Job summary
Job summary
Job title
Rotational Pharmacy Assistant
Band
3
Division
Clinical Support Division
Responsible to
Section/Team Leader
Accountable to
Principal Technician, Procurement and Distribution
Type of contract
Permanent
Hours per week
37.5
Location
West Middlesex University Hospital
Pharmacy Assistants may work in all sectors of the hospital pharmacy, invariably on rotation according to the needs of the pharmacy service. Duties include technical tasks according to relevant NVQ accreditation as well as housekeeping and other non-technical activities.
Pharmacy Assistants work under the direction of section/team leaders or pharmacists in accordance with all written procedures.
Pharmacy Assistants support other pharmacy staff in provision of pharmacy services and assist with limited training of relevant staff. Some sections of this job description may be more relevant than others for some individuals.
Pharmacy Assistants must complete an NVQ2 in pharmacy services (if not already held) within a specified timescale. This is a rotational role in stores and distribution and will include dispensary training to allow the successful candidate to complete logs and validations for weekend working.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities? Senior Stores assistant duties? To manage stock control and be a super user for the Rowa? Training rotational assistants and other grades of staffing? Participate in rotational duties including dispensing medication in the Inpatientdispensary? Ensuring the efficient running of stores according to workloadPlease note: Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
About us
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities1. STORES AND DISTRIBUTION Print off or fill stock requisitions for other pharmacy locations orwards/clinical areas of the hospital/outside units. To be able to prioritise, organise and plan daily workload to meet servicerequirements and acting as team lead to ensure work is completed on thedistribution and good receipt areas equitably Participate in the topping up of stock drugs to wards and other clinical areasagainst a predefined stock list. Providing feedback to ward pharmacist / MMT staff on ward stock includingareas of overstock or increased need. Issue stock items to wards/clinical areas via the pharmacy computer system. Perform repetitive lifting of pharmaceutical products and transport boxesaccording to Health & Safety principles. Unpack, check, count, handle, book in and put away deliveries receivedinto the pharmacy store in an accurate manner. Match deliveries received against paperwork and query any discrepancies(with the supplier or pharmacy procurement staff where relevant). Assist with stock control including expiry date checking on a regular basis Daily stock checks completed - and discrepancies are investigated, stockrotation and returns accurately. Empty returned ward boxes and return stock (via the pharmacy computersystem) or dispose of unsuitable pharmaceuticals where relevant andaccording to procedure. Ensure all pharmaceutical products are stored securely and meet safecustody requirements. Assist in monitoring of all aspects of stores where necessary (includingcold store temperatures). File all records appropriately and according to procedure. To assist and maintain procedures and contribute to the development of theservice Escalate any medicines shortage issues on the wards or in stores, to theappropriate person. Monitor and investigate discrepancies. Maintain major incident box stock including expiries and change to contents wheninstructedSenior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Job Description Jan 2025 Page 15 General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA For medical gas cylinders perform a physical count and report this to thepurchasing office for the 2 medical gas cylinder stores on site2. DISPENSARY Ensure dispensary areas are kept clean and tidy and shelves/other relevant areasare cleaned according to the department schedule. Ensure dispensary areas are sufficiently stocked with all sundries (leaflets, cards,bottles, bags). Filing prescriptions and other paperwork and archiving as required. Undertake labelling and dispensing duties according to procedure. Perform all necessary logging in of inpatient and discharge prescriptions andrecord logging out times for relevant parts of the dispensing process using PatientTracker System. Assist in ensuring dispensary workload is managed in order, or according to priorityusing the Patient Tracker System. Hand out and dispense prescriptions where necessary according to procedure. Answer the telephone promptly and courteously, referring relevant calls efficientlywhere necessary. To have a working knowledge of all relevant pharmacy systems: JAC, TMS (PatientTracking System) and Cerner. Dispense in the Inpatient Dispensary. General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA Carry out monitoring and recording of dispensary fridge and ambient temperatures Stock control management including putting stock away received from stores,rotating stock/checking expiries where relevant and performing stock controlcounts. Sort, count, compile and, where relevant, dispose of unsuitable medication returns.Senior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Job Description Jan 2025 Page 163. OTHER Participation in weekend/Bank Holiday and other department rotas in accordancewith the needs of the service. Participation in annual appraisals/PDP and performance review initiatives of theTrust. Undertake all statutory and mandatory training and relevant updates in accordancewith Trust requirements. Participation in other training initiatives to meet individual and departmentalrequirements relevant to the post and the pharmacy service. Complies with all other departmental and Trust policies. Undertakes any other duties required by the section/team leaders, principalpharmacists or the Chief PharmacistThis job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of theservice. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder andhis/her manager.All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledgelevel. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member ofstaff
