Pharmacy Support Worker - Pharmacy

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Study bursaries

Enhanced pay for public holidays

NHS discounts

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) seeks a Pharmacy Support Worker for Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. You will label, dispense and check medicines, manage ward stock requisitions and assist with stock control and waste minimisation in a ward-based setting.

The role includes patient-facing duties, cross-site work within the North Sector, and participation in weekend/public holiday rotas. Commitment to CPD and training is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in an aseptic unit or manufacturing environment.
• Current competency qualifications such as S/NVQ Pharmacy Level 2 or equivalent.
• Willingness to complete TSET modules and in-house training plan.
• High accuracy levels.
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, both spoken and written.
• Commitment to ongoing CPD and development.

Responsibilities

• Label and dispense clinically screened medicines and controlled drugs.
• Maintain accurate medicine balances and process ward requisitions.
• Undertake stock checks, rotation and expiry date checks.
• Coordinate ward stock top-up services and support nursing staff with medicines housekeeping.

Skills

Attention to detail

Clear spoken English

Effective written communication

Teamwork

Organisation and prioritisation

Stock management experience

Education

S/NVQ Pharmacy Level 2 or equivalent

Knowledge of Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice

Tools

Pharmacy stock control system

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An opportunity has arisen for a self‑motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the friendly pharmacy team at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. As a Pharmacy Support Worker, you will play an integral role in ensuring the safe and effective supply of medicines to patients.

You will label and dispense medicines that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist for inpatients and outpatients, label and dispense controlled drug prescriptions, ensuring medicine balances are accurate and up to date, and accurately input ward requisitions through the pharmacy stock control system. You will also participate in stock checks, stock rotation and expiry date checks.

The role includes patient‑facing work within a ward‑based environment, where you will coordinate ward stock medicine top‑up services and support nursing staff with good medicines housekeeping. You will advise on medicine stock levels, make recommendations to increase or decrease stock in line with usage, and identify slow‑moving or static stock to help minimise waste.

This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa or a Health and Care Worker visa. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is unable to provide candidates or employees with a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS).

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

• This is a permanent position.
• There is one full‑time post at 36 hours per week and one part‑time post at 18 hours per week
• The posts will be based at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, with a requirement to work at other sites within the North Sector when necessary.
• The North Sector includes Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill ACH, Gartnavel General Hospital and the Vale of Leven Hospital.
• Shift patterns are 08:50–17:00 or 09:50–18:00, with a 30‑minute early finish on Wednesdays in line with Agenda for Change arrangements. You will also participate in weekend and Public Holiday rotas.
• Please note the salary is Pro Rata for part time hours.

Key Responsibilities

You will support the safe and effective supply of medicines to patients across inpatient, outpatient and ward‑based services. Responsibilities include labelling and dispensing clinically screened medicines and controlled drugs, maintaining accurate medicine balances, processing ward requisitions using the pharmacy stock control system, and undertaking stock checks, stock rotation and expiry date checks.

You will coordinate ward stock medicine top‑up services, support nursing staff with medicines housekeeping, monitor and advise on stock levels, identify slow‑moving or static medicines and take appropriate action to minimise waste. You will work within established procedures and contribute to the delivery of a safe, effective and patient‑focused pharmacy service.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Significant experience in an aseptic unit or manufacturing environment.
• Completed current competency and knowledge based qualifications e.g. S/NVQ Pharmacy Level 2 or equivalent which could be obtained by: Knowledge of Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice or Experience of supervising/training/mentoring staff.
• Willingness to complete TSET (Technical Specialist Education and Training Group) modules and in‑house training plan.
• High accuracy levels.
• Ability to communicate in clear spoken English and effective written and verbal communication.
• A commitment to participate in ongoing relevant training and Continual Professional Development (CPD).
• Experience of interacting with people in a variety of situations.
• Ability to organise daily tasks using own initiative.
• Ability to work to set procedures.
• Stock management experience.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e‑learning and classroom‑based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact

Amanda Hepburn / Chris Devlin

North Sector Pharmacy Team Leads

Telephone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail] / [e-mail]

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work‑life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full‑time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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