The Castle Medical Group

Dispenser

The closing date is 19 September 2025

Job summary

The role is based within the Dispensary working for two dispensing GP practices (The Castle Medical Group and Pendleside Medical Practice). This role has a greater range of duties and responsibilities than retail/hospital pharmacy.

Main duties of the job

Duties include issuing and dispensing prescriptions, ordering drugs, stock control, dealing with patients and telephone answering.

Our dispensary operates on a daily rota, so duties are varied.

It is essential you are qualified to a minimum NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy environment.

About us

The Dispensary covers patients registered at two Outstanding (CQC) GP practices in Clitheroe.

Day to day you will be working within a close-knit team but will often have interactions with clinicians and admin from both practices.

Details

Date posted

29 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A1795-25-0003

Job locations

The Health Centre

Railway View Road

Clitheroe

Lancashire

BB7 2JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

  1. To actively contribute within the dispensing team in assisting in the preparation of all aspects of dispensing including stock control, ordering, re-stocking of the dispensary in line with the objectives of the dispensary work plan.
  2. Issuing stock items and prepared prescriptions.
  3. Handing out prescriptions, collection of prescription charges / checking patient exemption statements and prescription exemptions are completed correctly.
  4. Processing and dispensing repeat prescription requests received in the surgery in line with The Castle Medical Group & Pendleside Medical Practice policies.
  5. Collecting private charges for private medications, vaccines and other medications.
  6. Issuing and dispensing dosette boxes.
  7. Sorting, stamping and endorsing prescriptions in preparation to send to PPD on monthly basis by the required date to ensure timely reimbursement.
  8. Remove items from the collection baskets which have not been collected monthly and audit on clinical system.
  9. Check stock against invoices for accurate delivery and claim for missing/damaged items on credit note.
  10. Operation of efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the dispensary with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage and ordering appropriate quantities of goods via the wholesalers preferred method.
  11. Ensuring that drugs are received and stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and any MHRA recalls are actioned.
  12. Ensuring that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintaining the temperature control record.
  13. Cleaning work surfaces and shelving on a regular basis and ensuring that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and kept in good working order.
  14. Date checking to be performed as per SOP.
  15. Maintaining full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions including the CD register.
  16. Accepting orders for repeats and dealing with queries from patients and support staff.
  17. Dealing with queries/tasks and action appropriately.
  18. Handling and safe destruction of patient returned medicines.
  19. Stocking shelves, refrigerators and other storage areas using the rotation method.
  20. Removing out of date stock from the shelves, refrigerators and other storage areas.
  21. To action patient access requests, tasks, notifications and emails.
  22. Using the computer to maintain accurate and up to date records and issue prescriptions.
  23. Liaise with the GPs or in patient records if concerned about the appropriateness of medication requests.
  24. Dealing with queries from patients regarding prescriptions.
  25. To handle controlled drugs and maintain accurate register for legal and stock control purposes in line with current legislation and safe storage as required.
  26. Assist in stock checks where required.
  27. To provide cover for members of the team during absence.
  28. To perform safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste ensuring compliance including controlled drugs where appropriate.
  29. To attend and contribute to team meetings.
  30. To act upon any new information relating to stock or procedures.
  31. To keep professionally up to date with current dispensing.
  32. To work with the Dispensary Manager, Senior Dispenser and other members of the team to comply with Standard Operating Procedures following any legislative changes or other relevant procedures as notified.

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 Dispensary Manager and Senior Dispenser.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

  1. To actively contribute within the dispensing team in assisting in the preparation of all aspects of dispensing including stock control, ordering, re-stocking of the dispensary in line with the objectives of the dispensary work plan.
  2. Issuing stock items and prepared prescriptions.
  3. Handing out prescriptions, collection of prescription charges / checking patient exemption statements and prescription exemptions are completed correctly.
  4. Processing and dispensing repeat prescription requests received in the surgery in line with The Castle Medical Group & Pendleside Medical Practice policies.
  5. Collecting private charges for private medications, vaccines and other medications.
  6. Issuing and dispensing dosette boxes.
  7. Sorting, stamping and endorsing prescriptions in preparation to send to PPD on monthly basis by the required date to ensure timely reimbursement.
  8. Remove items from the collection baskets which have not been collected monthly and audit on clinical system.
  9. Check stock against invoices for accurate delivery and claim for missing/damaged items on credit note.
  10. Operation of efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the dispensary with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage and ordering appropriate quantities of goods via the wholesalers preferred method.
  11. Ensuring that drugs are received and stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and any MHRA recalls are actioned.
  12. Ensuring that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintaining the temperature control record.
  13. Cleaning work surfaces and shelving on a regular basis and ensuring that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and kept in good working order.
  14. Date checking to be performed as per SOP.
  15. Maintaining full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions including the CD register.
  16. Accepting orders for repeats and dealing with queries from patients and support staff.
  17. Dealing with queries/tasks and action appropriately.
  18. Handling and safe destruction of patient returned medicines.
  19. Stocking shelves, refrigerators and other storage areas using the rotation method.
  20. Removing out of date stock from the shelves, refrigerators and other storage areas.
  21. To action patient access requests, tasks, notifications and emails.
  22. Using the computer to maintain accurate and up to date records and issue prescriptions.
  23. Liaise with the GPs or in patient records if concerned about the appropriateness of medication requests.
  24. Dealing with queries from patients regarding prescriptions.
  25. To handle controlled drugs and maintain accurate register for legal and stock control purposes in line with current legislation and safe storage as required.
  26. Assist in stock checks where required.
  27. To provide cover for members of the team during absence.
  28. To perform safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste ensuring compliance including controlled drugs where appropriate.
  29. To attend and contribute to team meetings.
  30. To act upon any new information relating to stock or procedures.
  31. To keep professionally up to date with current dispensing.
  32. To work with the Dispensary Manager, Senior Dispenser and other members of the team to comply with Standard Operating Procedures following any legislative changes or other relevant procedures as notified.

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 Dispensary Manager and Senior Dispenser.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy and have current or recent experience of working within a Pharmacy environment.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy and have current or recent experience of working within a Pharmacy environment.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Castle Medical Group

Address

The Health Centre

Railway View Road

Clitheroe

Lancashire

BB7 2JG


Employer's website

https://www.castlemedical.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

The Castle Medical Group

Address

The Health Centre

Railway View Road

Clitheroe

Lancashire

BB7 2JG


Employer's website

https://www.castlemedical.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Dispensary Manager

Susan Brown

susan.brown3@nhs.net

01200401254

Details

Date posted

29 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A1795-25-0003

Job locations

The Health Centre

Railway View Road

Clitheroe

Lancashire

BB7 2JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

The Castle Medical Group's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)