Job summary
Are you interested in a varied role which has ensuring patients experience the best pharmaceutical care at its heart? We are looking for an enthusiastic Pharmacy Assistant to work as a key part of the pharmacy team both within our modern automated, dispensary area and at ward level to support patients and nursing staff in using and looking after medicines. This role involves activities related to stock distribution and medicine management, goods in and stock control, within the Pharmacy Department and to wards and departments of the Trust and other locations as appropriate.
The Pharmacy Assistant role is a varied role centred around medicines distribution. You will be receiving in stock, using barcode technology, replenishing the automated dispensing robot, preparing ward boxes and restocking ward medicine supplies.
If you are interested in this post you will need previous experience of working in either a hospital or community pharmacy and have a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent or be willing to undertake a level 2 Dispensary Stock Management course.
You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles and delivering an excellent patient experience.
The L&D Pharmacy is a 7 day service and some weekend shifts will be required.
Main duties of the job
To be involved in activities related to stock distribution and materials management, goods in and stock control, within the Pharmacy Department and to wards and departments of the Trust and other locations as appropriate. This will involve manual lifting.
To participate in ward top ups.
To work in delivery bay receiving goods and ensuring they meet our requirements for acceptance
To ensure the standards are adhered to.
To operate Automated Dispensing Robot to pick ward boxes and to load stock.
To supervise the activity of trainee Pharmacy Assistants and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
To take part in the weekend and bank holiday shift system.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To issue pharmaceutical stock from the pharmacy to wards and departments.
To visit wards and departments to carry out pharmacy top-up as defined within department procedures, this includes putting stock away in ward/unit drug areas.
To perform environmental monitoring of the medicines storage areas at ward / department level, e.g. temperature monitoring.
To be responsible for maintaining adequate but not excessive stock levels in liaison with the Ward Manager.
To use the stores computer system to accurately:-
- Check stock levels
- Check whether goods are on order and when arrival expected.
- Debit and credit stock holdings
- Use a bar code reader
- Generate picking list
- Generate packing notes
- Set up and maintain ward stock lists and levels
- To use an automated dispensing robot to load stock & pick ward boxes
To act as a double check for accuracy of ward box picking.
To deal with urgent stock orders.
To deal with any queries or problems concerning ward stocks and pharmacy stocks as and when they arise.
To liaise with ward pharmacists and ward technicians so that they are aware of problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued.
To process urgent ward requests according to the agreed procedures and deal with straightforward problems.
To follow up outstanding items promptly.
To answer the telephone and resolve problems.
To ensure the distribution area is maintained in a tidy state.
To receive and check medicine deliveries, complete documentation (paper and electronic) and maintain copy files.
To record all discrepancies and report them to office staff in a timely fashion.
To load the automated dispensing system (ADS).
To put away medicines not stored in the ADS and properly rotate all stock.
To monitor stock levels in the pharmacy store and alert the senior technician to any low or incorrect levels.
To check for expired and damaged goods.
To operate a rolling stock check.
To dispense liquid nitrogen according to departmental procedures.
To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH principles and Trust waste disposal procedures including completion of necessary paperwork.
To perform environmental monitoring of the stores area, e.g. temperature monitoring.
To process bulk to-follows, feeds and IV requests.
To ensure all appropriate medicines are scanned through the relevant Pharmacy systems to ensure they meet the standards required.
To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as they relate to the delivery of services.
To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust.
To train other staff members and volunteers as outlined in their training schedule. This will include Dispensary Assistants, Junior Technicians, and Pre-Registration Pharmacists and Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacist.
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To issue pharmaceutical stock from the pharmacy to wards and departments.
To visit wards and departments to carry out pharmacy top-up as defined within department procedures, this includes putting stock away in ward/unit drug areas.
To perform environmental monitoring of the medicines storage areas at ward / department level, e.g. temperature monitoring.
To be responsible for maintaining adequate but not excessive stock levels in liaison with the Ward Manager.
To use the stores computer system to accurately:-
- Check stock levels
- Check whether goods are on order and when arrival expected.
- Debit and credit stock holdings
- Use a bar code reader
- Generate picking list
- Generate packing notes
- Set up and maintain ward stock lists and levels
- To use an automated dispensing robot to load stock & pick ward boxes
To act as a double check for accuracy of ward box picking.
To deal with urgent stock orders.
To deal with any queries or problems concerning ward stocks and pharmacy stocks as and when they arise.
To liaise with ward pharmacists and ward technicians so that they are aware of problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued.
To process urgent ward requests according to the agreed procedures and deal with straightforward problems.
To follow up outstanding items promptly.
To answer the telephone and resolve problems.
To ensure the distribution area is maintained in a tidy state.
To receive and check medicine deliveries, complete documentation (paper and electronic) and maintain copy files.
To record all discrepancies and report them to office staff in a timely fashion.
To load the automated dispensing system (ADS).
To put away medicines not stored in the ADS and properly rotate all stock.
To monitor stock levels in the pharmacy store and alert the senior technician to any low or incorrect levels.
To check for expired and damaged goods.
To operate a rolling stock check.
To dispense liquid nitrogen according to departmental procedures.
To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH principles and Trust waste disposal procedures including completion of necessary paperwork.
To perform environmental monitoring of the stores area, e.g. temperature monitoring.
To process bulk to-follows, feeds and IV requests.
To ensure all appropriate medicines are scanned through the relevant Pharmacy systems to ensure they meet the standards required.
To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as they relate to the delivery of services.
To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust.
To train other staff members and volunteers as outlined in their training schedule. This will include Dispensary Assistants, Junior Technicians, and Pre-Registration Pharmacists and Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacist.
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Basic numeracy and literacy
- NVQ 2 dispensary stock management or equivalent, or be willing to undertake within first year
Skills
Essential
- Good verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to organise own day to day work tasks
Experience
Essential
- Customer orientated services
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Basic numeracy and literacy
- NVQ 2 dispensary stock management or equivalent, or be willing to undertake within first year
Skills
Essential
- Good verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to organise own day to day work tasks
Experience
Essential
- Customer orientated services
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).
