We are looking for an experienced and qualified Dispenser to join our friendly and established team at Ashover Medical Centre, part of Matlock and Ashover Practice. Our dispensary is an important part of our rural practice and provides medication for around 2,000 dispensing patients from Ashover and the surrounding villages.The role is primarily a dispensing position, but our dispensers are also part of the wider Matlock and Ashover team and provide reception cover when required. Applicants should therefore be comfortable working across both dispensary and reception, dealing directly with patients and supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the medical centre.We are looking for someone who already has experience working as a dispenser and can confidently contribute to the day-to-day running of a busy dispensing service. The successful candidate will have excellent attention to detail, good communication skills and a strong commitment to providing safe, efficient and friendly care to our patients. Applicants must hold a recognised Level 2 dispensing qualification (NVQ/BTEC or equivalent) and have previous dispensing experience.
Main duties and responsibilities.
The successful applicant will work as part of our established dispensary and reception team. Responsibilities will include:
- Accurately dispensing acute, repeat and private prescriptions
- Preparing, labelling and issuing medication safely and efficiently
- Preparing dosette boxes and other monitored dosage systems for patients in accordance with practice procedures
- Processing repeat prescription requests
- Accurately endorsing prescriptions to support correct reimbursement and payment to the practice
- Ensuring prescriptions are appropriately processed and submitted in accordance with relevant requirements
- Identifying and appropriately escalating prescription queries or concerns
- Handing out medication and providing a friendly and professional service to patients
- Dealing with dispensary enquiries in person and by telephone
- Collecting prescription charges and checking and processing exemption declarations
- Ordering medication and maintaining appropriate stock levels
- Receiving, checking and correctly storing medication deliveries
- Undertaking stock rotation and expiry-date checks
- Ensuring the safe and appropriate storage of medicines, including refrigerated medicines and controlled drugs
- Assisting with the safe disposal of returned and expired medication
- Maintaining accurate dispensing and controlled drug records
- Maintaining accurate patient and dispensing records on SystmOne
- Working in accordance with practice policies and dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
- Reporting dispensing errors, incidents and concerns appropriately
- Providing reception cover as required, including greeting patients, answering telephone enquiries, booking and managing appointments and dealing appropriately with patient queries
- Working collaboratively with GPs, nurses, reception staff and the wider practice team
- Providing flexible cover for other dispensers and reception colleagues during periods of annual leave, sickness and other absence as required
- Maintaining patient confidentiality at all times
- Contributing to the continued development and smooth running of Ashover Medical Centre
About us
Matlock and Ashover Practice is an established GP practice operating from two sites: Imperial Road Surgery in Matlock and Ashover Medical Centre in Ashover. We have a broad multidisciplinary team including GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, dispensers, administrative staff and additional primary care professionals.We are a training practice and regularly have GP registrars working with us as part of their specialist training in general practice. We value learning and development across the whole practice and aim to provide a supportive environment for both established and developing members of the team.We aim to combine the personal approach and continuity of traditional general practice with high-quality, modern healthcare.This role will be principally based at Ashover Medical Centre. Our dispensary and reception teams work closely together, and our dispensers contribute to both areas of the practice as required.
About Ashover
Ashover is an attractive and thriving Derbyshire village situated between Matlock and Chesterfield, close to the Peak District. Ashover Medical Centre serves the village and a wide surrounding rural community. Our dispensary is a particularly important part of the service we provide, supplying medication directly to around 2,000 dispensing patients. Working at Ashover provides the opportunity to get to know our patients and become part of a close-knit practice and community, while also benefiting from the support of the larger Matlock and Ashover Practice team. The surgery has free on-site parking, and the dispensary operates during the working week with no routine weekend working.
Person specificationQualifications – Essential
- Recognised Level 2 dispensing qualification (NVQ/BTEC or equivalent)
Experience – Essential
- Previous experience working as a dispenser and accurately dispensing prescription medication
- Experience of medication stock management and ordering
- Experience of dealing directly with patients
Experience – Desirable not essential
- Previous experience within a dispensing GP practice
- Experience of preparing dosette boxes or other monitored dosage systems
- Experience of prescription endorsement
- Experience using SystmOne
- Experience of controlled drug procedures and record keeping
- Experience supporting or training new members of a dispensing team
Skills and attributes – Essential
- Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
- Strong organisational skills
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Friendly, professional and patient-focused
- Able to work effectively as part of a team
- Able to work independently and use initiative appropriately
- Able to prioritise workload in a busy environment
- Good IT skills
- Understanding of patient confidentiality
- Reliable and flexible
- Willing and able to undertake reception duties and provide reception cover as an integral part of the role
- Willing and able to work flexibly to provide cover for dispensary and reception colleagues during periods of annual leave, sickness and other absence
Applications
We welcome applications from experienced, qualified dispensers who would like to join our team. We are looking for someone to work approximately 30 hours per week but this is negotiable.
Informal enquiries and visits to the practice are very welcome.
For further information please contact:
Joanne Gordon, Practice Manager on 01246 590711 (if unavailable please ask for Karen Goodall, Operations Manager).
Job Type: Permanent
Expected hours: 25.0 – 35.0 per week
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
