Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant

Pharmacies provide a friendly and helpful service to enable our customers to obtain their prescriptions speedily and efficiently. As a dispensary assistant, you will prepare, dispense and supply medicine to the public under the supervision of a pharmacist.

There are a number of assistants working together within the Pharmacy able to offer information and advice to help our customers find the correct item to suit their requirements.

Primary responsibilities

• To select, label and dispense correct items in accordance with standard operating procedures to ensure safe supply to patients;


• To dispense controlled drugs in accordance with standard operating procedures to ensure legal compliance;


• To ensure at the point of sale, the safe and correct supply of dispensed items to patients;


• To identify problems in administration of medicines such as medicine interactions and other physical factors that may affect patient compliance;


• To create and update patient medication records in accordance with data protection principles to ensure patient confidentiality;


• To assist with stock control and inventory procedures to maximise availability and minimise waste;


• To ensure the safe and appropriate storage of medicines;


• To assist with the preparation of monitored dosage and cassette box systems to benefit patients on multiple medication regimes;


• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of pharmacy issues for the purposes of continuing professional development;


• To support pharmacy colleagues and mentor others through the timely completion of training courses;


• To work as part of a team and actively demonstrate a willingness to support and achieve the overall business objectives.


• To provide, once trained, blood pressure monitoring, smoking cessation, diabetes testing, health checks, and other healthcare services (which may include Covid related services)., Training is on-the-job via internal training courses and correspondence courses covering the specialist training required for selling medicines over the counter and dispensing medicines.


Further training opportunities are available to NVQ level 3 for assistants once they have proven their ability and enthusiasm.
Training is completed under a sponsorship agreement.


• Good general education


• Numerate & literate


• Administrative skills, which are necessary for record keeping


• Strong communication and excellent customer service skills;


• IT literate


Aptitude

• Ability to work under minimal supervision


• Gives attention to detail


• Methodical approach to work a methodical and accurate approach to practical tasks


• Trustworthy and understanding of confidentiality issues


• Commitment to continuing professional development and training;


• Ability to work effectively to deadlines


• Professional, tactful and friendly attitude;


• A high level of concentration


Disposition

• Able to work as part of a team


• Good sense of responsibility


• A polite and helpful manner


Motivation

• Enthusiastic


• Belief in the job


• Self-motivated


• Excellent team working skills;


Circumstances

• Able to work flexible hours


• Reliable


• Good attendance record, There are no minimum qualifications although it would be useful to have GCSE or equivalent qualifications in English, mathematics and science.