Pharmacy Assistant – Central Pharmacy, Stores & Distribution (CPSD)

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge is seeking a Pharmacy Assistant to join the Central Pharmacy, Stores & Distribution CPSD. The role involves ward top-ups, stock handling, and data entry, with full training provided.

We support flexible hours including full-time and part-time options, with a 12-week probation period and Right to Work considerations. You will work within a supportive team, ensuring safe and efficient distribution of medicines and supplies to wards

Qualifications

• Experience in warehouse or stock management environments.
• Willingness to undertake mandatory NVQ Level 2 training in Pharmacy Service Skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and support ward top-up services.

Responsibilities

• Assist with ward top-ups, recycling, picking, packing and dispatch of goods to wards and departments.
• Input data on the Pharmacy Stock Control System.
• Support the Central Pharmacy Stores and Distribution Service operations.

Skills

Heavy lifting

Manual handling

Teamwork

Stock management

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills

Tools

Pharmacy Stock Control System

Job description

Pharmacy Assistant – Central Pharmacy, Stores & Distribution (CPSD)

Band 2

Main area Division B - Pharmacy Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time/ Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-B-264251

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B Town Cambridge Salary £25,272 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 28/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity? Are you motivated and well organised? Then we need you!

This role within Stores and Distribution includes visiting wards and departments as part of the ward top-up service; receipting, preparing and dispatching of goods and recycling of medicines.

This role involves heavy lifting and working collaboratively as part of a team. The role requires significant moving and manual handling, so good dexterity and manual handling skills are essential. Full manual handling training will be provided.

Have you gained experience working in a warehouse environment? Are you accustomed to heavy lifting with the use of appropriate equipment? If so, we are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with your set of skills.

We are looking for individuals like you to join our existing, friendly team. Prior experience of stock management would be desirable, but is not essential as full training and support will be given.

You will be supported to complete a mandatory NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills.

Main duties of the job

You will reside within the Distribution Team assisting with the general duties associated with the Central Pharmacy Stores and Distribution Service, including ward top-ups, recycling, picking, packing and dispatch of goods to the Wards and departments. Computer data input on the Pharmacy Stock Control System.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 28th October 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 9th November 2026

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full‑time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose‑created colleague‑only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work‑life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• 1. Literate and numerate to the degree required for job description tasks (reading, writing, addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and simple calculations).
• 2. Sufficient capability to undertake and complete mandatory NVQ Level 2 units required for the post.
• 3. Sufficient capability to complete Pharmacy competency programmes required for the post and be completed within a maximum of 12 months.
• 4. Ability to carry out instructions and recall.
• 2. NVQ2 Warehousing & Distribution
• 3. Electric pallet truck or forklift license

Experience

• 2. Experience of working in a customer focused environment.
• 3. Healthcare, dispensing, stores or warehousing experience.
• 4. Experience of team working.

Knowledge

• 1. Evidence of continuing professional development.
• 2. Lifting & handling techniques.

Skills

• 4. Organised, motivated & enthusiastic.
• 5. Able to respond to change and apply new developments without difficulty.
• 6. Shows initiative.
• 7. Demonstrates resilience and an ability to cope under pressure commensurate with the post.
• 8. Receptive to the priorities of patients, carers and other staff groups.
• 9. Ability to make good relationships with others.
• 10. Ability to work flexible and unsocial hours (e.g. on a rota for weekends & bank holidays, periodically for late shifts at times of high workload).
• 12. Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to touch type

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
• Confident and personable to the level required for the post.
• Ability to move weights up to 25kg.
• No serious uncorrected impairment to hands / hearing / sight that could pose risk to self or others

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Name Cassie Wildego Job title Senior Pharmacy Technician- CPSD Team Leader Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01223 388042