Lead Dispensary Technician

Job Overview

The Band 6 Dispensary Lead Technician role offers an excellent opportunity to develop advanced leadership, management, and operational skills within a fast-paced hospital pharmacy environment.

As one of two Lead Pharmacy Technicians, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of dispensary services, supported by the EPIC electronic prescribing and Willow inventory systems.

You will coordinate daily workflow across multiple workstreams, maintaining timely service for discharge and urgent medications, while overseeing all aspects of inventory management—including stock control, safe storage, and waste reduction.

The role also involves investigating discrepancies, incidents, and complaints, ensuring robust governance and continuous improvement.

As a line manager, you will lead and support a team of Pharmacy Technicians, Dispensary Assistants, and Pharmacy Porters, taking responsibility for recruitment, induction, appraisals, rota planning, and managing performance and attendance to deliver a high-quality, patient-focused service.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

• Working closely with the Dispensary Manager, the post holder will lead the day-to-day workflow and operations of the hospital dispensary, ensuring efficient service delivery and adherence to quality and regulatory standards.
• Key responsibilities include preparing staff rotas, planning and coordinating training, allocating and delegating daily tasks, and resolving operational queries to meet departmental needs.
• The role also 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.
• You will investigate and respond to drug errors and complaints, often requiring sensitive and complex discussions, and ensure robust documentation and governance.
• As a line manager, you will oversee staff performance, manage sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and ensure accurate and timely records are maintained.
• Acting as a professional lead, you will model effective communication, leadership, and negotiation skills to promote a safe, efficient, and supportive working environment.
  
  

Working for our organisation

Frimley 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.

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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the recruitment and selection of dispensary staff and carry out appraisals, supporting staff development in line with agreed objectives.
• Provide effective line management, including monitoring sickness absence, managing disciplinary and grievance processes, and addressing performance issues, ensuring accurate documentation throughout.

Organise and deliver comprehensive inductions for new staff members in compliance with Trust and departmental requirements.

Maintain and update data on the electronic HealthRoster system, including annual leave, shift patterns, sickness, and overtime.

Manage the day-to-day workflow and operations of the dispensary in collaboration with the Dispensary Manager, including preparing rotas, planning training, allocating tasks, and resolving operational queries to meet service needs.

Ensure operational pharmacy services are supported by robust SOPs and policies that reflect Trust objectives, national guidance, and regulatory standards.

Act as a professional lead within the department, demonstrating strong communication, influencing, and negotiation skills to promote a safe, efficient, and supportive working environment.

For further information regarding the detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Pharmacy Technician
• ACT
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of EPIC
• Medicines Reconciliation accreditation.
• Qualification in management.
• Practise supervisor qualification.
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post-qualification hospital pharmacy experience.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of managing staff, including recruitment, appraisal and staff development.
• Supervisory experience.
  
  

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Able to plan, organise and prioritise workload.
• Self-motivated and an ability to motivate others.
• Ability to function calmly and efficiently when under pressure.
• Proactive, assertive and displaying a professional attitude always.
• Adaptable and able to respond to changing client demands in an innovative manner.
• Ability to delegate appropriately.
• High level of accuracy.
• Good customer service skills.
• Good verbal and written communication.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Good knowledge of the extended roles of technicians and assistants.

Good leadership skills.

Ability to confidently deal with difficult situations.

Ability to inspire enthusiasm and team commitment within the area.

Special Requirements

Essential criteria

• Ability to take part in weekend and evening working and bank holidays as part of an overtime rota.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Willingness and ability to travel between sites.
  
  

Frimley 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.

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