About this role
Job summary
The Reynard Surgery is a warm, well established GP practice in Red Lodge with a GOOD CQC registation. Red Lodge is a rural village on the out skirts of Bury St Edmunds with an ever growing patient population that is currently at just over 10k.
We have a younger population with many families moving into the local area due to new building developments in the immediate area. We have a strong reputation for high quality, patient centred primary care.
We are a friendly, collaborative practice with a focus on continuity, safety, and creating a positive working environment. We are part of the large Forest Heath PCN which has approximately 73k patients, we work collaboratively as part of this. You will be joining a team that works cohesively across clinical and administrative roles to ensure manageable workloads and excellent care for our patients.
Main duties of the job
The following are the core responsibilities of the Dispenser. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
To be responsible for checking all medicines dispensed, ensuring there are no discrepancies
Dispensing medicines to the entitled population safely and accurately
Collecting prescription charges in accordance with dispensary protocol
Maintaining stock levels within the dispensary, liaising with the dispensary manager to facilitate reordering
Receiving and storing supplies in accordance with current policy, ensuring the cold chain is maintained where applicable
Ensuring controlled drugs are dispensed in accordance with practice policy.
Ensuring safe disposal of returned and/or out of date medicines
Ensuring all repeat prescriptions are processed within a 72-hour timeframe
Providing patients with advice regarding all prescription matters
Processing prescription requests via email, phone, email, face-to-face and online
Processing Dossett boxes
Assisting the Dispensary Lead in the preparation of monthly returns
Always maintaining a clean and safe working environment
Always maintain accurate records, including appropriate coding entries
About us
The Reynard Surgery is a rural practice in Red Lodge approx. 15 miles from Bury St Edmunds, 3 miles from Newmarket and 19 miles from the centre of Cambridge. We have an experienced mix of GPs, Advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, paramedic, pharmacists, and administrative colleagues who work together seamlessly. You'll never feel like you're working alone.
We are a busy practice that prioritises safe working whilst ensuring an effective turnover of appointments. The team proactively manages workflow, clinical admin, and correspondence to keep workloads balanced and sustainable. We foster open communication, shared decisionmaking, and a genuinely supportive atmosphere.
Working as part of our multidisciplinary team, you will have the opportunity to support and care for a diverse patient group.
Job description Job responsibilities
To be responsible for the processing of prescriptions in accordance with practice policy and extant legislation. In addition, the post holder will be required to support the Dispensary Lead in ensuring a high-level of service is delivered at all times whilst supporting the multi-disciplinary team in line with the strategic objectives of the practice.
All staff at this organisation have a duty to conform to the following:
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
A good attitude and positive action towards Equality Diversity & Inclusion ED&I creates an environment where all individuals are able to achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons: it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do and it is required by law.
Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.
Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued, and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire
This organisation is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities for staff to maintain their health, wellbeing, and safety.
The post holder is to manage and assess risk within their areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients and monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
All personnel have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for themselves, their team, and others and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
All personnel are to comply with the:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Environment Act 1995
Fire Precautions workplace Regulations 1999
Other statutory legislation which may be brought to the post holders attention.
Confidentiality
The organisation is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and always maintain confidentiality.
It is essential that, if the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained, all staff must protect patient information and provide a confidential service.
Quality and Continuous Improvement
To preserve and improve the quality of this organisations outputs, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do, but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work.
The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the organisation, to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice, and to discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care.
This organisation continually strives to improve work processes which deliver healthcare with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement where everyone counts, and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.
Staff should interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.
All staff are to contribute to investigations and root cause analyses whilst participating in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary case reviews.
Induction training
At this organisation, you will be required to complete the induction programme and the practice management team will support you throughout the process.
Learning and development
The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude, and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake in, and complete mandatory training as directed. It is an expectation for this post holder to assess their own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate
The post holder will undertake mentorship for team members and disseminate learning and information gained to other team members to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments.
The post holder will provide an educational role to patients, carers, families, and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.
Collaborative working
All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working, understand their own role and scope, and identify how this may develop over time. Staff are to prioritise their own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments and the post holder is to work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working, while working effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
Effective communication is essential, and all staff must ensure they communicate in a way which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
All staff should delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Plans and outcomes by which to measure success should be agreed.
Managing information
All staff should use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in the planning, implementation and monitoring of care and presenting and communicating information.
Data should be reviewed and processed using accurate SNOMED/read codes to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
Service delivery
Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.
The post holder must adhere to the information contained within the organisations policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are always adhered to.
Security
The security of the practice is the responsibility of all personnel. Staff must ensure they always remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager.
Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks to anyone, and they are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured. Likewise, password controls are to be maintained and passwords are not to be shared.
Professional conduct
All staff are required to dress appropriately for their role and to keep their uniform in a good condition, laundered and ironed on a regular basis.
The following are the core responsibilities of the Dispenser. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
a. To be responsible for checking all medicines dispensed, ensuring there are no discrepancies
b. Dispensing medicines to the entitled population safely and accurately
c. Collecting prescription charges in accordance with dispensary protocol
d. Maintaining stock levels within the dispensary, liaising with the dispensary manager to facilitate reordering
e. Receiving and storing supplies in accordance with current policy, ensuring the cold chain is maintained where applicable
f. Ensuring controlled drugs are dispensed in accordance with practice policy
g. Ensuring safe disposal of returned and/or out of date medicines
h. Ensuring all repeat prescriptions are processed within a 72-hour timeframe
i. Providing patients with advice regarding all prescription matters
j. Processing prescription requests via email, phone, email, face-to-face and online
k. Processing Dossett boxes
l. Assisting the Dispensary Lead in the preparation of monthly returns
m. Always maintaining a clean and safe working environment
n. Always maintain accurate records, including appropriate coding entries.
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Dispenser may be requested to:
a. Partake in audit as directed by the audit lead
b. Provide guidance for trainee dispensary staff and students as necessary
c. Remain current with the latest guidance ensuring the dispensary conforms to NICE, CQC, etc. guidance
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
You must have a minimum of grade C in GCSE in Math and English. You must be qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent. Experience of working with the General Public Computer skill Experience of working with System one. Be able to work as a team member Excellent communication skills Ability to follow policies, procedures and SOPS
Desirable
Qualified to NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services Experience of working in a GP Dispensary or Pharmacy a broad knowledge of General Practice
Qualifications Essential
You must have a minimum of grade C in GCSE in Math and English. You must be qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent. Experience of working with the General Public Computer skill Experience of working with System one. Be able to work as a team member Excellent communication skills Ability to follow policies, procedures and SOPS
Desirable
Qualified to NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services Experience of working in a GP Dispensary or Pharmacy a broad knowledge of General Practice
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.
Employer details Employer name The Reynard Surgery
Address The Reynard Surgery
Turnpike Road
Red Lodge
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP28 8JZ
Employer's website https://www.reynardsurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)