Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Plan and co-ordinate and supervise less experienced staff working in the dispensary service to ensure that medicines are dispensed in an accurate and timely manner including unlicensed medicines and cytotoxics.

2. Accuracy check prescriptions.

3. Ensure the training and development needs of all staff working in the dispensary are fulfilled, for example, student technicians, support workers, rotational pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and technicians, in line with pre-defined training programmes.

4. Ensure that adequate stocks of medicines are maintained and be responsible for the completion of the daily stock reconciliation process solving any problems identified, including correction and financial amendment.

5. Undertakes basic work-based assessments e.g. pregnancy risk assessments.

6. Support the deputy team lead – dispensary services to organise, co-ordinate and amend the daily rotas for the dispensary services to ensure all tasks are covered.

7. Co-ordinate the day-to-day supervision of the dispensary whilst acting as a role model, demonstrating and promoting the standards of care expected and creating energy and enthusiasm for service improvement.

8. Undertake line management responsibility for staff absence and support the deputy team lead – dispensary services to manage affected rotas.

9. Undertake line management responsibility, within designated area, for staff appraisal, personal development, mandatory training compliance and any other related management tasks.

10. Participate in the development, review and implementation of SOPs in consultation with the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader - Dispensary Services.

11. Make judgements and decisions in the absence of a more senior member of staff within the limits compatible with technician training.

12. Support quality improvement and implementation of new ways of working. 

13. Ensure correct handling of the various prescriptions into the pharmacy dispensary and make judgements on how to prioritise workload when urgent requests are made, liaising with appropriate personnel when necessary, using tact and diplomacy.

14. Give advice and answer straight forward medication queries from patients/customers and other healthcare professionals, referring matters requiring further advice to the Team Leader and deputy team leader - Dispensary Services or relevant Pharmacists.

5. Analyse and give daily feedback to dispensary staff on performance against key performance indicators using data from the prescription tracker system and Wellsky.

16. Ensure all necessary paperwork and information is completed and stored appropriately in accordance with departmental SOPs.

17. Implement and propose changes required to the dispensary service as directed by the line manager.

18. Ensure the dispensary is kept clean and tidy and ensuring compliance with Health and Safety at work regulations, escalating when necessary.

19. Liaise and provide support for the Senior Technical Service Leads and Team Leaders as required

20. Ensure that an environment is created where staff feel valued and are provided with genuine opportunities for their development.

21. Supervise and participate in the training of all staff working in the pharmacy dispensary including assessing competence and signing off training packs.

22. Act as a mentor for technical staff undertaking accuracy checking qualification.

23. Be responsible for own CPD. 

24. Undertakes research activities such as audit.

25. Promote a culture in which multi-disciplinary teams strive for continuous quality improvement by recording and learning from mistakes whether they be human error or systems failure.

26. Ensure the issuing/dispensing and traceability of medicines issued to patients is performed correctly and recorded correctly on the pharmacy computer system.

27. Ensure the legal and effective distribution of goods to wards and departments within LUHFT and also to external customers who receive a service via service level agreements.

28. Liaise with procurement staff to ensure that timely ordering of pharmaceuticals is met and owing/to follow orders are kept track of and processed.

29. Ensure the daily stock take is performed done and stock is corrected on Wellsky as per SOP, submit this in a timely manner each weekday to the Team Leader – Dispensary Services.

30. Ensure Controlled Drug legislation is adhered to, CD stock levels are correct, and that SOPs are followed when investigating discrepancies, escalating to senior dispensary staff when required.

31. Organise expiry date checking across the dispensaries ensuring short, dated stock is used up in advance where possible. 

32. Participate in routine pharmacy technician duties, when appropriate, including dispensing and accuracy checking.

33. Check for prescribing errors within the limits compatible with technician training and refer back to the relevant pharmacist with any queries.

34. Participate in the investigation of complaints/litigation/adverse incidents and ensure all documentation is completed. 

35. Provide advice on common medications such as dose and how to use.

36. Check the dispensing, issuing, stock control, assembly and procurement of pharmaceuticals in accordance with relevant legislation and departmental procedures, including regular dispensing of controlled drugs and cytotoxics. 

37. Ensure that all work is undertaken in a timely and accurate way. 

38. Perform accurate dose volume checking on non–standard volumes. 

39. Be a robot super user and trouble shoot complex problems and maintain efficient systems.

40. Receive prescriptions from customers and hospital staff in accordance with dispensary procedures (including collecting prescription charges) and prioritise prescriptions according to urgency. 

41. Participate in staff rotations within the pharmacy departments across LUHFT as required. 

42. Participate in bank holiday, late night and weekend rotas as considered appropriate by the Chief Pharmacist or other senior managers.

43. Observe regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act and Data Protection Act. 

44. Undertake any other duties relevant to this grade as directed by the line manager, Chief Pharmacist, or other senior managers. Education and training development Ensure the training and development needs of all staff working in the dispensary are fulfilled