Vacancy: Lead Dispenser

Hours: 37.5 hours
Accountable to: The Partners and Practice Manager
Responsible to: The Practice Manager

Job Summary

As a Lead Dispenser you should provide leadership and direction to our Dispensary Team ensuring delivery of a safe, efficient, and patientfocused dispensing service. This will focus on the outward facing aspects of dispensing: patient relationships, staff management, quality, and safety. You will need to be forward thinking and able to lead change effectively and positively to provide a modern cost-effective dispensary to our patients.

Job Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Manage the smooth running of the dispensary at all times.
• Provide leadership and support to the dispensary and wider team.
• Train dispensary staff, including the attendance on relevant recognised courses i.e. Buttercups NVQ and others, as appropriate. Monitor and facilitate compliance with mandatory training for dispensary staff. Undertake annual appraisals and regular staff reviews.
• Develop and implement a dispensary work plan that contributes to achievement of the practices overall strategic objectives.
• Promote equality and diversity in all aspects of the role and ensure that the rights and needs of patients, carers and colleagues are recognised.
• Stay up to date with best practice and develop proposals for ongoing development and improvement of the dispensary service.
• Work closely with Clinical Pharmacist/ICB to maintain safe prescribing.
• Involvement in and managing of projects, which are allocated to the Group to help nationally to reduce public health threats, e.g. related to Covid-19 and the seasonal flu.
• Record and report any untoward incidents, significant events, drug errors or any other issues of quality and risk immediately to the Practice Manager.
• Promote a safe an effective working environment; conforming to legislation, ensuring drugs are stored appropriately

Quality & Safety Element

• Monitor performance across a range of indicators including dispensing timescales and take corrective action where required.
• Working closely with the Practice Manager, promptly resolve patient complaints and apply learning to improve future service delivery.
• Comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Action Drug alerts received (MHRA) in a timely manner. Ensure other safety alerts are appropriately cascaded and actions implemented in a timely manner.
• Maintain knowledge of best practice and make appropriate recommendations for implementation.
• Record and monitor learning events / significant events, ensuring that learning is cascaded and effectively embedded.
• Recognise and report safeguarding concerns using the established practice processes.
• Ensure all Health & Safety and Infection Control standards are met within the practice dispensary.
• Delivery of DSQS. Including annual dispensing audit and staff appraisals. Annual review of Dispensary SOP's On a monthly basis ensure uncollected medication is dealt with in accordance with current policy.
• GP drug bags audit monthly.
• Control drug audit monthly.

Data Security

• To provide oversight and support for effective data control and information management in line with GDPR.

Health and Safety

• Ensure the Practice policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.
• Ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and ensure the environment is maintained in good order.
• Take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of oneself and others in accordance with the Health and Safety at work act.

General

• Other duties/holiday cover that may be required appropriate to the level and nature of the post.
• Responsibility for the creation and updating of procedures notes for all tasks within the role.
• Proactively work to review process and implement improvements where possible.
• To be proficient at prioritising and organising workload.
• Contribute to own supervision, development, and appraisal systems in line with Practice requirements.
• To undertake any training as deemed as necessary to carry out the full requirements of the post.
• The Partners of the Practice retain the right to amend the Job Description in consultation with the post holder and any agreed changes will be notified in writing within a month of any agreement.
• To liaise with patients, the public and other professionals as necessary