible for planning and allocating work for all dispensary staff
- Hold responsibility for opening and closing the dispensary morning/evening and ensuring the dispensary is secure, even if this task is delegated.
- To provide cover for annual leave and sickness as required.
- To be responsible for the training of dispensary staff, including encouraging and organising attendance on relevant recognised courses
- To complete annual appraising of dispensary staff
- To assist with the recruitment of dispensary staff
- To complete HR related tasks relating to dispensary staff, this may include: sickness reviews, training needs, probationary reviews and disciplinary procedures
- To oversee all dispensing matters within the practice to promote safe dispensing processes
- To review and update the Dispensary SOPs and risk assessments and ensure adherence.
- To promote and ensure financial efficacy. To maintain close links with relevant agencies to ensure that the best available prices are continually being obtained
- To brief both Practice Manager and the GP Partner dispensing lead on relevant matters that effect the efficient running of the department, including staffing and financial matters
- To undertake all returns to the NHS Prescription Services and any other agencies
- To be responsible for the collection of prescription charges
- To cross reference number and value of prescription charges against statements, ensuring accuracy
- To oversee the management of the return of medicines from patients
- To oversee uncollected medications in accordance with current policy
- To ensure controlled drugs are managed in accordance with practice policy
- To ensure the safe disposal of returned and/or out of date medicine and work with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
- To manage the receipt and storage of supplies in accordance with current policy
- To manage the processing of prescription requests via all means of communications
- To ensure that patients receive advice regarding all prescription matters
- To manage the cold chain process effectively, ensuring all staff are aware of the requirement to accurately record temperatures and store items appropriately
- To manage the repeat prescriptions process to ensure that all are provided within the allotted timeframe
- To manage and undertake the stocktake process in accordance with guidance
- Operate efficient stock control, appropriate to the needs of the practice
- To provide management support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines
- To manage the process for multi-compartment compliance aids (Dosette box)
- To always maintain accurate clinical and administrative records
- To assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive
- schemes and patient safety audits
- To be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
- To be an integral part of the general practice team
- To demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
- To 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
- To be aware of guidance to ensure that the dispensary conforms to regulatory guidance
- To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
- To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
- To attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months
- To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
- To attend clinical and other staff meetings held at the Surgery, contributing where appropriate.
- To check the drug tariff for price and category changes, checking MIMS for new or discontinued drugs, and following up changes with drug company representatives where necessary
- In association with the GP Partner dispensing lead, maintain and update the computerised Drug formulary
- Dispensary Services Quality Scheme, inclusion of staff competency recording, development and maintenance of standard operating procedures, recording of significant events, carry out and complete an annual audit in line with guidance from DSQS.
- To take prompt action in response to any drug alert bulletins that may be received from time to time.
- To record and report any untoward incidents, significant events, drug errors or any other issues of quality and risk immediately to the Practice Manager and the GP Partner dispensing lead
- To undertake any other necessary work as may be required and appropriate to maintain a high standard and efficient dispensing service
- This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the post holder. The post holder is required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested by the partners or the practice manager.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a dispenser in a GP surgery
Desirable
- Experience of working with EMIS
- Experience of management of a dispensary team
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English & Maths
- NVQ 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a dispenser in a GP surgery
Desirable
- Experience of working with EMIS
- Experience of management of a dispensary team
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English & Maths
- NVQ 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent
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.