Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary

The closing date is 15 August 2025

Job summary

*** This vacancy will close as soon as sufficient number of applications have been received***

This is a 12 months fixed term contract.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated individual to the post of Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary at The Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

This dynamic role sees you as the first point of contact for all face to face and telephone enquiries to the Department from healthcare professionals, pharmacy colleagues, patients, carer's, the general public and visitors referring them to the appropriate pharmacy staff as required.

You will facilitate an effective and efficient workflow and communication through the department and assist dispensary staff by coordinating the receipt, logging, prioritisation and collection of prescriptions.

Applicants should have excellent communication & organisational skills; be self-motivated and possess excellent interpersonal skills, be flexible and able to work well in an environment of change and transition. Applicants must also have good computer skills and be able to work well under pressure.

Unfortunately, this role does not support sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

The post holder may expected to support the department with medicines related tasks such as ward medicines tops ups and managing medicine waste on an ad hoc basis. Basic knowledge of medicines may be useful but full training and guidance will be given.

An NVQ level 2 in customer care would be an advantage but is not essential, but you will need previous customer service experience. You will be expected to complete certain units of the QCF level 2 in pharmacy services that are relevant to the role. Previous experience of working in a primary care/NHS/pharmacy setting is also desirable.

Please note this vacancy will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if interested.

About us

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives

Details

Date posted

13 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7379763

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. Attend to all staff waiting at the pharmacy reception and deal with their requests in a pleasant and appropriate manner.
  2. Answer all telephone calls in a timely and prompt manner.
  3. Ensure optimum communication via teams or telephone with the wider department team.
  4. Monitor the dispensary email inbox for external unit requests and print / receive all in-patient and take-home medication requests, entering them onto the prescription tracking system, and passing the work onto the relevant person in a timely manner.
  5. Prioritising all prescriptions according to their urgency, updating information on the prescription tracking system as to the status of prescriptions as required.
  6. Responsible for ensuring that the prescription tracking system does not exceed our expected turnaround times. Identifying urgent work to an appropriate member of the pharmacy team to enable quick completion and transport to the ward.
  7. Co-ordinate the packing and sealing of all ward bags ready for the Pharmacy porter collection times, logging them off the prescription tracking system.
  8. Ensure all visitors to the department who are external to the Trust read, understand and adhere to the official information provided within the visitors logbook. andsign the Official visitors logbook.

Please read attached JD for full information.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. Attend to all staff waiting at the pharmacy reception and deal with their requests in a pleasant and appropriate manner.
  2. Answer all telephone calls in a timely and prompt manner.
  3. Ensure optimum communication via teams or telephone with the wider department team.
  4. Monitor the dispensary email inbox for external unit requests and print / receive all in-patient and take-home medication requests, entering them onto the prescription tracking system, and passing the work onto the relevant person in a timely manner.
  5. Prioritising all prescriptions according to their urgency, updating information on the prescription tracking system as to the status of prescriptions as required.
  6. Responsible for ensuring that the prescription tracking system does not exceed our expected turnaround times. Identifying urgent work to an appropriate member of the pharmacy team to enable quick completion and transport to the ward.
  7. Co-ordinate the packing and sealing of all ward bags ready for the Pharmacy porter collection times, logging them off the prescription tracking system.
  8. Ensure all visitors to the department who are external to the Trust read, understand and adhere to the official information provided within the visitors logbook. andsign the Official visitors logbook.

Please read attached JD for full information.

Person Specification

Education / Training

Essential

  • Good level of literacy and numeracy e.g. GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 in Customer Services

Previous experience

Essential

  • Previous customer service experience
  • Working as part of a team in a busy environment

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a pharmacy department
  • Previous administrative work
  • Previous experience of working in a primary care/NHS setting
Person Specification

Education / Training

Essential

  • Good level of literacy and numeracy e.g. GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 in Customer Services

Previous experience

Essential

  • Previous customer service experience
  • Working as part of a team in a busy environment

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a pharmacy department
  • Previous administrative work
  • Previous experience of working in a primary care/NHS setting

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Dispensary Manager

Stacey Guilor

stacey.guilor1@nhs.net

01793605194

Details

Date posted

13 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7379763

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Supporting documents

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