Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Pharmacy Distribution Assistant

The closing date is 29 July 2025

Job summary

Pharmacy Distribution Assistant

Division: Cancer & Core Clinical Services

Band: 2

Salary: £24,465 per annum/pro rata

Hours: 2 Positions available

1 x 30 hours per week - Permanent

1 x 22.5 hour per week - Fixed Term 12 Months

All positions will include late night/weekend and bank holiday commitment (7 day working)

We are recruiting for a Pharmacy Distribution Assistantwho shares our ambition and vision to deliver theBest of Care by the Best Peopleand has the drive to take us forward, by ensuring that the Trust continues to be the first choice for patients and our staff.

Main duties of the job

To undertake general supply, distribution and inventory management duties within the Pharmacy to meet the needs and expectations of our service users

Participate in Pharmacy reception duties and general dispensary duties including dispensing as required including dispensing controlled drugs for wards and patients.

To support and assist all members of the Pharmacy team.

The successful applicant(s) will be required to work towards a Level 2 in Pharmacy services. Full support will be given for this.

Our values are Bold, Every Person Counts, Sharing and Open and Together. It is important that you understand and to refer to our values when completing your application and always reflect our values throughout your employment with the Trust.

We are committed to endorsing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion; our policies / procedures ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.

To contribute to our exciting future and become part of our team, apply today.

About us

People providing excellent care, every time?

Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision is achieved for our patients.

As a key partner in the healthcare of our local population, we are keen to deliver this as an outcome of our Trust-wide strategy - Patient First. Using an Operational Excellence approach to align our priorities and operational management structures, we are just over a year and half into our Patient First deployment. We are looking for creative, skilled people to join our Transformation Team and further support us on this journey.

Our culture and values define us here at Medway NHS Foundation Trust and are the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation.

Our BEST values underpin Patient First and are at the core of the care we give to our patients, the support we offer to our staff and our overall leadership approach:

B - Bold

E - Every person counts

S - Sharing and open

T - Together

Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious and dynamic environment; our employees are able to choose the coverage and supplemental benefits that best fit their needs and those of their families. This includes the promotion of flexible working opportunities across the Trust.

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum/pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

275-2507PA-DSP

Job locations

Medway Hospital

Windmill Road

kent

ME5 7NY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Dispensary Services and Distribution services:

Prioritise work to deliver an efficient service

Participate in the supply of stock medication via the ward top up service. Liaise with relevant ward Pharmacists and ward staff to provide an effective and efficient service.

Process and return any surplus or unused drugs following departmental standard operating procedures

Assist in the delivery of stock & dispensed items to the wards and departments

Ensure that the goods received by the pharmacy are promptly unpacked and checked off against delivery notes.

Ensure the correct storage of the medication and ensure good stock rotation and monitor and check for expiry dates

Ensure that any to-follow or out of stock issues are promptly and accurately reported to both the procurement and distribution managers

Sort, file and archive prescriptions and other relevant paper as advised as per standard operating procedures.

Collate stock, including orders from Community clinics and other outside agencies, ready for collection by the pharmacy porter or hospital transport.

Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.

Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the dispensary and ward stock distribution areas.

Answer the telephone and refer clinical queries to the appropriate trained staff member.

Maintain good customer services at all times.

Ensure that the appropriate manual and computer records are amended when stock is transferred and that stock discrepancies are either corrected immediately or reported to a senior member of staff

Carry out daily stock checks against the computer generated monitoring sheets for stock audit. Ensure that any discrepancies are reported.

Record all prescriptions received onto the prescription tracking system

To provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service of various types of prescriptions in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures

To maintain patient records using the Pharmacy computer systems to ensure information is accurate and up to date and complies with the Data Protection Act

Record all financial transactions connected with NHS and private patients

Responsible for the Dispensary cash register procedure, including the float and cashing up.

To maintain current and relevant information in the waiting area as per departmental procedures and as advised by the dispensary manager.

To assist with administration duties within the anticoagulation clinic

Dispensing and distribution of controlled drugs as ward stock

Portering of medicines to wards and clinics when required during the week and at weekends

Participate in the late night service; weekend and bank holiday rotas as required.

