Spectrum Community Health CIC

Pharmacy Assistant - HMP Frankland

The closing date is 03 February 2026

Job summary

As a Pharmacy Assistant, you will assist with the provision and delivery of an integrated, safe, legal, high quality prison pharmaceutical service, taking into consideration, at all times, the need to maintain a high level of security. The post holder will be an integral member of the Pharmacy Team, who form part of the wider healthcare. You will be required to support the delivery of Pharmacy Services which will include supply of medication, supervision of administration of medication to prisoners, and providing NHS services to prisoners within your competency.

Main duties of the job

To assist the Spectrum Community Health (SCH) prison pharmacy team to deliver pharmacy services at HMP Frankland to ensure continuity of supply of medicines and in accordance with the Medicines Act, RPSGB guidance and in line with recommendations outlined in "A pharmacy service for prisoners"

To contribute to the timely and efficient supply of dispensed medicines to prisoners.

To work within locally approved policies and standard operating procedures.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in maintaining an efficient procurement and stock control system for pharmaceutical and related supplies in order to minimise waste and maximise cost-effectiveness.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in the review of repeat prescribing systems and assisting prison healthcare staff in the implementation of improvements that ensure robust systems are in place.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in responding to all major MHRA drug alerts through facilitation of appropriate action within prison healthcare over an appropriate time frame and to support any medication changes that occur as a result.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in undertaking clinical audit and sharing the outcomes of the audits, in order to facilitate improvement and changes in practice.

About us

BE THE DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Join our team

We're looking for passionate individuals to join our diverse and innovative team.

Whether you are starting out in your healthcare journey or are an experienced healthcare professional looking for a new challenge we've got a role for you!

  • Access to NHS Pension
  • Annual leave on your Birthday
  • Welcome payment for some posts
  • Refer a friend scheme
  • Training and Development opportunities
  • Flexible Working
  • Access to Employee Assistance and Health and Wellbeing programmes
  • Up to 33 days annual leave

We have an ambition to become a truly lived experience inclusive employer, changing how we approach staff experience and value personal stories our colleagues bring with them.

We welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who belong to LGBTQIA+ Community and are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and Asexual, people with a disability, neurodivergent applicants and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Spectrum Community Health CIC provides a range of award-winning healthcare services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authority Public Health services, and other partners across substance misuse, sexual health, and health and justice settings. As a not-for-profit social enterprise and Community Interest Company our focus is centred on people - our patients, service users, staff and partners.

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

847-RM-25-V793

Job locations

HMP Frankland

Frankland Lane, Brasside

Durham

DH15YA


Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Spectrum Community Health (SCH) prison pharmacy team to deliver pharmacy services at HMP Frankland to ensure continuity of supply of medicines and in accordance with the Medicines Act, RPSGB guidance and in line with recommendations outlined in A pharmacy service for prisoners.

To contribute to the timely and efficient supply of dispensed medicines to prisoners.

To work within locally approved policies and standard operating procedures.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in maintaining an efficient procurement and stock control system for pharmaceutical and related supplies in order to minimise waste and maximise cost-effectiveness.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in the review of repeat prescribing systems and assisting prison healthcare staff in the implementation of improvements that ensure robust systems are in place.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in responding to all major MHRA drug alerts through facilitation of appropriate action within prison healthcare over an appropriate time frame and to support any medication changes that occur as a result.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in undertaking clinical audit and sharing the outcomes of the audits, in order to facilitate improvement and changes in practice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Spectrum Community Health (SCH) prison pharmacy team to deliver pharmacy services at HMP Frankland to ensure continuity of supply of medicines and in accordance with the Medicines Act, RPSGB guidance and in line with recommendations outlined in A pharmacy service for prisoners.

To contribute to the timely and efficient supply of dispensed medicines to prisoners.

To work within locally approved policies and standard operating procedures.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in maintaining an efficient procurement and stock control system for pharmaceutical and related supplies in order to minimise waste and maximise cost-effectiveness.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in the review of repeat prescribing systems and assisting prison healthcare staff in the implementation of improvements that ensure robust systems are in place.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in responding to all major MHRA drug alerts through facilitation of appropriate action within prison healthcare over an appropriate time frame and to support any medication changes that occur as a result.

To assist the prison pharmacy team in undertaking clinical audit and sharing the outcomes of the audits, in order to facilitate improvement and changes in practice.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • NVQ level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent experience).

Desirable

  • Willingness to undertake NVQ level 3 or equivalent
  • Experience of working in a prison environment or similar setting.
  • Knowledge of medicines management issues.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in community/hospital pharmacy.

Skills

Essential

  • Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology. Computer literate- able to use Word and Excel.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • NVQ level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent experience).

Desirable

  • Willingness to undertake NVQ level 3 or equivalent
  • Experience of working in a prison environment or similar setting.
  • Knowledge of medicines management issues.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in community/hospital pharmacy.

Skills

Essential

  • Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology. Computer literate- able to use Word and Excel.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Spectrum Community Health CIC

Address

HMP Frankland

Frankland Lane, Brasside

Durham

DH15YA


Employer's website

https://spectrum-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Spectrum Community Health CIC

Address

HMP Frankland

Frankland Lane, Brasside

Durham

DH15YA


Employer's website

https://spectrum-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Pharmacy Technician

Joan Rutherford

joan.rutherford@spectrum-cic.nhs.uk

01913765132

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

847-RM-25-V793

Job locations

HMP Frankland

Frankland Lane, Brasside

Durham

DH15YA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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