Rotational Pharmacy Assistant | Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Great Western Hospitals NHS FT; Swindon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Swindon is seeking a motivated individual to join their dynamic Pharmacy Department. In this role, you'll engage with patients, assist in medicines optimisation, and develop dispensing skills within a collaborative, supportive environment. The successful candidate will have access to continuous professional development and growth opportunities. This position requires a commitment to patient care and compliance with all legal requirements.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to grow in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to undertake heavy lifting and pushing/pulling daily.
• A desire to complete continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Undertake general pharmaceutical duties under supervision.
• Assist with medicines optimisation on the wards.
• Dispense prescriptions in the dispensary.

Skills

Pharmaceutical knowledge

Communication skills

Team collaboration

IT skills for medication dispensing

Education

Pharmacy Services Level 2 (or willingness to obtain)

Tools

Pharmacy IT system

Job description

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.

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!

Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• Work in the dispensary dispensing prescriptions and provide support to the dispensary manager and lead technician in the day to day running of the dispensary.
• Work as part of the pharmacy stores team monitoring and maintaining ward stock levels.

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.

Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

We’re committed to investing in our people. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete Level 2 Pharmacy Services training (unless already obtained) and will receive continuous support for professional development and career progression.

Additional Responsibilities

• Able to undertake heavy lifting and pushing/pulling on a daily basis working as part of the pharmacy stores team while monitoring and maintaining ward stock levels.
• Use the Pharmacy IT system to label and dispense medication against prescriptions, orders and Controlled Drug requests according to any prescriber instructions.
• Organise, label and prepare compliance aids (Dosette boxes)
• Assess POD drugs against TTA prescriptions, endorsing with relevant information and documenting any discrepancies.
• Use the prescription tracking system to book in and track prescriptions at each stage in the process, logging work collected by the porters or ward staff.
• Support the team leader in the management of the prescription tracking system to ensure prescriptions are completed within the allocated turnaround times.
• Work with minimal supervision to provide an admission, supply and discharge service to nominated wards. Liaising directly with pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff as appropriate.

Please see attached JD for full responsibilities

This advert closes on Wednesday 3 Dec 2025