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities1. STORES AND DISTRIBUTION Print off or fill stock requisitions for other pharmacy locations orwards/clinical areas of the hospital/outside units. To be able to prioritise, organise and plan daily workload to meet servicerequirements and acting as team lead to ensure work is completed on thedistribution and good receipt areas equitably Participate in the topping up of stock drugs to wards and other clinical areasagainst a predefined stock list. Providing feedback to ward pharmacist / MMT staff on ward stock includingareas of overstock or increased need. Issue stock items to wards/clinical areas via the pharmacy computer system. Perform repetitive lifting of pharmaceutical products and transport boxesaccording to Health & Safety principles. Unpack, check, count, handle, book in and put away deliveries receivedinto the pharmacy store in an accurate manner. Match deliveries received against paperwork and query any discrepancies(with the supplier or pharmacy procurement staff where relevant). Assist with stock control including expiry date checking on a regular basis Daily stock checks completed - and discrepancies are investigated, stockrotation and returns accurately. Empty returned ward boxes and return stock (via the pharmacy computersystem) or dispose of unsuitable pharmaceuticals where relevant andaccording to procedure. Ensure all pharmaceutical products are stored securely and meet safecustody requirements. Assist in monitoring of all aspects of stores where necessary (includingcold store temperatures). File all records appropriately and according to procedure. To assist and maintain procedures and contribute to the development of theservice Escalate any medicines shortage issues on the wards or in stores, to theappropriate person. Monitor and investigate discrepancies. Maintain major incident box stock including expiries and change to contents wheninstructedSenior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Job Description Jan 2025 Page 15 General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA For medical gas cylinders perform a physical count and report this to thepurchasing office for the 2 medical gas cylinder stores on site2. DISPENSARY Ensure dispensary areas are kept clean and tidy and shelves/other relevant areasare cleaned according to the department schedule. Ensure dispensary areas are sufficiently stocked with all sundries (leaflets, cards,bottles, bags). Filing prescriptions and other paperwork and archiving as required. Undertake labelling and dispensing duties according to procedure. Perform all necessary logging in of inpatient and discharge prescriptions andrecord logging out times for relevant parts of the dispensing process using PatientTracker System. Assist in ensuring dispensary workload is managed in order, or according to priorityusing the Patient Tracker System. Hand out and dispense prescriptions where necessary according to procedure. Answer the telephone promptly and courteously, referring relevant calls efficientlywhere necessary. To have a working knowledge of all relevant pharmacy systems: JAC, TMS (PatientTracking System) and Cerner. Dispense in the Inpatient Dispensary. General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA Carry out monitoring and recording of dispensary fridge and ambient temperatures Stock control management including putting stock away received from stores,rotating stock/checking expiries where relevant and performing stock controlcounts. Sort, count, compile and, where relevant, dispose of unsuitable medication returns.Senior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Job Description Jan 2025 Page 163. OTHER Participation in weekend/Bank Holiday and other department rotas in accordancewith the needs of the service. Participation in annual appraisals/PDP and performance review initiatives of theTrust. Undertake all statutory and mandatory training and relevant updates in accordancewith Trust requirements. Participation in other training initiatives to meet individual and departmentalrequirements relevant to the post and the pharmacy service. Complies with all other departmental and Trust policies. Undertakes any other duties required by the section/team leaders, principalpharmacists or the Chief PharmacistThis job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of theservice. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder andhis/her manager.All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledgelevel. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member ofstaff
Person Specification
GCSE maths and english
Essential
Desirable
Person Specification
GCSE maths and english
Essential
Desirable
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).