Dispensary Lead Technician

Job OverviewThis 12-month fixed-term Band 6 Lead Dispensary Technician role offers an excellent opportunity to develop management, leadership, and operational skills within a busy hospital dispensary.Working as one of two Lead Pharmacy Technicians, you will ensure the efficient, safe, and cost-effective delivery of the dispensing service using the EPIC electronic prescribing system.The role involves coordinating daily workflow across multiple workstreams to maintain a timely service and overseeing all aspects of inventory management, including stock control, safe storage, and waste minimisation.You will be responsible for investigating discrepancies, incidents, and complaints as required.As a line manager, you will lead and support a team of Pharmacy Technicians, Dispensary Assistants, and Pharmacy Porters, undertaking recruitment, induction, appraisals, rota management, and handling performance and attendance issues to ensure high-quality, patient-focused service delivery.Main duties of the jobWorking closely with the Dispensary Manager, the postholder will manage the day-to-day workflow and operations of the Dispensary, ensuring efficient service delivery and adherence to quality standards. Responsibilities include preparing staff rotas, planning and coordinating training, allocating and delegating daily tasks, and addressing operational queries to meet departmental needs.The role involves maintaining and enforcing processes for the safe transport and handling of medicines, including refrigerated and controlled drugs, in line with MHRA, CQC and GPhC requirements.The postholder will investigate and respond to drug errors and complaints, often involving sensitive and complex discussions.As a line manager, they will oversee staff performance, manage sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and ensure accurate and timely documentation. Acting as a professional lead, the postholder will model effective communication, leadership, and negotiation skills to promote a safe, efficient and supportive working environment.Working for our organisationFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.Frimley Health Trust benefits on VimeoDetailed Job Description And Main ResponsibilitiesTo be actively involved in the recruitment and selection of staff and to carry out appraisals, developing staff in line with their objectives.To line manage staff including monitoring sickness absence, disciplinary, grievance and performance issues, maintaining accurate documentation throughout.To organise and provide a detailed induction to new staff members in compliance with local and trust requirements.To help maintain and enter data onto the electronic ‘Healthroster’ system used for annual leave, entering shift patterns, sickness and overtime. To manage the workflow and day to day running of the Dispensary in conjunction with the dispensary manager, including preparing rotas, planning training, following up queries and allocation/delegation of daily tasks to meet the needs of the department.To ensure the operational pharmacy services are underpinned by appropriate SOP’s and policies are developed in a manner that reflects Trust objectives, national policy and initiatives.To be a professional lead within the department and to demonstrate appropriate influencing and negotiating skills whilst carrying out the role.For a full list of responsibilities, please see the attached job description.Person specificationQualificationsEssential criteriaRegistered Pharmacy TechnicianACTDesirable criteriaKnowledge of EPICExperienceEssential criteriaLine Management experienceSkills and KnowledgeEssential criteriaOrganisational skillsStock Management skillsExperience of dealing with difficult situations / discussionsFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.Apply online now