Apprentice Dispensing Assistant

The role of the Apprentice Dispensing Assistant is to work alongside other healthcare professionals within Rowlands, namely: Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants as well as those outside the business such as GP’s and practice nurses etc. as well as to provide a variety of pharmacy and medicines related and healthy living services.

Rowlands Pharmacy has over 200 years of experience in community pharmacy and is part of PHOENIX, a pan-European pharmaceutical company. Our commitment to providing the best standards of care and advice means that the needs of our customers and staff share equal importance. Our network of over 500 pharmacies throughout England, Scotland and Wales ensures we are able to offer a wide variety of pharmaceutical services to meet the healthcare needs of the local community. The UK headquarters is based at Runcorn in Cheshire, from which the corporate service divisions support the local business activities.

You will be involved in the supply of medicines and products, assisting in the dispensing and assembly of prescribed items as well as assisting in providing advice on administration and storage of medication. In addition Apprentice Pharmacy Assistants will learn about team working, the laws and ethics surrounding medicines and how to communicate effectively with patients.

At the end of the apprenticeship you will receive the General Pharmaceutical Council recognised qualifications to sell OTC (Over the Counter) medicines as well as to work in the pharmacy dispensary.

Key accountabilities:

• Know and understand dispensing procedures and practices and the different types of prescriptions and to accurately carry out dispensing activities


• Understand legal and company / business policies around handling information and patient confidentiality


• Follow information governance guidelines to ensure that data security is maintained


• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the wider pharmacy team, working in the best interests of the patient, ensuring that patients are your first concern


• Work within the requirements of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)


• Understand why it is important to provide patient centered care and healthy living advice


• Ensure that all due regard to health and safety within the branch for yourself, your colleagues and your patients is maintained


• Learn to follow all till and banking procedures


• Ensure that all housekeeping procedures (including cleaning and date checking) are maintained and recorded and that stock rotation is managed for both dispensary and counter stock


• Ensure that dispensary services such as electronic prescriptions and delivery services are up to date


• Deal with customers telephone queries regarding prescription issues and updates and dispensary services

Services:

At Rowlands we offer a range of services that you will become familiar with as you progress with your apprenticeship

• Healthcare advice


• Prescription collection service


• Delivery service


• Monitored dosage systems


• Electronic prescriptions


• Batched prescriptions


• Essential and enhanced services such as smoking cessation, seasonal ‘flu vaccinations, emergency contraception and medicines use reviews


• Healthy living services such as blood pressure measuring, weight management and travel advice

Other responsibilities:

• Commit to learning and studying for the vocational qualifications and to stay on target with the agreed delivery plan


• Learn all aspects of the apprenticeship role


• Have a clean and tidy appearance in accordance with the company dress code


• Undertake additional duties and requests by your line manager to meet business requirements


• Have a positive attitude to work and learning and be flexible in the job role

• Friendly and helpful


• Trustworthy and reliable


• Enthusiastic and motivated


• Confident and able to develop effective working relationships


• Able to seek advice and guidance when appropriate


• Willingness to develop and respond positively to changes

• Applicants will be expected to be IT literate but will be trained on the specific software/till systems used in the branch. Candidates must be able to follow instructions and guidance working closely with a mentor


• All of our branches are based within the community and we are looking for someone who will be able to provide exceptional customer service to our customers. You will be customer facing so you must be of smart and tidy appearance


• You will need to be able to display maturity and sensitivity when discussing confidential information or a customer’s illness and you will have excellent communication skills as you will need to be able to clearly explain instructions to customers, based on the advice that the Pharmacist Manager will give you


• You will enjoy working as part of a busy team and assisting colleagues, participating in Healthy Living events and promoting and offering a range of services to customers/patients, e.g. weight management, blood pressure checks.  If you have had work experience/ placements in a retail environment or have had work experience dealing with people this will be beneficial to your application