Job summary
UHS hospital pharmacy employs over 300 staff and around a third of them are Pharmacy Support Workers who are fundamental in supporting the provision of pharmacy services in a range of roles.
We have an excellent track record of supporting staff development and career progression and as we have recently promoted to further posts we have 4 vacancies to fill in our dispensary.
If you are a hard-working, reliable person who is keen to learn and begin a new career, then this is a fantastic opportunity for you to join the world of hospital pharmacy!
Main duties of the job
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the 'Job Description and Main Responsibilities' section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The pharmacy dispensary provides and inpatient and discharge medicines to a variety of patients at Southampton General Hospital. You will be joining a mutli-disciplinary team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support workers, who work together to provide an excellent service to our patients. Excellent communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work accurately under pressure.
The department operates between 8:30am and 7pm each day, and your hours will reflect these opening hours with the majority of our staff working their shifts across four longer days, rather than the traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday
Weekend shifts are on a rota basis currently one shift every six weeks.
Your main tasks in the dispensary would include: Producing labels and dispensing medicines for patients to use in hospital and on discharge Working on the pharmacy reception, helping nurses and patients with queries and passing on information to the relevant persons (pharmacists/technicians) Contributing to the departments stock management, such as ordering, receiving and maintaining the medicines used by the dispensary Use of the dispensing robot to retrieve medicines
Our pharmacy support workers also rotate into the Clinical Trials dispensary, where you will get to dispense medicines for patients going through cutting edge treatments.
A GPhC approved qualification will be completed as part of the role, and as such we require applicants to have Maths and English Language GCSEs or equivalent.
Above all we are looking for people who are enthusiastic about joining a forward-thinking NHS team supporting patient care both directly and in-directly, with a can-do attitude and the desire to improve every day.
You will be working as part of a large team, but a number of your responsibilities will require you to work independently, so the ability to work well in either situation is vital.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The pharmacy dispensary provides and inpatient and discharge medicines to a variety of patients at Southampton General Hospital. You will be joining a mutli-disciplinary team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support workers, who work together to provide an excellent service to our patients. Excellent communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work accurately under pressure.
The department operates between 8:30am and 7pm each day, and your hours will reflect these opening hours with the majority of our staff working their shifts across four longer days, rather than the traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday
Weekend shifts are on a rota basis currently one shift every six weeks.
Your main tasks in the dispensary would include: Producing labels and dispensing medicines for patients to use in hospital and on discharge Working on the pharmacy reception, helping nurses and patients with queries and passing on information to the relevant persons (pharmacists/technicians) Contributing to the departments stock management, such as ordering, receiving and maintaining the medicines used by the dispensary Use of the dispensing robot to retrieve medicines
Our pharmacy support workers also rotate into the Clinical Trials dispensary, where you will get to dispense medicines for patients going through cutting edge treatments.
A GPhC approved qualification will be completed as part of the role, and as such we require applicants to have Maths and English Language GCSEs or equivalent.
Above all we are looking for people who are enthusiastic about joining a forward-thinking NHS team supporting patient care both directly and in-directly, with a can-do attitude and the desire to improve every day.
You will be working as part of a large team, but a number of your responsibilities will require you to work independently, so the ability to work well in either situation is vital.
Person Specification
Trust values
Essential
- Patient First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications / training required
Essential
- 2 GCSEs or equivalent grades A* to C in English and Maths
Desirable
- NVQ 2 in Pharmacy or approved GPhC qualification for pharmacy support staff
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential
- Use of information technology in the workplace or within education or voluntary sectorApplication InterviewX
- Use of telephone to give and receive messages in the workplace or within education or voluntary sector
Desirable
- Customer service skills in the workplace or voluntary sector
- Previous pharmacy experience
- Previous experience in health or social care
- Experience in stock control i.e. receiving, maintaining and / or issuing stock
- Clinical trials or research experience
Aptitudes and skills required
Essential
- Communicate effectively with others
- Ability to follow procedures
- Attention to detail and accurate working
- Able to work independently with limited supervision
- Able to prioritise work
Person Specification
Trust values
Essential
- Patient First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications / training required
Essential
- 2 GCSEs or equivalent grades A* to C in English and Maths
Desirable
- NVQ 2 in Pharmacy or approved GPhC qualification for pharmacy support staff
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential
- Use of information technology in the workplace or within education or voluntary sectorApplication InterviewX
- Use of telephone to give and receive messages in the workplace or within education or voluntary sector
Desirable
- Customer service skills in the workplace or voluntary sector
- Previous pharmacy experience
- Previous experience in health or social care
- Experience in stock control i.e. receiving, maintaining and / or issuing stock
- Clinical trials or research experience
Aptitudes and skills required
Essential
- Communicate effectively with others
- Ability to follow procedures
- Attention to detail and accurate working
- Able to work independently with limited supervision
- Able to prioritise work
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
