Research Pharmacy Assistant

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in London is seeking a Research Pharmacy Assistant to support clinical trials and ensure high-quality service provision. Ideal for newly qualified graduates or individuals with community healthcare experience, this role offers mentoring and a chance to contribute to groundbreaking research. Competitive salary and a supportive work environment await you.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Opportunities for continuous professional development

Qualifications

• Working towards or holding an NVQ L2 in pharmacy services is required.
• Experience working in a community healthcare setting is preferred.
• Previous training on COSHH is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the accurate receipt, storage, and dispensing of clinical trial medicines.
• Support the Pharmacy Team in providing high-quality service.
• Accountable on a day-to-day basis to the Lead Research Technicians.

Skills

Ability to cope with stressful situations

Prioritization of tasks

Good written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work within a team

Education

NVQ L2 in pharmacy services, or equivalent

GCSE English or Maths, or equivalent

Tools

Pharmacy dispensing computer system

MS Office

Job description

Go back University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Research Pharmacy Assistant

The closing date is 19 August 2025

Our organisation is driven by our strategic objectives and organisational values, and we look for people who are strongly aligned with them.UCLH is committed to delivering top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world class research. Our Trust values are Safety, Kindness, Improving and Teamwork.As a research pharmacy assistant, you will be assisting our pharmacy clinical trials team deliver world class research by maintaining the storage and receipt of clinical trials medicines across the Trust. You will assist the lead clinical trial dispensary technicians and our trials production colleagues to provide a high-quality dispensary service giving access to new and ground-breaking treatments to patients via study protocols. Together we undertake ground-breaking research across several specialities including cancer, neurology, stroke, rheumatology, and early phase medicine with approximately 300 trials currently open to recruitment involving investigational medicines, known as IMPs.The Trust has ample opportunities available for career aspirations and in the PCTU we have an education and training lead who will ensure you are on the correct path for your career. Our Team is tight knit and work well together. This vacancy would suit a newly qualified graduate or someone with experience in a community healthcare setting who is looking for a team that can provide a high level of mentoring and support on an on-going basis.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be trained to assist the Pharmacy Clinical Trials Unit/Team in the accurate receipt, storage, dispensing and accountability of medicinal products (licensed or investigational) for clinical trial use across the 5 active sites within UCLH where studies are conducted. They will undertake duties as part of the Pharmacy team under the supervision of the Pharmacy Clinical Trial Technicians and or Pharmacists. They will support the Principal Pharmacist (R&D) in meeting objectives towards maintaining and developing the pharmacy clinical trial service across the Trust. They will provide support the Pharmacy Team in the provision of an efficient and high-quality service to UCL Hospitals internal and external customers. The post-holder will be accountable on a day-to-day basis to the Lead Research Technicians.

Applications will only be considered from individuals who have the legal right to work in the UK. As this role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship under the UK Sponsorship requirements, we are unable to sponsor applicants.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Our Team is tight knit and work well together. This vacancy would suit a newly qualified graduate or someone with experience in a community healthcare setting who is looking for a team that can provide a high level of mentoring and support on an on-going basis.Come and join our team if you are looking for a job where you can make a difference to patient care whilst learning about research delivery and digital health.

Working at the Trust will give you 27 days annual leave at the start plus Bank Holidays.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

• To be working towards or hold an NVQ L2 in pharmacy services, or equivalent
• GCSE English or Maths or equivalent
• Good standard of written and spoken English
• Previous training on COSSH
• Previous customer care training

Experience

• Previous manual handling experience and training
• Previous experience of working with Flammable and Cytotoxic substances
• Previous experience of working in a Pharmacy / Distribution / Clinical Trials related job for at least 1 year
• Previous experience of working with pharmacy dispensing computer system

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to cope with stressful situations
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise own daily tasks and those of others to help ensure an efficient service

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Communication

• Demonstrate good written, verbal and listening communication skills
• Ability to work within a team
• Ability to work on own and answer queries from Customers
• Demonstrated ability to follow written and verbal instruction understanding the importance of following SOPs
• Understands the importance of maintaining confidentiality

Personal and People Development

• Willing to produce a Personal Development Plan with Manager and work towards target each year
• Able to train, supervise and motivate self and others

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives, and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
• Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
• Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
• Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

Specific Requirements

• Demonstrates ability to repeatedly lift heavy boxes (up to 16-25kg) safely following health and safety guidelines
• Ability to use MS Office, various IT health programs, a computer and good keyboard skills

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.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£30,546 to £32,207 a yearPer annum inclusive of HCAS