Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant

This unique role offers the chance to be part of a growing team within the QE Facilities Outpatient Pharmacy based in the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, enabling you to develop your clinical knowledge in a high-quality service, whilst providing a positive customer focused service to our patients.

As a qualified dispenser, you will have an NVQ2 qualification in dispensing that meets the GPhC requirements of education and training of pharmacy support staff, hold a flexible attitude to work, and have experience in community or hospital pharmacy. The candidate must have excellent people and communication skills with the ability to explain clearly and listen to other healthcare professionals, customers, and members of the public. For a trainee dispenser role, the successful applicant will be enrolled on a suitable training course with expected completion taking 9-12 months, after which a pay review would follow.

Main duties of the job

• Work with the QE Facilities Pharmacy team to deliver a high quality and patient focused service.
• Undertake and support the dispensing of all prescriptions and orders presented to the QE Facilities Out-Patient Pharmacy including speciality medicines such as Oral Chemotherapy, IVF and Hepatitis C.
• Provide rotational support to our Out Patient Dispensary, Homecare Pharmacy and Wholesale Pharmacy site.
• Support the Pharmacy Manager to maintain and work within the legal and regulatory standards of a GPhC registered Pharmacy and a Wholesale Distribution Authority (WDA) registered site.
• Support the Pharmacy Manager to promote a strong relationship with the Trust and other key stakeholders e.g. CCG and local Trusts.
• Undertake appropriate training and demonstrate competency in the use of the JAC Pharmacy Support System for stock ordering and stock control.
• Understand the importance of booking stock to the correct patient and cost centre and to maintain accurate Patient Medication Records (PMR).
• Participate in the required stock taking procedures and resolve and report any stock discrepancies to the appropriate person.
• Assist in the Pharmacy Counter reception duties e.g. prescription reception and transfer, as per the QEF Out-Patient Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedure.

About us

QE Facilities (QEF) is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GHNT), based in the North East of England.

We provide a range of non-clinical services to GHNT and other NHS organisations. Our services include: estates, facilities services, procurement, medical engineering and devices, endoscopy decontamination and sterile services, transport, out-patient pharmacy, and prevention & management of violence & aggression training (PMVA).

In addition, we provide consultancy services, advising clients on all aspects of establishing a subsidiary company within an NHS body to the provision of VAT compliance advice.

QE Facilities work to their own Terms and Conditions and these are not the same as Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Terms and Conditions. This is not an Agenda for Change Pay Rate.

Job responsibilities

Ability to carry out a Pharmaceutical and Legal assessment of a prescription and dispense with a high level of accuracy.

Understand individual role and responsibilities and know when to pass queries to the Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacist or Superintendent Pharmacist.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the Laws, Guidelines and Standards relating to the supply of medicines from a GPhC registered Pharmacy.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills. Ability to explain clearly and listen to members of the public and other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of IT skills.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of organisational skills.

Qualifications

• Qualification for Dispensing / Pharmacy Assistants or a Community Pharmacy dispensing qualification.

Experience

• Dispensing Pharmacy / Assistant experience in Hospital Pharmacy or Community Pharmacy.

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.