Job summary
We are looking for a dependable and flexible Dispenser to join our friendly dispensary team at Castlehead Medical Centre. This is a holiday cover role, offering an average of 12 annualised hours per week (FTE 0.32). Please note that working hours will vary from week to week, depending on staff annual leave, and may increase during periods of high cover demand. Over the course of the year, hours will balance to the contracted average.
This role supports the safe, accurate, and timely dispensing of medication to our patients, alongside stock control, prescription processing, and supporting dispensary operations in accordance with NHS and practice standards. Further Training could be provided to the right candidate.
Main duties of the job
The main duties include accurately dispensing medications, processing prescriptions, managing stock and inventory, handling patient queries, and supporting the day-to-day operations of the dispensary in line with practice policies and procedures.
About us
Located in the stunning Lake District town of Keswick, Castlehead Medical Centre is a friendly, forward-thinking GP practice with a strong community ethos and a strong focus on patient-centred care.
Were a close-knit team of 31, including GPs, practice nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, admin, and support staff. Our team dynamic is one of our greatest strengths - we're supportive, approachable, and genuinely enjoy working together. Whether its sharing knowledge, celebrating wins, or helping each other through busy days, there's a real sense of camaraderie here.
We pride ourselves on maintaining a positive and professional atmosphere. Our work ethic is built around collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement. We are committed to high standards of care, and equally committed to looking after each other as colleagues.
Castlehead is a modern, well-equipped practice, and we embrace innovation where it enhances patient care and staff wellbeing. We are a training practice and value learning and development at every level, offering great opportunities for growth and support.
If you're looking for a rewarding role in a beautiful part of the country and a team that values what you bring, Castlehead Medical Centre might be just the place for you.
Date posted
09 April 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£12.21 an hour
Contract
Bank
Working pattern
Annualised hours
Reference number
A5149-25-0000
Job locations
Ambleside Road
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 4DB
Job description
Job responsibilities
To process all relevant prescriptions as authorised by GPs where appropriate in accordance with the principles of good practice.
The post-holder will project a positive and friendly image to dispensary patients and other visitors and deal with queries in a professional, courteous and efficient way.
Assist in the preparation and dispensing of prescriptions medicines/appliances in an accurate and timely manner
Assist with stock control, ordering and re-stocking of the dispensary
Job responsibilities -
Sorting prescriptions
Ordering and maintaining stock
DSQS responsible for completing own training in a timely manner and in accordance with the DSQS requirements. Assist the dispensary manager in all other administration for the completion of the annual DSQS declaration to ensure full financial achievement.
Significant event reporting using TeamNet and SIRMS as appropriate.
Finance, Purchasing of stock and stock control
Daily ordering of stock
Ensuring goods are correctly delivered
Check dispensary invoices against delivery notes
Maintain adequate stocks and ensure shelf stock is rotated in date order
Check out of date stock monthly, record, claim and destroy as per SOP
Ensure safe management of controlled drugs according to the practice SOP, CQC regulations and current law.
Receive payment for private work and inform finance department
Receiving, processing and ordering stock in accordance with Practice Policies and SOPs
Keeping the dispensary shelves and workstations clean and tidy, and contributing to stock checks and housekeeping.
Prescriptions and prescription monies
Daily: check prescriptions for signature/endorsements
Weekly: submit all unsigned prescriptions
Daily: cash up and balance prescription monies and any other payments taken
Destruction of drugs
Daily- returned medication from patients
Monthly- check on any uncollected medication
Quarterly- prepare returned drugs from patients for destruction
Six monthly- conduct out of date controlled drugs destruction with the appropriate officer from the CCG
Dispensing
Oversee/check colleagues dispensing
Dispensing acute prescriptions
Dispensing drugs in accordance with Practice Policy and SOPs
Dispensing drugs to a high level of accuracy
Processing repeat prescriptions
Collect prescription charges from patients
Prepare patient pill packs
Check for out of date repeats on patients prescription list and alert GP to review/remove
Accept prescription requests from Hospitals, chemists, any other allied professions for and on behalf of patients
Ensure workflow management of medication requests are completed and appropriate action is taken.
