Vacancy – Dispenser NVQ2/Pharmacy Technician
Hours of work: 28 hours per week over 3 days on Wednesdays/Thursdays and Fridays, Saturdays on a rota 1 in 4 paid as overtime
Salary: Competitive salary offered / depending on experience and qualification to be discussed at interview
Closing date: 26/06/2026
Interviews date: TBC
Main Purpose of Job
To support the Superintendent pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager in ensuring the safe and smooth running of the Pharmacy.
The successful applicant will be part of a busy pharmacy team, operating a wide range of services to a community with diverse needs, and play a pivotal role in ensuring the needs of the business are met and the pharmacy operates safely and efficiently.
This role reports to the Pharmacy Manager / Superintendent pharmacist and has a key role working closely with all staff (clinical and non-clinical) across the Health Centre:
Duties of the successful applicant will include (this list is not exhaustive)
- Ensure a high quality, personable, service is provided to all customers
- Elect the correct items to make up a prescription
- Measure liquids and count out tablets and medicines
- Make sure prescriptions are legal and accurate create labels which give information about the medicines and how to use them
- Order new stock using computerised systems
- Carry out the day-to-day activities of a Dispensary Assistant ensuring correct procedures are followed at all times as per our standard operating procedures
- prescription counting and sorting for end of the month submissions
- Assemble Dossett boxes according to current SOPs
Key skills and personal characteristics
- Remain calm under pressure
- Accurate and methodical
- Responsible
- Able to pay attention to detail
- Able to understand law and guidelines on medicines
- Able to read and carry out instruction
- To be interested in people’s health
- Able to explain clearly to members of the public
- Work flexibly and have a positive attitude and approach
It is essential applicants meet the following criteria
- Qualified to at a minimum of NVQ level 2 Dispensary Assistant (or will have completed all relevant training before start date)
- Build effective working relationships with customers, partners, external bodies and colleagues
- Demonstrate the ability to use own initiative and work efficiently under pressure
- Good working knowledge/experience of dispensing prescriptions
- Proven ability to provide good customer service, remain calm in busy periods ensuring a customer focussed approach
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills
- Ability to work unsupervised and as a member of a team
- Good computer skills
- Ability to work flexible hours for sickness and holiday cover
It is desirable applicants meet the following criteria
- Previous experience of working in a hybrid-model pharmacy
- Willing to learn new skills in line with business need
N.B. Additional hours:
- Saturdays 8am- 11am on a rota (one in four) paid as overtime
- Flexibility to work extra sessions for holiday and sickness as required
Why work for us?
Based in the Suffolk village of Woolpit, the Health Centre aims to provide:
The type of care that we would expect for ourselves and our own families.
We provide services to over 16,000 patients who live in a practice area of 75 square miles of rural West Suffolk, straddling the A14, between Thurston in the west, and Haughley in the east.
We pride ourselves on the high standards of our care we are holders of the Royal College of General Practitioners Practice Accreditation Award, a quality mark held by only 19 practices in the UK.
Our 5 GP partners and 5 non-partner GPs lead a multidisciplinary team of nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists and midwives all of whom are based in our purpose-built premises.
Benefits of working for Woolpit Health Centre include:
- Attractive rates of pay with annual pay review (not agenda for change)
- Regular one-to-ones to aid good communication
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Voluntary overtime when available
- Plenty of training opportunities
- Membership of the NHS contributory pension scheme
The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefits scheme
Life insurance
Family benefits including an adult dependents pension and children’s pension
Ill health benefits
20% employer contribution
- Option of NHS discount and Blue Light Card for retail/dining/holidays etc
- Free uniform
This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake such other duties from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility of the grade.
This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder.
Health Clearance
Health clearance is required for this appointment. Applicants must complete a medical questionnaire, return it to the Occupational Department and, if required, undergo a medical examination before appointment.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
A Disclosure and Barring Service check and disclosure will be required before appointment
for all posts with access to children or vulnerable adults or where the post holder has access to patient information.
Confidentiality
You are required to maintain confidentiality of any information concerning patients which you have access to or may be given during your work, in accordance with current policy on confidentiality at the GP Practice sites you work at.
Security
It is the responsibility of all employees to work within the security policies and procedures of the practices they work at to protect the patients, staff and visitors. This duty applies to the specific work area of the individual and the practice in general.
Data Protection
This post has a confidential aspect. If you are required to obtain, process and/or use information held on a computer or word processor you should do 'It in a fair and lawful way’. You should hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose and ought to disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed. Breaches of confidence in relation to data will result in disciplinary action which may involve dismissal.
Equal Opportunities
Equality of opportunity is an integral part of Woolpit Health Centre’s recruitment and selection process and recruiting managers must ensure that they comply fully with Woolpit Health Centre’s Equality & Diversity Policy. Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age,
disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Woolpit Health Centre as an employer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm and expects all employees to share this commitment. If the post is one that involves access to children and vulnerable adults during the course of their normal duties, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
All clinical staff have a responsibility to understand the principles of the Mental Capacity
Act (DH, 2005) to ensure people who are 16 and over are empowered to make decisions for themselves. It is the responsibility of clinical staff to assess capacity within their particular remit of care provision; to identify, act and support those who lack capacity to make specific decisions.
Pay: From £14.37 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Dispensing : 1 year (required)
- Pharmacy/Dispensary: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
