Rotational Pharmacy Assistant

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Swindon; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon is seeking a Rotational Pharmacy Assistant (Band 3) to join our Pharmacy Department. You will work across dispensary, stores and ward-based medicines, supporting dispensing and medicines optimisation while developing your skills in a busy hospital setting.

The role offers training towards QCF Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, with opportunities to gain NHS experience, work within a multidisciplinary team, and contribute to safe and effective

Qualifications

• QCF Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or willingness to work towards it.
• GCSEs in Maths and English (minimum grade C).
• Knowledge of pharmacy procedures and GDP standards.
• Experience or training in pharmacy services is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in dispensing prescriptions in the dispensary.
• Support the Dispensary Manager and lead technician in daily operations.
• Monitor ward stock levels with the pharmacy stores team.
• Undertake medicines optimisation on wards to improve patient care.
• Contribute to safe and effective Medicines Use across the service.

Education

QCF Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English (C or above)

Knowledge of GDP and pharmacy procedures

Job description

Employer Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Great Western Hospital Town Swindon Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/09/2026 23:59

Rotational Pharmacy Assistant

Band 3

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role. We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

Previous applicants need not apply

Are you passionate about patient care and ready to take the next step in your career? Our friendly and forward-thinking Pharmacy Department is looking for an exceptional individual to join our dynamic team.

Working alongside a supportive multidisciplinary group, including Pharmacy Technicians, Assistants, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Clerical staff, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines across our service. In this varied and rewarding role, you’ll develop your dispensing skills within the Dispensary, work with Stores & Distribution areas and engage directly with patients on wards, contributing to Medicines Optimisation and Discharge Services to enhance patient care and experience.

If you’re enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to grow in a collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

You will undertake general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a Section Manager or deputy, assisting in the provision of a safe and effective Pharmacy service in line with current policies, procedures and legal requirements. You will also:

• Work in the dispensary dispensing prescriptions and provide support to the dispensary manager in the day to day running of the dispensary.
• Work as part of the pharmacy stores team monitoring and maintaining ward stock levels.
• Work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation duties on the wards, improving the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines optimisation system. This will include assessing patients own medicines ensuring they are suitable for use in hospital and maintaining and ordering non-stock medicines for patients.

All Pharmacy staff involved in all aspects of Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01) have a personal responsibility to ensure that all activities undertaken within our hospital Pharmacy are compliant with Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01) and all relevant department procedures are followed effectively.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people. We are creating a heath and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Perform general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a Section Manager or deputy, supporting the safe and effective delivery of Pharmacy services in compliance with policies, procedures, and legal standards.
• Complete in-depth training and achieve a QCF Level 2 in Pharmacy Services unless already qualified.
• Dispense prescriptions in the dispensary and support the Dispensary Manager and Lead Technician in daily operations.
• Assist with medicines optimisation on the wards, including assessing patients' own medicines for hospital use and managing non-stock medication orders to enhance patient care.
• Contribute to the pharmacy stores team, handling heavy lifting, stock movement, and maintaining ward stock levels.

Please see attached the full Job Description

Person specification

Qualifications

• QCF level 2 in Pharmacy services – or willing and able to work towards
• GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English grade C or above
• Knowledge of procedures for Pharmacy Services – on the job training, experience to NVQ3 or equivalent
• Previous training in the Pharmacy services with a good education and understanding of GDP

Experience

• Working within a team
• Managing own workload to meet the needs of a service
• Previous hospital pharmacy experience

Thank you for expressing interest in this role. For further employer guidance, please review the attached supplementary applicant information.

Certificate of Sponsorship - Sponsorship can only be offered where the role meets the relevant eligibility criteria, including minimum salary requirements. Please note that not all roles within the organisation are eligible for sponsorship. Eligibility for this role includes:

• Current right to work in the UK, subject to verification

Meeting the Skilled Worker visa criteria, where applicable

From 4 April 2024, UK immigration policy changes increased the minimum salary levels required for Skilled Worker visas. Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Current employees should be aware that this position is advertised as a Great Western Hospitals position and appointment ends any TUPE protection.

Candidates are responsible for covering the cost of their own DBS check if required: £21.50 for a Standard DBS check, recoverable from the first pay, or £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, divided and recoverable over the initial two pay periods. Payment for DBS checks for bank posts must be settled prior to commencement. Apprentices are exempt from DBS payment.

We are committed to supporting our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements. Upon joining the Trust, you have the right to request flexible working, with an unlimited number of requests allowed.

Upon acceptance of a job offer, your information will be transferred to the national NHS Electronic Staff Records System. All communication regarding your application will be conducted via email; please ensure to check your junk/spam folders as emails may occasionally be filtered there.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.