Report any complaints, incidents or near miss situations via the error reporting system and your line manager.

Maintain a clean and tidy environment

All pharmacy staff must show confidentiality with regard to any information about patients, confidential information about the Trust and commercial information (e.g. drug prices).

All work will be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws, the guidelines of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the General pharmaceutical council, Trust and departmental procedures and standards of professional practice

Job description

Job responsibilities

Dispensary Services and Distribution services:

Prioritise work to deliver an efficient service

Participate in the supply of stock medication via the ward top up service. Liaise with relevant ward Pharmacists and ward staff to provide an effective and efficient service.

Process and return any surplus or unused drugs following departmental standard operating procedures

Assist in the delivery of stock & dispensed items to the wards and departments

Ensure that the goods received by the pharmacy are promptly unpacked and checked off against delivery notes.

Ensure the correct storage of the medication and ensure good stock rotation and monitor and check for expiry dates

Ensure that any to-follow or out of stock issues are promptly and accurately reported to both the procurement and distribution managers

Sort, file and archive prescriptions and other relevant paper as advised as per standard operating procedures.

Collate stock, including orders from Community clinics and other outside agencies, ready for collection by the pharmacy porter or hospital transport.

Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.

Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the dispensary and ward stock distribution areas.

Answer the telephone and refer clinical queries to the appropriate trained staff member.

Maintain good customer services at all times.

Ensure that the appropriate manual and computer records are amended when stock is transferred and that stock discrepancies are either corrected immediately or reported to a senior member of staff

Carry out daily stock checks against the computer generated monitoring sheets for stock audit. Ensure that any discrepancies are reported.

Record all prescriptions received onto the prescription tracking system

To provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service of various types of prescriptions in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures

To maintain patient records using the Pharmacy computer systems to ensure information is accurate and up to date and complies with the Data Protection Act

Record all financial transactions connected with NHS and private patients

Responsible for the Dispensary cash register procedure, including the float and cashing up.

To maintain current and relevant information in the waiting area as per departmental procedures and as advised by the dispensary manager.

To assist with administration duties within the anticoagulation clinic

Dispensing and distribution of controlled drugs as ward stock

Portering of medicines to wards and clinics when required during the week and at weekends

Participate in the late night service; weekend and bank holiday rotas as required.

Report any complaints, incidents or near miss situations via the error reporting system and your line manager.

Maintain a clean and tidy environment

All pharmacy staff must show confidentiality with regard to any information about patients, confidential information about the Trust and commercial information (e.g. drug prices).

All work will be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws, the guidelines of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the General pharmaceutical council, Trust and departmental procedures and standards of professional practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE (English & Maths C or above)
  • NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) or ability to work towards NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) within 6 months

Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic computer skills
  • Accurately dispense to set standards
  • Familiar with pharmacy procedures and workflow Pharmacy services
  • Working within the NHS

Experience

Essential

  • Previous hospital or pharmacy Experience
  • Understanding of hospital pharmacy environment

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Good team worker and works effectively within multidisciplinary team
  • Work well under pressure Ability to communicate routine information effectively using clear written and spoken English
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE (English & Maths C or above)
  • NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) or ability to work towards NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) within 6 months

Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic computer skills
  • Accurately dispense to set standards
  • Familiar with pharmacy procedures and workflow Pharmacy services
  • Working within the NHS

Experience

Essential

  • Previous hospital or pharmacy Experience
  • Understanding of hospital pharmacy environment

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Good team worker and works effectively within multidisciplinary team
  • Work well under pressure Ability to communicate routine information effectively using clear written and spoken English

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

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Medway Hospital

Windmill Road

kent

ME5 7NY


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Medway Hospital

Windmill Road

kent

ME5 7NY


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Pharmacy Distribution Manager

Samantha Stroud

sam.stroud@nhs.net

01634825148

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum/pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

275-2507PA-DSP

Job locations

Medway Hospital

Windmill Road

kent

ME5 7NY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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