Band 3 Pharmacy Assistant

Barking Havering and Redbridge Univ Hospitals NHS Trust; Romford; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Barking Havering and Redbridge Univ Hospitals NHS Trust is recruiting Pharmacy Assistants to join our teams at King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital. You will help ensure patients receive medicines safely and efficiently, handling dispensing for inpatients and outpatients and assisting with stock control and reception duties.

We welcome applicants with a Level 2 pharmacy qualification, good communication skills and attendance; hospital experience is ideal but community pharmacy experience is

Qualifications

• Must hold a GPhC approved Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant qualification or be willing to complete the Level 2 Apprenticeship.
• GCSE Science at grade C/4 or above.
• Experience in a pharmacy environment; hospital experience preferred, community pharmacy welcome.

Responsibilities

• Dispense medication for inpatients and outpatients, including controlled drugs.
• Manage stock, receive/check orders, monitor expiry dates, keep the dispensary organised.
• Reception duties, receive prescriptions and assist patients and staff.
• Support wards with top-up services and medicines supply.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Reliability

Computer literacy

Pharmacy experience

Education

Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant

GCSE Science (C/4+)

Job description

We are currently recruiting for Consultant Geriatricians.Find out more here

PEOPLE are at the HEART of everything we do

This video gives a flavour of what it is like to work at our Trust and why some of our staff love working here

Are you looking for a role where you can make a real difference to patient care every day? We have an exciting opportunity to recruit to Pharmacy Assistant posts to join our friendly and dedicated teams at King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital.

What will you be doing?
As a Pharmacy Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring patients receive the medicines they need safely and efficiently. Your responsibilities will include:

• Dispensing medication for inpatients and outpatients, including controlled drugs.
• Managing stock, receiving and checking orders, monitoring expiry dates, and keeping the dispensary organised.
• Reception duties, receiving prescriptions and assisting patients and staff.
• Supporting wards with top-up services and medicines supply.

What we’re looking for

• Someone hardworking, accurate, and methodical, with great attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence working with the public.
• Someone with a good attendance record
• Experience using computers and working in a pharmacy setting (hospital experience is ideal, but community pharmacy experience is welcome).

Both sites provide full 7-day working and this post will involve some late, weekend and Bank Holiday shifts.

You are required to hold a GPhC approved/accredited Level 2 pharmacy qualification appropriate to the role, in order to meet regulatory requirements. Don’t have it yet? We will still consider your application, if successful, you may join as an apprentice while you complete the qualification – please see the special conditions within the job description for further information.

Interested?
For more details, contact:

• Helen Little, Dispensary Manager, Queen’s Hospital
  [e-mail] | 01708 435000 ext 2855
• Claire Boswell, Dispensary Manager, King George Hospital
  [e-mail] | 0208 970 9078

Main duties of the job

To carry out pharmacy duties for the provision of a high quality, responsive, patient orientated service, including the dispensing of medicines for inpatients and outpatients, stock management and medicines supply to patients and wards. Duties include reception tasks such as receiving in prescriptions and dealing with adhoc queries from members of the public as well as nursing, doctor and other healthcare staff, training of junior staff and ensuring compliance with SOPs. The role requires accuracy, adherence to safety standards, and effective communication with colleagues and patients.

Working for our organisation

We’re an organisation that is getting better and better and our improvements are driven by a determination to deliver care we’re proud of and our patients are happy with.

They are benefitting from a new electronic patient record (we were the last acute trust in London to introduce one) and our maternity services have been rated good by the Care Quality Commission.

We operate from two main sites – KGH in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford. We have two busy emergency departments with more than 346,000 people visiting them last year. We’re campaigning to secure the £35m we need to transform the A&E at Queen’s and get rid of corridor care.

We’re proud of our regional Neurosciences Centre, Radiotherapy Centre and Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. We’re also part of the North East London Cancer Alliance.

We run a Women’s Health Hub in Ilford; an Ageing Well Centre in Hornchurch; and Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital and at St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub. These CDCs are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The majority of our 8,400 staff – who come from 146 different countries - live in the three diverse London boroughs we serve and are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Many can work flexibly and more than 400 of them are on our Ofsted accredited apprenticeship programmes. We’re proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.

The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.

Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.

All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.

Applications should be made online, however, queries regarding the application process, assistance with completion of the application form or if you require any adjustments (for applicants with a disability) please contact Pubudu Chandrasekera, Recruitment Advisor, on 01708 435000 ext. 5110. Further details regarding the post may be obtained by contacting the manager as per the contact details above.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

• Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff (or equivalent GPhC accredited qualification for pharmacy support staff) OR willingness to complete the Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprenticeship
• GCSE Science at grade C/4 or above

Skills/ Abilities

• Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy
• Good communication skills, both written and oral with appropriate standard of English

Experience/ Knowledge

• Experience of dealing with the public / customer service skills
• Has worked in Pharmacy Hospital environment

Before you apply

Using AI
We recognise that more applicants are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support their job applications and welcome the responsible use of these technologies.
AI can be a useful tool to help organise your thoughts, improve the structure of your application and support your preparation. However, your application should remain an authentic and accurate reflection of your skills, experience, and knowledge.
We encourage you to review the person specification carefully and provide clear examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role. Any information submitted as part of your application must be accurate, truthful, and based on your experience.
Throughout our recruitment process, we value honesty, integrity, and authenticity. We want to understand what you can bring to BHRUT, so please ensure that your application reflects your own capabilities and achievements.
AI should not be used to misrepresent your skills, qualifications, and experience.

Flexible working
We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working or job sharing where service needs allow.

Pre-employment checks
Please provide references from your current or most recent employer, including your line manager or supervisor. Successful applicants will also be required to complete pre-employment checks, including identity verification through TrustID and any role‑specific clearances.

Certificate of Sponsorship
In line with UKVI guidance, we are unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship for Band 2 and Band 3 roles.

Recruitment process
We may close vacancies before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. All communication regarding your application will be sent by email, so please check your inbox and junk folder regularly.

Inclusion
BHRUT is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Applicants who declare a disability under the Equality Act 2010 or identify as a Care Leaver and choose to be considered under our Disability Confident or Care Leaver schemes will be guaranteed an interview where they meet the essential criteria.

Safeguarding
BHRUT is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. All employees are expected to share this commitment and follow the Trust's safeguarding policies.

Smoke-free Trust
BHRUT is a smoke-free Trust. All employees are expected to comply with our smoke-free policy.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.