Dispensary and Ward Based Pharmacy Assistant

Employer Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site John Radcliffe Hospital Pharmacy Town Headington Salary £24,169 - £25,674 Per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/05/2025 23:59

Dispensary and Ward Based Pharmacy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 3

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

Job overview

Hello!

My name is Hannah Newton-Oakes, I am a Senior Pharmacy Technician at the John Radcliffe Hospital Pharmacy. I am looking to recruit a Band 2-3 Dispensary and Ward Based Assistant on the John Radcliffe Site. This is a full-time post, 37.5 hours a week.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to provide support to the JR dispensary, as well as supporting the Oxford Critical Care Unit (OCCU) and Gastroenterology/Hepatology wards.

Main duties of the job

Overall objectives of the role are:

• To improve the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines management system.
• To provide a pharmacy service that ensures the safe and cost-effective use of medications at a ward level.
• To work as part of the dispensary team to facilitate the efficient and effective discharge of in-patients from their clinical area out of the hospital environment.
• To be an active member of the Pharmacy department and ensure continuous two-way exchange of information to maintain high standards with the Trust.

Ideally you will have obtained your Specialist BTEC Level 2 Principles and Practices for Pharmacy Support Staff Pharmacy Service Skills NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent GPhC recognised qualification), although this is not essential and support through the qualification process can be provided (successful applicants who do not hold the required qualification will be paid at band 2, rising to band 3 on successful completion of the qualification).

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed Responsibilities:

Dispensary role

• To provide daily support to the dispensary workforce.
• To use the pharmacy computer system to produce dispensing labels and to make stock issues, receipt, and transfers.
• To dispense inpatient, outpatient clinical trial and controlled drug prescriptions according to dispensary procedures.
• To assist the Stock Management Team with unpacking deliveries and filling the automated dispensing system.
• To participate in conducting of regular Controlled Drug stock checks alongside a Registered Technician.
• To be responsible for putting away dispensing stock including part packs and maintaining tidy storage areas.
• To participate in extemporaneous dispensing e.g. preparing creams, ointments and liquid preparations.

Ward-based role

• To be responsible for the supply and delivery of any medicines required during inpatient stay according to the local procedures and guidance to reduce the number of missed doses.
• Assist in the transfer of medicines between wards and locating medicines that have been left behind when patients transfer wards.
• Dealing with problems associated with the ordering of stock on behalf of the ward or refer where appropriate, liaising closely with the relevant pharmacy staff.
• To be involved in expiry date checking of ward stock.
• To work closely with the pharmacy top-up assistant in maintaining a well-controlled and appropriate medication and fluid stock holding.
• To provide support to the ward technician(s) and pharmacist(s) to ensure medicines management, including safe and secure storage of medicines, return of medicines into Local Funding, and facilitating near-patient dispensing.
• To return unused medicines from the ward(s) back to pharmacy.
• To ensure correct segregation and disposal of all types of waste such as cytotoxics both at ward level and in the dispensary.
• To be an advocate for good communication between ward staff, pharmacists, medicines management technicians and the dispensary.

General role

• To provide training, including induction, to pharmacy support staff as required.
• To work towards the BTEC level 2 Certificate in the principles and Practices for Pharmacy Support Staff.
• To undertake in-house and/or external training appropriate for the role.
• To complete reports and audits as requested.
• To participate in a programme of work-based training, development, and appraisal.
• To ensure confidentiality is always maintained.
• To maintain a tidy and clean working environment.
• To participate in early and late duties, evening, weekend, and bank holiday working according to the departmental rotas.
• Any other duties as requested by the Lead Pharmacist, Ward Based Technician Manager or Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management.

Person specification

Essential and Desirable

• Willing to complete BTEC level 2 Certificate in the principles and Practices for Pharmacy Support Staff.
• Experienced dispenser
• Experience of stock management
• Able to work as part of a team and independently
• Able to use own initiative appropriately
• Willing to travel between sites
• Enthusiastic and responsible attitude
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Adaptable to change
• Respectful towards colleagues and patients
• Willing to work in clinical areas with infectious diseases patients
• Previous NHS experience
• Experience of using the local pharmacy computer system
• Experience of hospital pharmacy
• Well organised
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
• Experience of a changing work environment