Ensure fridge temperatures are recorded daily.
Promote of online services to increase number of patients ordering medication online.
Ensuring that prescriptions are correctly issued, signed by the doctor and signed by the patient, in line with Practice Policy and SOPs
Ensuring that Drug Tariff knowledge is up-to-date by reading monthly amendments
Communication-
Handling telephone and general enquiries, referring urgent calls to appropriate lead
Liaising with muti-disciplinary team members where necessary
Dealing with all patient communication in a professional and polite manner
Attending Dispensary Team meetings and training afternoons
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Administration-
Being responsible for security, including the opening and closing of dispensary and secure storage of items such as money received and prescriptions
Recording and reporting any Incident/Accidents/Near Misses in accordance with Practice Policies (ensuring that all drug related incidents are recorded in the dispensary/drug incident reporting book)
Contribution to the Implementation of Services-
The post-holder will-
Be responsible for preparing and updating standard operating procedures with the Dispensary Manager
Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate
Confidentiality-
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data
Health & safety-
The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Use and monitoring of the correct use of standard operating procedures for cleaning and infection control
Responsible for correct hand hygiene of self and others
Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols within the team
Active observation of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes
Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers
Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)
Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
Spillage control procedures, management and training
Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
Maintenance of sterile environments
Equality and diversity-
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional development-
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Ensuring that all training is completed for DSQS and CQC
Quality-
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To process all relevant prescriptions as authorised by GPs where appropriate in accordance with the principles of good practice.
The post-holder will project a positive and friendly image to dispensary patients and other visitors and deal with queries in a professional, courteous and efficient way.
Assist in the preparation and dispensing of prescriptions medicines/appliances in an accurate and timely manner
Assist with stock control, ordering and re-stocking of the dispensary
Job responsibilities -
Sorting prescriptions
Ordering and maintaining stock
DSQS responsible for completing own training in a timely manner and in accordance with the DSQS requirements. Assist the dispensary manager in all other administration for the completion of the annual DSQS declaration to ensure full financial achievement.
Significant event reporting using TeamNet and SIRMS as appropriate.
Finance, Purchasing of stock and stock control
Daily ordering of stock
Ensuring goods are correctly delivered
Check dispensary invoices against delivery notes
Maintain adequate stocks and ensure shelf stock is rotated in date order
Check out of date stock monthly, record, claim and destroy as per SOP
Ensure safe management of controlled drugs according to the practice SOP, CQC regulations and current law.
Receive payment for private work and inform finance department
Receiving, processing and ordering stock in accordance with Practice Policies and SOPs
Keeping the dispensary shelves and workstations clean and tidy, and contributing to stock checks and housekeeping.
Prescriptions and prescription monies
Daily: check prescriptions for signature/endorsements
Weekly: submit all unsigned prescriptions
Daily: cash up and balance prescription monies and any other payments taken
Destruction of drugs
Daily- returned medication from patients
Monthly- check on any uncollected medication
Quarterly- prepare returned drugs from patients for destruction
Six monthly- conduct out of date controlled drugs destruction with the appropriate officer from the CCG
Dispensing
Oversee/check colleagues dispensing
Dispensing acute prescriptions
Dispensing drugs in accordance with Practice Policy and SOPs
Dispensing drugs to a high level of accuracy
Processing repeat prescriptions
Collect prescription charges from patients
Prepare patient pill packs
Check for out of date repeats on patients prescription list and alert GP to review/remove
Accept prescription requests from Hospitals, chemists, any other allied professions for and on behalf of patients
Ensure workflow management of medication requests are completed and appropriate action is taken.
Ensure fridge temperatures are recorded daily.
Promote of online services to increase number of patients ordering medication online.
