Job summary
Pharmacy Assistant (Rotational)
Department: Pharmacy
Band2 £24,465 per annum
Full-time 37.5 per week, shift pattern - Sunday & Bank Holiday roster, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
It is an exciting time to join the pharmacy team at MKUH; we are continually growing in size and influence and have recently built a new Aseptic Unit and refurbished our main pharmacy department including the installation of a state of the art dispensing robot.
Weare a department of over 90 staff providing pharmacy services through team-working and prioritising the needs of those we serve, so evidence of customer service skills would be an advantage.
Our Pharmacy Assistants provide dispensing services in the hospital pharmacy and work in the pharmacy stores, on the wards (top up of stock) and our aseptic production unit on a rotational basis as required by the service. This will broaden your skills and helps us to ensure we have a service that can meet all the demands that are placed on it.
If you think that you can fill this role, and help yourself and our pharmacy to deliver excellent service, we are interested in receiving your application through NHS jobs www.nhs.jobs.uk
For further information, please contact Amy Baker on 01908 995719 or emailamy.baker@mkuh.nhs.uk
Interview date: 09.10.2025
Main duties of the job
- To perform,under supervision, all types of pharmaceutical work appropriate to the level of knowledge and experience, in order to participate in the provision of pharmaceutical services to our patients and staff.
- To holdor acquire the required academic standard and technical skills to obtain an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services Skills and to use those skills to deliver a consistently high standard of service.
- To act as a dispenser within our hospital pharmacy service, as required, on a rotational basis and as part of our late, weekend and bank holiday service to the patients of our hospital and other organisations to whom we provide pharmaceutical support.
- To accurately complete the booking in and issuing of stock and individually dispensed items using our computer systems and dispensing robot.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Trust responsibilities:
- To be part of the pharmacy team and work with staff within the pharmacy department and across the Trust to enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved.
Professional responsibilities:
- To ensure the Pharmacy department is compliant with relevant statutory and professional standards on Health & Safety, COSHH, Clinical Governance, and Medicines Management by ensuring your actions take account of all guidance provided.
Operational responsibilities (dispensary & stores):
- To undertake all designated and relevant training and consistently demonstrate competence in the relevant underpinning knowledge and skills to obtain an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services Skills.
Operational responsibilities (aseptics & cancer services) - on completion of in-house training:
- To carry out and log the isolators pressures and room manometer readings daily reporting any anomalies to the Senior Assistant or Specialist Technician Cancer and Aseptic Services, as directed
On completion of relevant NVQ level 2 Aseptics Module:
- To produce product labels for use with the batch preparation sheets
Miscellaneous:
- To co-operate with staff in other disciplines to help ensure the safe, effective and economic use of drugs.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Trust responsibilities:
- To be part of the pharmacy team and work with staff within the pharmacy department and across the Trust to enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved.
Professional responsibilities:
- To ensure the Pharmacy department is compliant with relevant statutory and professional standards on Health & Safety, COSHH, Clinical Governance, and Medicines Management by ensuring your actions take account of all guidance provided.
Operational responsibilities (dispensary & stores):
- To undertake all designated and relevant training and consistently demonstrate competence in the relevant underpinning knowledge and skills to obtain an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services Skills.
Operational responsibilities (aseptics & cancer services) - on completion of in-house training:
- To carry out and log the isolators pressures and room manometer readings daily reporting any anomalies to the Senior Assistant or Specialist Technician Cancer and Aseptic Services, as directed
On completion of relevant NVQ level 2 Aseptics Module:
- To produce product labels for use with the batch preparation sheets
Miscellaneous:
- To co-operate with staff in other disciplines to help ensure the safe, effective and economic use of drugs.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above including English & Maths
Desirable
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of pharmacy or other customer focused, caring field
- Experience of working with formal procedures
- Team Work
- JAC Pharmacy Computer System
Skills
Essential
- Good communication & IT skills
- Ability to complete the Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills
- Ability to work flexibly and prioritise workload
- Methodical and efficient
- Able to work safely and effectively under pressure and/or minimal supervision
- Safety/security awareness
Desirable
- Customer care skills
- Understanding of stock control
Personal and people development
Essential
- Proactive attitude to ongoing training, development and assessment
- Responsible, Flexible & Professional in behaviour and appearance
- Courteous in manner
- Able to read and write in the English language to a level where drug names and instructions can be accurately received, recorded and given as part of the roles that are included in the rotations within pharmacy and on the wards
Communication
Essential
- Experience of using written and numeric communication skills
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above including English & Maths
Desirable
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of pharmacy or other customer focused, caring field
- Experience of working with formal procedures
- Team Work
- JAC Pharmacy Computer System
Skills
Essential
- Good communication & IT skills
- Ability to complete the Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills
- Ability to work flexibly and prioritise workload
- Methodical and efficient
- Able to work safely and effectively under pressure and/or minimal supervision
- Safety/security awareness
Desirable
- Customer care skills
- Understanding of stock control
Personal and people development
Essential
- Proactive attitude to ongoing training, development and assessment
- Responsible, Flexible & Professional in behaviour and appearance
- Courteous in manner
- Able to read and write in the English language to a level where drug names and instructions can be accurately received, recorded and given as part of the roles that are included in the rotations within pharmacy and on the wards
Communication
Essential
- Experience of using written and numeric communication skills
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
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.
