Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

Merseywestlancs; Knowsley; Remote; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust is seeking an enthusiastic NHS Pharmacy Assistant for a Band 2 role at Whiston Hospital. You will rotate across pharmacy stores and wards, participate in rotas and assist with prescriptions, stock control and ward-based services.

The post requires NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Service skills or GPhC equivalent, GCSE-level education, and flexibility to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Training can be provided where needed.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills – or GPhC recognised equivalent qualification, or must be willing to undertake qualification and complete within 18 months of commencing employment
• A good standard of education (to GCSE level) would be advantageous
• Candidate should be adaptable and able to learn new software and procedures

Responsibilities

• Participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores, dispensaries and wards
• Assist in the receipt of prescriptions
• Participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics to maintain and control medicines
• Assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions using the latest software
• Prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments
• Assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock and maintain records
• Assist in ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards weekly
• Co-operate with staffing across sites and participate in staff rotation
• Assist in preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes
• Input data into the Pharmacy JAC computer system for duties requiring its use

Skills

NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills

GPhC recognised equivalent

Willing to undertake qualification

Education

GCSE level education

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent: Must participate in evening, weekend and bank holiday rotas Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Must participate in evening, weekend and bank holiday rotas) Job ref 409-8249447

Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £25,272 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 14/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible and well-motivated individual to join our existing Pharmacy team.

The successful candidate will rotate between Pharmacy stores and Whiston and St Helens Hospital dispensaries, and participate in our evening, weekend and bank holiday rotas.

Your duties will include receiving prescription from patients and Hospital staff, booking in orders as well assembling stock medicines for distribution to wards and departments.

A strong attention to detail is essential, as is an ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment with other members of the Pharmacy team.

Good communication skills and a willingness to learn is important.

Candidates ideally should possess NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Service skills or a GPhC recognised equivalent qualification, H however training can be provided. A good standard of education (to GCSE level) would be advantageous.

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.

Main duties of the job

• To participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores dispensaries and wards.
• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions.
• To participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics primarily to maintain and control medicines.
• To assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions, using the latest software.
• To prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments.
• To assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock including the maintenance of manual and computerised records.
• To assist in the provision of a ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards on a weekly basis.
• To co-operate with the provision of necessary staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to other sites e.g. St Helens.
• To assist in the preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To participate in stock control of medicines within the pharmacy department under the supervision of the dispensary manager or senior technician.
• Regularly handle or process cash or cheques when dealing with outpatients prescriptions.
• To comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the Pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas.
• To participate in evening and on-call rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores dispensaries and wards.
• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions.
• To participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics primarily to maintain and control medicines.
• To assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions, using the latest software.
• To prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments.
• To assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock including the maintenance of manual and computerised records.
• To assist in the provision of a ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards on a weekly basis.
• To co-operate with the provision of necessary staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to other sites e.g. St Helens.
• To assist in the preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To participate in stock control of medicines within the pharmacy department under the supervision of the dispensary manager or senior technician.
• Regularly handle or process cash or cheques when dealing with outpatients prescriptions.
• To comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the Pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his / her control comply with the Health and Safety at work act, COSHH Regulations, Display Screen Equipment Regulations, Data Protection Act and other appropriate legislation during daily activities.
• To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas.
• To participate in evening and on-call rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.
• To assist with basic counselling of outpatients in accordance with pharmacy procedures and under the supervision of a pharmacist or Pharmacy technician.
• To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
• To liaise with various members of the Pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients.
• To ensure safety of drugs awaiting collection by nursing staff and other responsible persons
• To participate in individual performance review and continuing education programmes in order to maintain and improve standards of service.
• To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the Pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g. Ordering and stock control.
• To assist in the completion and filing of departmental documents.
• To record any information and assist in the compilation of any data necessary.
• To act as a role model and assist in the training and induction of other members of the technical staff.
• To undertake and achieve the NVQ level 2 – Pharmacy service skills qualification in accordance with GPhC guidance.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills – or GPhC recognised equivalent, or must be willing to undertake qualification and complete within 18 months of commencing employment

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working with Computer systems
• Experience of working in a Hospital pharmacy
• Experience in using the CMM (JAC) Pharmacy system

Skills

• Good communication skills Ability to talk to patients, staff and other Health care professionals. Ability to express items clearly, both face to face and using telephones
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently with good attention to detail
• Understand importance and context of role
• Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others
• Ability to work under pressure
• Works well as part of a team
• Presents a professional image / appearance
• Supportive of colleagues of all grades
• Good physical fitness for duties including manual handling, (items up to approx 15kg) standing and walking
• Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise

Other

• Ability to travel between sites
• Able to participate in the evening and weekend rotas

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader , we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [e-mail]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
Certificate of Sponsorship

eVisa Update
For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.
Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.
Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:

• Understand how to generate an eVisa share code

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.

If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

Flexible Working

We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:

• All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
• There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
• Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.

At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.

Working for Team MWL

Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.

You will be expected to undertake the Trusts' commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.

Additional Information

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here .

An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.

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.

Name Gill Eddleston Job title Operational Team Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0151 290 4289