Team Leader Award HCs

Shirley Lockhart, Boots UK, Prestatyn, Wales

“Shirley’s extensive 20 years at Boots illustrates her dedication and adaptability,” said Emma Charlesworth, RoE judge and head of marketing operations at Numark. “As a store manager, she’s led her team through significant process improvements, resulting in enhanced efficiency and service quality. Shirley’s focus on team development and training, alongside her emphasis on patient outcomes and strong community relationships, highlights her commitment to nurturing talent and promoting community care.”

Working hard in the high intensity pharmacy in Prestatyn, dispensing over 16,000 items a month, Shirley and the team have been on a significant journey, resetting processes to improve efficiency and, under Shirley’s leadership, they are now seeing the benefits. The team have dispensed over 110,000 items year to date (YTD) and are up 41 per cent on services. They too have completed 460 common ailments services YTD as well as delivering the best flu season so far, the service up a whopping 73 per cent.

Shirely’s biggest role in supporting the pharmacy has been creating a stable platform and foundation to work from, with getting the right team the key link to bringing everything together. During her time in store, Shirely has recruited two store-based pharmacists, trained an accuracy checking technician and has a registered technician in training too, who is close to completing her programme. “Shirley has demonstrated the need to have a well-staffed and trained team to ensure growth and success,” commented RoE judge Reena Barai, pharmacy owner and co-founder of the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network.

“My motto is that in pharmacy, you always have to be 10 steps ahead,” said Tara Duchene. It was with this attitude that she firmly secured highly commended in the Team Leader category.

Tara leads a team who dispense over 4,000 items per week and recently took on a trainee pharmacist, mentoring her for six months. “I was there to help her get to know and understand what pharmacy entailed and get a feel for it. Then she went off to a smaller store once she qualified but she didn’t enjoy it, she said she felt unsupported and was actually going to quit,” she explained. “I thought that it would be such a shame after all the hard work she has put in. I pleaded with my area manager to let her come and be my permanent pharmacist… she embraced the challenge and is now based in my store. I have managed to keep a great pharmacist in the company and I am very proud of that.”

“Her meticulous organisation and attention to detail have played a crucial role in efficiently managing a high-intensity pharmacy,” commented Emma Charlesworth, RoE judge and head of marketing operations at Numark. “By prioritising customer service and cultivating a positive work environment, Tara has fostered high team morale and exceptional customer satisfaction. Her proactive leadership approach, coupled with her problem-solving skills, showcases her effectiveness as a leader. Moreover, her mentorship of a trainee pharmacist underscores her commitment to supporting the growth and development of her team members, further solidifying her reputation as a compassionate and influential leader.”