Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in the UK is seeking a Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant to work in their busy dispensary. The successful candidate will manage prescription orders, assist in extemporaneous medicines preparation, and participate in weekend and evening rotas. Candidates must have NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services and experience in a pharmacy setting. This role offers a salary range of £24,937 to £26,598 pro rata and opportunities for professional development within the organization.

Qualifications

• Current experience working within a pharmacy setting is essential.
• Candidates must have completed an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services.
• A good standard of education (to GCSE level) would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Labelling and dispensing of prescriptions for inpatients and outpatients.
• Preparing extemporaneous medicines and managing returned medicines.
• Participating in weekend and evening rotas for a 7-day service.

Skills

Good verbal and communication skills

Attention to detail

Administration skills

Reliable and well organised

Self-motivated team player

Education

Recognised dispensing qualification

Tools

CMM/EMIS Pharmacy Computer System

Job description

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant

The closing date is 12 January 2026

We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic, proactive in their own role. The successful candidate must be able to communicate well and work accurately and efficiently to a high standard in our busy fast‑paced dispensary.

You will be based within the main dispensary at Whiston Hospital with rotation to our out‑patient centred pharmacy department at St Helens Hospital, where you will assist in the provision of a safe and effective dispensing service. Both St Helens and Whiston Dispensaries have automated dispensing systems in place.

Duties will include routine labelling and dispensing of prescriptions for both inpatients and outpatients, the preparation of extemporaneous medicines, and involvement in the effective management of returned medicines from within the Trust. You will also take part in a rotation to work with our ward‑based Pharmacy Technicians to provide a ward‑based dispensing service.

You will need to take part in our weekend and evening rotas providing a 7 day a week service to the Trust.

Current experience of working within a pharmacy setting, for example Hospital Community, Prison service etc. is essential and candidates must have completed an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or other GPhC approved dispensing qualification.

A good standard of education (to GCSE level) would be advantageous and progression opportunities are available.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will participate with other team members of the pharmacy staff aiming to provide an efficient and comprehensive pharmaceutical service within the pharmacy departments of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, under the direction of the Chief Pharmacist. Duties will include labelling, dispensing, stock rotation, storage, dealing with dispensary queries and patient counselling.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9,000 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, freeing up space for more unwell patients. 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

Job responsibilities

For further information please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

This post will be subject to a standard DBS (with barred list for Adults and Childrens disclosure).

Please note this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications is reached.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Has completed a recognised dispensing qualification

Experience

• Experience working in a Pharmacy environment with demonstrable understanding of procedures gained through additional role‑based training up to NVQ level 3
• Experience of Working with computer systems
• Experience in using CMM/EMIS Pharmacy Computer System(s)

Skills

• Good verbal and communication skills both face to face and using telephones
• Ability to talk to patients, staff and other senior health professionals
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently with good attention to detail
• Good administration skills including record‑keeping
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and able work under pressure
• Hardworking with a determination to overcome obstacles and understand the importance and context of the role
• Self‑motivated team player with the ability to motivate the team performance to achieve objectives
• Reliable and well organised with good time management skills

Other

• Ability to travel between hospital sites
• Present professional image/appearance
• Supportive of colleagues of all grades
• Ability to participate in the departmental rota for late and weekend working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such 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.

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a year, pro rata