Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Integrated Care System; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join its growing pharmacy team. In this role, you will oversee dispensing services, mentor new staff, and ensure compliance with standards. This position supports professional development within a dynamic environment, offering competitive benefits and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Free on-site parking

Free refreshments

Great flexible working opportunities

Discounted gym membership

Lease car scheme

Generous annual leave and pension scheme

On-site nursery (chargeable)

Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a pharmacy aseptic environment and staff training.
• Dedication to high-quality patient care.

Responsibilities

• Provide dispensing services and support training for new staff.
• Manage purchasing and availability of consumables.
• Contribute to compliance with Medicines Management standards.

Skills

IT Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Education

NVQ level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences

Complete on-the-job training

GCP Training

Education Supervisor / Train the trainer

Tools

JAC Computer system

Job description

Go back Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Pharmacy Assistant

The closing date is 23 July 2025

Full time 37.5 per week, shift pattern - Sunday & Bank Holiday roster. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

It is an exciting time to join the pharmacy team at MKUH; we are continually growing in size and influence and have recently built a new Aseptic Unit and refurbished our main pharmacy department including the installation of a state of the art dispensing robot.

We are a department of over 90 staff providing pharmacy services through team-working and prioritising the needs of those we serve, so evidence of customer service skills would be ad advantage.

Our Senior Pharmacy Assistants provide dispensing services in the hospital pharmacy and work in the pharmacy stores, on the wards. This will broaden your skills and help us to ensure we have a service that can meet all the demands that are placed on it.

If you think that you can fill this role and help yourself and our pharmacy to deliver excellent service, we are interested in receiving your application through NHS Jobs www.nhs.jobs.uk

For further information, please contact Amy Baker on 01908 995719 or [e-mail]

Interview date: 05.08.2025

Main duties of the job

• To provide support to the running of the dispensary acting as a trainer and mentor to new staff ensuring that standards are maintained and adhered to.
• To perform under supervision, all types of pharmaceutical work appropriate to the level of knowledge and experience, in order to participate in the provision of pharmaceutical services to hospital patients and staff.
• To manage the purchasing and availability of all consumables used in the dispensary process.
• Help facilitate and organise department projects and audits to continually improve our service.

About us

"7.33 our of 10 support their team is compassionate and inclusive" (NHS Staff Survey 2024)

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free refreshments
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• On-sitenursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Job responsibilities

Trust responsibilities:

• To perform, under supervision, all types of pharmaceutical work appropriate to the level of knowledge and experience, in order to participate in the provision of pharmaceutical services to hospital patients and staff.

Professional responsibilities:

• To contribute to the Trust compliance with Medicines Management standards and the Clinical Governance and risk Management agendas.

Operational responsibilities (Dispensary):

• To train and supervise new assistants and student technicians as they rotate through the dispensary and robot room.
• To co-operate with staff in other disciplines to help ensure the safe, effective and economic use of drugs.

Please refer to attached Job description for further information.

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• NVQ level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences (or BTEC, City and Guilds equivalent) or equivalent experience
• Complete on-the-job training
• GCP Training (or willing to undertake).
• Education Supervisor / Train the trainer or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of working in a Pharmacy aseptic environment.
• Education and training of staff.
• Experience in stock control management
• Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department.
• Experience of using the JAC Computer system.

Skills

• IT Skills for dispensing, monitoring performance and reporting/audit
• Dedication to high quality patient care
• Flexible to meet service and patient need
• Good training skills
• Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
• Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
• Evidence of effective support for less experienced staff

Personal and people development

• Positive Commitment to CPD
• Polite and courteous
• Professional attitude
• Initiative
• Self motivated and team player

Communication

• Good Communication skills, written and verbal.
• Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, hospital/ward staff and primary care or community health services and other organisations about medicines management or other technical information

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations

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.

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust