East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Dispensary Manager

The closing date is 12 November 2025

Job summary

Join the team that was a finalist in the 2023 APTUK Pharmacy Technician Team of the Year! As one of the pioneering Trusts in the region to adopt accuracy checking for Senior Pharmacy Assistants, we are dedicated to advancing pharmacy services for the benefit of both our patients and staff. We are currently seeking a Dispensary Manager to join our team at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent. As a Pharmacy Technician leader, you will motivate and inspire staff, ensuring a smooth workflow, compliance with regulations, and top-tier patient care. You will oversee a dispensary team that includes Pharmacy Assistants, Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy Technicians.

Main duties of the job

To oversee the daily operations of the William Harvey Hospital dispensary, ensuring efficient and safe medication dispensing and managing staff. You will be responsible for maintaining a safe, efficient and professional dispensary service responsive to the needs of its customers, in accordance with current legislation and guidance

We are looking for a Pharmacy Technician with 2 years post qualification experience with some previous line management/training background.

About us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

344-0545DCB

Job locations

William Harvey Hospital

Kennington Rd, Willesborough

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To liaise closely with ward and clinical pharmacy teams to maintain an efficient and professional dispensary service responsive to the needs of its users.

To ensure dispensary performance e.g. waiting times, dispensing errors/near misses; stock write offs/expired stock, lost drugs, is recorded inputting into our Monthly Performance Review Meeting.

Ensuring that DATIX reports are completed appropriately.

To support the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Dispensary Services in identifying areas where improvements in the operation of the Dispensary service may be developed and to monitor any actions taken.

To maintain an effective skill-mix in dispensary, ensuring that all staff involved in dispensary services undergo adequate induction and training and are competent to work in accordance with agreed protocols and standards of practice. Maintaining training records appropriately and addressing individual competency issues.

To co-ordinate and co-operate with other service groups within Pharmacy ensuring that staff are rotated in the needs of the overall service and to meet training objectives, highlighting any areas of concern to the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Dispensary Services.

To ensure all dispensing, counselling and information provided to the patient is accurate and meets the needs of the patient.

To ensure all enquires and requests from staff, patients, carers and external service users are responded to promptly, politely and in accordance with individual competence, overcoming any communication barriers such as language difficulties, mental or physical disabilities.

To ensure all patient medication records and drug files are maintained confidentially and accurately.

To ensure dispensary stock, including controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines and clinical trial drugs, are managed safely and effectively with regard to stock levels, storage conditions, record keeping and rotation to reduce wastage. Reporting any discrepancies to senior staff immediately.

To participate in the receipt, dispensing, checking and issuing of all prescriptions including controlled drugs, clinical trial, unlicensed medications and cytotoxic drugs as required by the service within own competency.

To be responsible for the receipt and safe custody of all money for prescription charges or sales.

To ensure that the security of the dispensary, dispensary stock and equipment is maintained at all times.

To be an active member of the Pharmacy Dispensary Services team, participating in the organising and planning of operational issues and to be responsible for updating and communicating changes to the dispensary team including updating pharmacy SOPs.

To participate in 121 meetings and the Performance review process to fully participate in team meetings and briefings to ensure good two-way communication.

To represent the EHKUFT Dispensaries on local and national groups/committees.

To support the Pharmacy IT CMM and Robot Specialist Technician in updating of all equipment and IT software used in the dispensary ensuring that it is safely maintained and staff are trained in its effective use.

To act as a nominated senior systems user to ensure the efficient operation of all automated dispensary systems and software packages.

To ensure any Health and Safety/Manual Handling issues identified are risk assessed and work is carried out to reduce risk and DATIX reports completed as appropriate.

To conduct and participate in audits or projects as required by all areas of the Pharmacy service.

To ensure that all reference books and medicine information available in the dispensary are updated in conjunction with the Medicines Information department and from approved reference sources.

To participate in recruitment and to line manage staff allocated according to Trust policies.

To maintain own personal competencies and mandatory training.

To participate in Public Health Campaigns.

To take part in weekend, bank holiday and late duty Pharmacy services. Daily hours are adjusted to provide for an average of 37.5 hours per week.

To work in other hospitals within the Trust, to provide pharmacy services as required.

To undertake appropriate mandatory training.

To undertake such other duties as may be required by the Director of Pharmacy in the interest of the service, appropriate for grade and agreed with the post holder.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To liaise closely with ward and clinical pharmacy teams to maintain an efficient and professional dispensary service responsive to the needs of its users.

To ensure dispensary performance e.g. waiting times, dispensing errors/near misses; stock write offs/expired stock, lost drugs, is recorded inputting into our Monthly Performance Review Meeting.

