Pharmacy Support Assistant

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site Nursery

Beach Hut access

Wellness Centre with gym & pool

Staff networks: LGBTQ, Race Equality,

Awards ceremonies

Job summary

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is seeking a Pharmacy Support Assistant (Band 2) to join the Pharmacy Dispensary and Distribution team at Queen Alexandra Hospital. This full-time role offers a clear pathway from our Level 2 Pharmacy Support Worker qualification toward Level 3/Registered Technician.

The role involves stocking, dispensing support, patient-facing service, and working across hospital wards. On-site benefits support staff wellbeing and development.

Qualifications

• Must have Level 2 qualification/GCSEs including maths and English or equivalent.
• Excellent numeracy and literacy, capable of accurate record-keeping.
• Ability to learn and develop skills in a busy hospital pharmacy.
• Flexible and able to prioritise workload in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Order, receive and manage pharmacy stock and bulk IV fluids.
• Supply medicines and products to wards and departments across the hospital.
• Support dispensing activities using the pharmacy robot and automated cabinets.
• Assist at the pharmacy reception area and provide excellent customer service.
• Deliver medicines and supplies throughout the hospital.
• Work with pharmacy colleagues to ensure patient safety and care.
• Demonstrate numeracy and literacy at Level 1 and progress toward Level 2 qualification.

Skills

Good communication

Interpersonal skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Flexible working

Teamwork

Work under pressure

Education

Level 2 qualification/GCSE including maths and English

Tools

Pharmacy robot

Automated dispensing cabinets

Job description

• Weekly Hours / Programmed Activities: 37.5
• Salary Band: Band 2
• Staff Group: Additional Clinical Services
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Job Area: Other Clinical

Company Description

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Job Description

Band 2: £25,272

Full time: 37.5 hours

Pharmacy Support Assistant (Band 2)

Permanent Contract

Are you looking for an exciting career with opportunities to learn, develop and progress? Would you like to join a friendly, hardworking team and begin a rewarding career in healthcare? If so, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust would love to hear from you.

We are recruiting Pharmacy Support Assistants to join our expanding Pharmacy Dispensary and Distribution team at the Queen Alexandra Hospital. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience within a busy hospital pharmacy environment while making a real difference to patient care every day.

As a Pharmacy Support Assistant, you will be part of a large and diverse team that provides medicines and pharmacy services to over 1,000 inpatients, outpatients and clinic patients each day. This is a varied and fast-paced role where you will develop excellent organisational, communication and teamwork skills whilst supporting the safe and effective supply of medicines across the Trust.

We are committed to investing in our staff and helping them reach their full potential. Successful candidates will be supported to undertake the Level 2 Pharmacy Support Worker qualification, providing the knowledge and skills needed to build a successful career within pharmacy.

This role is an ideal stepping stone into the pharmacy workforce. At Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust, we are proud of our "grow our own" approach to workforce development. Many of our colleagues have started their careers in support roles and progressed within the profession. This post can lead to further development opportunities, including training to become a Level 3 Pharmacy Assistant and, for those wishing to continue their professional journey, progression towards becoming a Registered Pharmacy Technician.

This is an active role that involves regular walking, lifting and moving stock, including pharmacy supplies and bulk IV fluids. It is not a desk-based position, making it ideal for someone who enjoys being on the go and working in a hands-on environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Ordering, receiving and managing pharmacy stock and bulk IV fluids.


• Supplying medicines and pharmacy products to wards and departments across the hospital.


• Supporting dispensing activities using our pharmacy robot and automated dispensing cabinets.


• Assisting at the pharmacy reception area and providing excellent customer service.


• Delivering medicines and pharmacy supplies throughout the hospital.


• Working closely with pharmacy colleagues to ensure patients receive the best possible care.


• Evidence of numeracy and literacy at level 1


• Level 2 qualification/GCSE higher pass or above including maths, English and a science, or equivalent qualifications, or work experience that demonstrates comparable ability in a similar field.

Skills and Knowledge Essential

• Good oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.


• Able to learn to advance own skills and knowledge.


• Able to work flexibly and prioritise workload


• Able to distinguish accurately between similar products


• Able to use initiative whilst knowing when to refer


• Able to work safely and effectively under pressure and/or minimal supervision.


• Safety and Security awareness


• Able to work alone and/or flexibly in a team.

We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and Disability, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements.

• our on-site Nursery


• access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days


• our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool


• access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and Disability


• awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.