Dispensing Assistant

**JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE**: DISPENSING ASSISTANT REPORTS TO: DISPENSARY MANAGER / PRACTICE MANAGER HOURS: 26 hours per week Job summary: 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, dispensing of prescriptions and assist with stock control, ordering and re-stocking of the dispensary. The post-holder will hold the Pharmacy Service Skills NVQ Level 2 or Equivalent. Duties and responsibilities: Issuing stock items and prepared prescriptions Collection of prescription charges/checking patient exemption statements Cash handling Processing and bundling prescriptions for the prescription pricing authority Operation of efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the dispensary with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage Ensuring that drugs are received and stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the manufacturers instructions Ensuring that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintaining the temperature control record/logbook Cleaning work surfaces and shelving on a regular basis and ensuring that that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and kept in good working order.

Maintaining full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions. Undertaking other reasonable duties within the framework of the post as directed by the senior dispenser, practice manager or doctor. 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.