Pharmacy Assistant

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust; Warrington; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Pharmacy Assistant to join the pharmacy team. The role is Band 2, permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week) with weekend and bank holiday working on a rotation.

The post involves drug receipt, storage, stock control, ward stock replenishment, and assistance with prescription processing. GCSE Maths and NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Skills are part of the criteria.

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C in Mathematics or equivalent (essential).
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills desirable but can be undertaken on appointment.

Responsibilities

• Receive and correctly store drugs.
• Stock control, rotation, and checks, including expired stock.
• Ward stock replenishment and inputting orders; assemble orders.
• Receiving and processing telephone calls; delivery of stock to wards.
• Accurately dispensing prescriptions under supervision of a Senior Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacist.
• Assist in input of medicines received and related duties.

Skills

GCSE Mathematics

Excellent communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Part time hours may be considered) Job ref 370-ACS2PHA-2333

Employer North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Warrington and Halton Hospitals Town Warrington Salary £25,272 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 30/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 12/11/2026

Pharmacy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 2

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen at North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust for an enthusiastic, flexible, and well-motivated individual to join the pharmacy team as a Pharmacy Assistant. The role is band 2 working 37.5 hours per week (part time hours may be considered) to include weekend and bank holiday working on a rotational basis.

Main duties of the job

The position is varied and will include receipt and correct storage of drugs, stock control, including stock rotation, stock checks and removal of expired stock. The supply of medicines including ward stock replenishment, inputting of orders onto computer systems and assembly of orders. Receiving and processing telephone calls, delivery of stock to wards. Accurately dispensing prescriptions. Assisting with receipt of prescriptions from clients and patients. Assisting with the input of medicines received.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication, and interpersonal skills with a good standard of education. GCSE grade C in Mathematics (or equivalent) is essential and NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills is desirable but can be undertaken on appointment.

The Pharmacy Assistant role is based in the pharmacy stores area of the pharmacy department at Warrington Hospital but may also involve working in the pharmacy dispensary, at Halton Hospital pharmacy or delivering medicines throughout the hospital.

As a Pharmacy Assistant, you will be part of a small pharmacy stores team of around 20 members of staff. The pharmacy stores team is part of the much larger pharmacy team which has around 130 members of staff in various roles which cover both Warrington and Halton Hospital sites.

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

Providing operational support in:

• Receipt and correct storage of drugs.


• Stock control, including stock rotation, stock checks and removal of expired stock according to Trust policy.


• Supply of drugs including ward stock replenishment, inputting of orders onto computer system and assembly of orders from location or pharmacy robot in accordance with documentation.


• Contributing to the management of a safe system for the supply of emergency drug boxes.


• Receiving and processing telephone calls.


• Delivery of stock to wards.


• Accurately dispensing prescriptions under the supervision of a Senior Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacist.


• Assist in the reception area with receipt of prescriptions from clients and patients in accordance with department policies.


• Ensuring compliance with the Warrington and Halton Hospital Medicines Policy, both through own actions and by re‑enforcing the policy with nursing staff.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE SEE THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED,

Person specification

Qualifications

• Mathematics GCSE grade C or equivalent.


• NVQ level 2 in pharmaceutical services or to be undertaken upon appointment

Skills, Knowledge and competencies

• Have a methodical approach to workload.

Mental Effort

• 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.