Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Pharmacy Assistant who will work full time (37.5hrs), mainly based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, to assist in the provision of a first class medication supply service within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust and to support our clinical colleagues in the treatment of our patients.
Presently the Pharmacy Stores team operates fully from Monday to Friday and provides a reduced provision on Saturdays and Sundays. The successful applicant will participate on a rostered basis in providing this additional service and it is our intention to review and extend this provision across all days of the week in the near future.
As a Pharmacy Assistant you will initially be working predominantly in the Pharmacy Stores at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and will receive extensive training & support from the rest of the Stores team.
- Interview Date:10 December 2025
- 37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will be involved in the receipt of medication into the Trust in an environment which can be both noisy and hectic ensuring a high level of accuracy at all times. You will also be working as part of a Team to provide a delivery service to the wards ensuring medication is delivered from Stores & Dispensaries in a timely manner. Precise assessment and recording of information is imperative to ensure that correct items are received and put into stock within the Stores environment.
As your confidence and knowledge grows you will transition into roles throughout the wider hospital environment.
When working within the departments and wards of the Trust the successful applicant will facilitate in ensuring that the right medications are available when required by other member of the healthcare team and also contributing to an effective top-up service
In our new recruit we are looking for an individual who is committed to delivering a high quality service to our patients and whose personal attributes include: the ability to work accurately in a very busy environment, good communication skills, a professional manner, a flexible team approach and the ability to adapt to and engage in change.
If you thrive in a busy environment and are seeking new development opportunities this could be the role for you.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospital
o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
o Newcastle Dental Hospital
o Newcastle Fertility Centre
o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
o Northern Genetics Service
o Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide an efficient, accurate and high-quality pharmaceutical service from the Dispensary and Pharmacy Stores through the receipt, storage and distribution of medicines
- To provide timely and secure delivery of medicines, including IV fluids, dietary products, individual patient prescription supplies and controlled drugs from Pharmacy Stores and Inpatient Dispensaries to wards and departments, within the Trust, using manual and electric trolleys.
- To assemble orders of medicinal products for use across the Trust
- To liaise with ward staff, Pharmacists & Technicians with respect to stock issues which may lead to the temporary alternatives being supplied.
- To assist in the ordering and receipt of medical and industrial gases.
- To order and replenish stock supplies for wards and departments throughout the trust through the top-up process.
- To carry out the replenishment of drugs in cardiac and anaphylaxis emergency drug boxes
- To replenish, cycle count, adjust and monitor stock within Omnicell automated drug cabinets on wards and departments within the Trust.
- To monitor the automated filling of ward boxes with medicines that are output from the pharmacy robot.
- To participate in late duty, Bank Holiday and weekend working on a rotational basis.
- Contribute to the disposal of certain types of waste (e.g., cytotoxic, cytostatic and clinical waste).
- The overriding purpose of this role is to support the provision of the highest quality patient care through personal actions and continuous improvement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide an efficient, accurate and high-quality pharmaceutical service from the Dispensary and Pharmacy Stores through the receipt, storage and distribution of medicines
- To provide timely and secure delivery of medicines, including IV fluids, dietary products, individual patient prescription supplies and controlled drugs from Pharmacy Stores and Inpatient Dispensaries to wards and departments, within the Trust, using manual and electric trolleys.
- To assemble orders of medicinal products for use across the Trust
- To liaise with ward staff, Pharmacists & Technicians with respect to stock issues which may lead to the temporary alternatives being supplied.
- To assist in the ordering and receipt of medical and industrial gases.
- To order and replenish stock supplies for wards and departments throughout the trust through the top-up process.
- To carry out the replenishment of drugs in cardiac and anaphylaxis emergency drug boxes
- To replenish, cycle count, adjust and monitor stock within Omnicell automated drug cabinets on wards and departments within the Trust.
- To monitor the automated filling of ward boxes with medicines that are output from the pharmacy robot.
- To participate in late duty, Bank Holiday and weekend working on a rotational basis.
- Contribute to the disposal of certain types of waste (e.g., cytotoxic, cytostatic and clinical waste).
- The overriding purpose of this role is to support the provision of the highest quality patient care through personal actions and continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Evidence of achievement at CSE or GCSE in Mathematics and English at Grade A*-E or equivalent experience.
- Level 2 Qualification in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of drug names and differences in formulations/pack sizes.
Desirable
- Experience in a similar post
- Experience of working in a stores/warehouse environment, receiving, storing, assembling and delivering goods
- Knowledge of pharmacy stock control systems
- Knowledge of hospital and pharmacy policies and procedures
- Experience of monitoring and maintaining stock
- Knowledge of automated dispensing systems
- Demonstrate an understanding of standard operating procedures and their relevance in the workplace
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate good oral / written communication
- Ability to prioritise own work to meet service requirements
- Good organisational skills with an ability to maintain a disciplined approach to work
- Be able to work as part of a team
- Ability to deal with routine enquiries
- Be able to adapt and respond promptly to changing circumstances
- Be able to work under pressure
- Be able to maintain a high level of accuracy in a busy environment.
- Be able to maintain high levels of concentration for lengthy periods of time
- Basic computer skills
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Evidence of achievement at CSE or GCSE in Mathematics and English at Grade A*-E or equivalent experience.
- Level 2 Qualification in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of drug names and differences in formulations/pack sizes.
Desirable
- Experience in a similar post
- Experience of working in a stores/warehouse environment, receiving, storing, assembling and delivering goods
- Knowledge of pharmacy stock control systems
- Knowledge of hospital and pharmacy policies and procedures
- Experience of monitoring and maintaining stock
- Knowledge of automated dispensing systems
- Demonstrate an understanding of standard operating procedures and their relevance in the workplace
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate good oral / written communication
- Ability to prioritise own work to meet service requirements
- Good organisational skills with an ability to maintain a disciplined approach to work
- Be able to work as part of a team
- Ability to deal with routine enquiries
- Be able to adapt and respond promptly to changing circumstances
- Be able to work under pressure
- Be able to maintain a high level of accuracy in a busy environment.
- Be able to maintain high levels of concentration for lengthy periods of time
- Basic computer skills
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.
