Higher level Pharmacy Assistant

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust; Warrington; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust in Warrington invites applications for a Band 3 Pharmacy Assistant in the WHH Pharmacy team. The role includes dispensing for inpatients, discharges and outpatients, using the Prescription Tracker, and ensuring accurate labeling and care for patients.

The post involves duties across a repurposed dispensary and new digital systems, with a commitment to patient-centered care and seven-day service.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 Pharmacy Services (including dispensing module).
• Clear demonstration of excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Receive, record and direct work into the department from trust staff.
• Use the Prescription Tracker system to input details of prescriptions and orders.
• Check exemption eligibility following DH guidelines.
• Identify and prioritise urgent prescriptions for fast-track dispensing.
• Counsel patients and ensure understanding of medicines.
• Produce labels and assemble items following labeling guidelines.
• Dispense prescriptions for inpatients, discharge and outpatients, including controlled drugs and compliance packs.
• Ensure proper entry of information for controlled drugs and verify requisition power against the signatory list.

Skills

Communication skills

Work under pressure

Attention to detail

Education

NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (including late shifts, weekends & bank holidays) Job ref 370-ACS3PHA-A-2451

Employer North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site North Cheshire and Mersey NHS FT Town Warrington and Halton Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/11/2026

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

WHH Pharmacy has recently undergone exciting departmental developments, including a repurposed dispensary, a new automated dispensing system and digital ordering for nursing staff. With your help we are looking to build on this, and further improve our pharmacy service.

The Pharmacy department provides comprehensive services to both Warrington and Halton Hospitals as well as the Captain Sir Thomas Moore Building, delivering integrated patient -focused services over 7 days a week and with a vision to shape a dynamic future

Are you an enthusiastic, hardworking and patient focused person with an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services (Including dispensing module).

Are you keen to join an innovative and forward-thinking pharmacy department and support our objective of providing excellent patient care?

Then we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

• Receive, record and direct work into the department from trust staff.
• To use the Prescription Tracker system to input details of prescriptions and orders.
• Make the appropriate checks on receipt of a prescription, where patients claim they are exempt from prescription charges following Department of Health guidelines.
• To identify and prioritise urgent prescriptions for dispensing, ensuring these are fast tracked, completed and dispatched efficiently and effectively.
• After counselling training to issue completed prescriptions to patients ensuring they understand how to take their medicines, referring any queries to a senior colleague.
• Produce labels using the Pharmacy Computer system for prescriptions entering patient number and medicine prescription details following standard labelling guidelines then assemble and label required items.
• To dispense prescriptions, for inpatients, discharge patients and outpatients. This includes dispensing named patient drugs, cytotoxic drugs, unlicensed drugs, controlled drugs and compliance packs in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Ensure that the additional information required for controlled drug dispensing is appropriately entered before producing produce labels and check the authority of the person requisitioning the controlled drug against the Authorised signatory list.

Working for our organisation

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM). They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation

Our mission is to be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision is to be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our approach to healthcare is founded on our four core values:

• Kind - we are caring, supporting and respectful to everyone
• Open - we are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair - we listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team - we work well together and with our communities

We employ almost 6,500 people from more than 80 nationalities and are fully committed to being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Our culture and values ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that no job applicant or employee is disadvantaged at any stage of their journey.

We are also proud to be an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and welcome applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists and families.

Working at NCM means becoming part of a dedicated team of clinical and support staff who are passionate about keeping people well and supporting wellbeing. If you share our values and are motivated by making a difference for our patients, we'd be delighted to receive your application

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full details of this role are available in the job description and person specification attached to this advert.

Person specification

Knowledge and Skills

• NVQ level 2 Pharmacy services

Skills, knowledge and competencies

• Clearly displays excellent communication skills

Specific to the job role

• Able to work under pressure and in stressful situations

Further Information

NCM hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship, there is a minimum set of criteria that must be met and not all roles are eligible. You can find more information on the Government website

Please review your eligibility and the eligibility of the role before submitting your application.

All advertised roles may close early if there are high numbers of suitable candidates.

Pre-employment checks for applicants with previous NHS service will include confirmation of any Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS), Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy payments received.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy is due to close on the advertised date. However, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible.

Name Kevin Jones-O'Toole

Job title Lead Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary Services

Email address [e-mail]

Telephone number 01925662025

Additional information: We offer informal visits to the department, to meet the team and see our department in operation.

To organise a date and time please contact Kevin Jones-O'Toole