Ensuring that prescriptions are correctly issued, signed by the doctor and signed by the patient, in line with Practice Policy and SOPs
Ensuring that Drug Tariff knowledge is up-to-date by reading monthly amendments
Communication-
Handling telephone and general enquiries, referring urgent calls to appropriate lead
Liaising with muti-disciplinary team members where necessary
Dealing with all patient communication in a professional and polite manner
Attending Dispensary Team meetings and training afternoons
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Administration-
Being responsible for security, including the opening and closing of dispensary and secure storage of items such as money received and prescriptions
Recording and reporting any Incident/Accidents/Near Misses in accordance with Practice Policies (ensuring that all drug related incidents are recorded in the dispensary/drug incident reporting book)
Contribution to the Implementation of Services-
The post-holder will-
Be responsible for preparing and updating standard operating procedures with the Dispensary Manager
Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate
Confidentiality-
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data
Health & safety-
The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Use and monitoring of the correct use of standard operating procedures for cleaning and infection control
Responsible for correct hand hygiene of self and others
Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols within the team
Active observation of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes
Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers
Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)
Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
Spillage control procedures, management and training
Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
Maintenance of sterile environments
Equality and diversity-
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional development-
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Ensuring that all training is completed for DSQS and CQC
Quality-
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- - High level of accuracy and attention to detail
- - Good organisational and time management skills
- - Able to communicate clearly with patients and colleagues
- - Ability to follow SOPs and policies
Desirable
- - Competence in using EMIS or other GP systems
- - Ability to train or supervise junior staff
- - Knowledge of Drug Tariff
Personal Attributes
Essential
- - Friendly and approachable
- - Reliable and punctual
- - Willingness to learn and undertake training
- - Professional manner and appearance
Desirable
- - Team player who contributes to a positive working environment
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a healthcare or customer service environment
- Handling of confidential information
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a GP practice dispensary or pharmacy
- Familiarity with repeat prescription processes
- Experience with controlled drugs and stock management
Knowledge
Essential
- - Awareness of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
- - Basic knowledge of health & safety in the workplace
Desirable
- - Understanding of DSQS (Dispensing Services Quality Scheme)
- - Infection control procedures
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths (Grade C or above)
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or Dispensary Assistant qualification
- DSQS-related training
Personal Attributes
Essential
- - Friendly and approachable
- - Reliable and punctual
- - Willingness to learn and undertake training
- - Professional manner and appearance
Desirable
- - Team player who contributes to a positive working environment
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- - High level of accuracy and attention to detail
- - Good organisational and time management skills
- - Able to communicate clearly with patients and colleagues
- - Ability to follow SOPs and policies
Desirable
- - Competence in using EMIS or other GP systems
- - Ability to train or supervise junior staff
- - Knowledge of Drug Tariff
Personal Attributes
Essential
- - Friendly and approachable
- - Reliable and punctual
- - Willingness to learn and undertake training
- - Professional manner and appearance
Desirable
- - Team player who contributes to a positive working environment
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a healthcare or customer service environment
- Handling of confidential information
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a GP practice dispensary or pharmacy
- Familiarity with repeat prescription processes
- Experience with controlled drugs and stock management
Knowledge
Essential
- - Awareness of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
- - Basic knowledge of health & safety in the workplace
Desirable
- - Understanding of DSQS (Dispensing Services Quality Scheme)
- - Infection control procedures
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths (Grade C or above)
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or Dispensary Assistant qualification
- DSQS-related training
Personal Attributes
Essential
- - Friendly and approachable
- - Reliable and punctual
- - Willingness to learn and undertake training
- - Professional manner and appearance
Desirable
- - Team player who contributes to a positive working 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
Castlehead Medical Centre
Address
Ambleside Road
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 4DB
Employer's website
Employer details
Employer name
Castlehead Medical Centre
Address
Ambleside Road
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 4DB
Employer's website
For questions about the job, contact:
Date posted
09 April 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£12.21 an hour
Contract
Bank
Working pattern
Annualised hours
Reference number
A5149-25-0000
Job locations
Ambleside Road
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 4DB
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