Ensuring that DATIX reports are completed appropriately.

To support the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Dispensary Services in identifying areas where improvements in the operation of the Dispensary service may be developed and to monitor any actions taken.

To maintain an effective skill-mix in dispensary, ensuring that all staff involved in dispensary services undergo adequate induction and training and are competent to work in accordance with agreed protocols and standards of practice. Maintaining training records appropriately and addressing individual competency issues.

To co-ordinate and co-operate with other service groups within Pharmacy ensuring that staff are rotated in the needs of the overall service and to meet training objectives, highlighting any areas of concern to the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Dispensary Services.

To ensure all dispensing, counselling and information provided to the patient is accurate and meets the needs of the patient.

To ensure all enquires and requests from staff, patients, carers and external service users are responded to promptly, politely and in accordance with individual competence, overcoming any communication barriers such as language difficulties, mental or physical disabilities.

To ensure all patient medication records and drug files are maintained confidentially and accurately.

To ensure dispensary stock, including controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines and clinical trial drugs, are managed safely and effectively with regard to stock levels, storage conditions, record keeping and rotation to reduce wastage. Reporting any discrepancies to senior staff immediately.

To participate in the receipt, dispensing, checking and issuing of all prescriptions including controlled drugs, clinical trial, unlicensed medications and cytotoxic drugs as required by the service within own competency.

To be responsible for the receipt and safe custody of all money for prescription charges or sales.

To ensure that the security of the dispensary, dispensary stock and equipment is maintained at all times.

To be an active member of the Pharmacy Dispensary Services team, participating in the organising and planning of operational issues and to be responsible for updating and communicating changes to the dispensary team including updating pharmacy SOPs.

To participate in 121 meetings and the Performance review process to fully participate in team meetings and briefings to ensure good two-way communication.

To represent the EHKUFT Dispensaries on local and national groups/committees.

To support the Pharmacy IT CMM and Robot Specialist Technician in updating of all equipment and IT software used in the dispensary ensuring that it is safely maintained and staff are trained in its effective use.

To act as a nominated senior systems user to ensure the efficient operation of all automated dispensary systems and software packages.

To ensure any Health and Safety/Manual Handling issues identified are risk assessed and work is carried out to reduce risk and DATIX reports completed as appropriate.

To conduct and participate in audits or projects as required by all areas of the Pharmacy service.

To ensure that all reference books and medicine information available in the dispensary are updated in conjunction with the Medicines Information department and from approved reference sources.

To participate in recruitment and to line manage staff allocated according to Trust policies.

To maintain own personal competencies and mandatory training.

To participate in Public Health Campaigns.

To take part in weekend, bank holiday and late duty Pharmacy services. Daily hours are adjusted to provide for an average of 37.5 hours per week.

To work in other hospitals within the Trust, to provide pharmacy services as required.

To undertake appropriate mandatory training.

To undertake such other duties as may be required by the Director of Pharmacy in the interest of the service, appropriate for grade and agreed with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registration as a member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a Pharmacy Technician maintaining mandatory revalidation requirement
  • Previous management/leadership training
  • Current accuracy checker

Desirable

  • Practice Supervisor/Educational Supervisor or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • 2 years post qualification experience
  • Previous staff management experience
  • Ability to work independently assessing priorities and managing own and others workload

Desirable

  • Experience in a hospital dispensary setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Working knowledge of current legislation and good practice relating to dispensary practice

Desirable

  • Experience of participating in audits and giving feedback

Skills

Essential

  • Good analytical skills - able to access and abstract data from relevant and sometimes complex sources
  • Effective leadership and team building skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registration as a member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a Pharmacy Technician maintaining mandatory revalidation requirement
  • Previous management/leadership training
  • Current accuracy checker

Desirable

  • Practice Supervisor/Educational Supervisor or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • 2 years post qualification experience
  • Previous staff management experience
  • Ability to work independently assessing priorities and managing own and others workload

Desirable

  • Experience in a hospital dispensary setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Working knowledge of current legislation and good practice relating to dispensary practice

Desirable

  • Experience of participating in audits and giving feedback

Skills

Essential

  • Good analytical skills - able to access and abstract data from relevant and sometimes complex sources
  • Effective leadership and team building skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

William Harvey Hospital

Kennington Rd, Willesborough

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

William Harvey Hospital

Kennington Rd, Willesborough

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Chief Pharmacy Technician

Sue Jones

susan.jones49@nhs.net

07785387202

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

344-0545DCB

Job locations

William Harvey Hospital

Kennington Rd, Willesborough

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Supporting documents

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