Pharmacy Assistant

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Chichester; On-site; GBP 24,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated individual to join their pharmacy team in Chichester. This exciting position offers the opportunity to support patient care while gaining valuable qualifications. You will be responsible for dispensing medications, providing stock replenishment services, and engaging with patients and healthcare professionals. The role promises a stimulating environment where you can develop your skills and make a real impact on patient care. Join a diverse and inclusive team that values compassion and professional growth, and be part of a mission to put patients first in everything you do.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Wellbeing Programme

Diversity and Inclusion Networks

Qualifications

• Applicants must have 2 GCSEs including Maths and English or NVQ 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Organized and motivated individuals with great communication skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Dispense medications and provide a stock replenishment service to wards.
• Engage with patients and relatives regarding their medications.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Teamwork

Education

2 GCSEs at grade C or above

NVQ level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

View all our vacancies across our hospitals in Sussex. Search, find and apply for a job with us today.

Main area: Pharmacy
Grade: Band 2
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Part time will be considered)

Job ref: 279-7025935-MAR25

Employer: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: St Richards Hospital
Town: Chichester
Salary: £23,615 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 30/03/2025 23:59

About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

Our friendly & progressive pharmacy department is currently looking for an exceptional individual to join our pharmacy teams at Worthing & Chichester.

Your role within the department will include visiting wards and departments as part of the top-up service; preparing & dispatching of goods including IV fluids, dietary products & other pharmacy procured items, dispensing medications for individual patients and talking to patients and their relatives about their medicines.

Flexibility in hours can be considered.

You will need to be organised & highly motivated with the ability to think on your feet with great communication & interpersonal skills. This post is stimulating, exciting and comes with responsibility that will appeal to career-minded individuals who want to work in hospital pharmacy and really make their mark.

It is expected that the successful candidates will undertake in-depth level 2 training in Pharmacy services unless they already hold a relevant qualification. We actively support the development and training of all our staff, to achieve and succeed.

Applicants must be resident in the UK for the last 3 years and must not already be in any form of formal government funded education.

Applicants should have a minimum of 2 GCSE's grade C or above (or equivalent), to include Maths and English Language, or an NVQ 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Functional skills level 2 in Maths and English could also be offered.

Certificates will be requested at interview.

Main duties of the job

You will have a key role in supporting the pharmacy service to ensure we provide the best possible care for our service users and gain a qualification at the same time.
The successful candidate will participate in a rotation to include:

• Pharmacy Distribution: visiting wards to ensure an adequate supply of medicines, supplying medicines to other departments internal and external against stock requests and receiving stock into the pharmacy department.
• Dispensary Services: dispensing, in-patients, out-patients, chemotherapy prescriptions and Sussex Partnership prescriptions. Reception work and dealing with patients and other hospital staff.
• Clinical Services: talking to patients and relatives on the wards regarding their medicines, checking patients' own drugs and a further qualification around this.

This is an exciting busy job that involves physical and mentally stimulating work.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide a stock replenishment service to wards and outside units as agreed.
• To dispense medicines in an accurate and timely manner for inpatients, outpatients and other service users of the trust as directed by senior technicians using the pharmacy computer system and automated dispensing.
• To receive goods and ensure they are put away in line with stock rotation procedures.
• Clinical duties include liaising with patients and their relatives on the wards and other healthcare professionals regarding their medicines. There is an opportunity to undertake element 1 of the HEKKS Deanery Course.
• To undertake NVQ level 2 in pharmaceutical services if not already gained.

-- Please see Job Description & Person Specs for full details --

Person specification

Qualifications

• 2 GCSE or equivalent at grade C including Maths & English
• NVQ level 2 in pharmaceutical sciences

Knowledge & Experience

• Working in a team
• Working to deadlines

Analytical

• Ability to study
• Good organisational skills

Behaviours and Attitude

• Demonstrates any of the trust values: friendly, kind, professional, respectful, patient first
• Demonstrates a desire to work in pharmacy.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Important information for applicants:

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigration eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

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.