Senior Pharmacy Assistant
Transformation Unit
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join the surgical pharmacy team. You will dispense discharge prescriptions on the wards, check patients’ medicines, and help with ward supplies and returns.
You will work with Specialist Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to support ward flow and participate in audits, teaching, and staff development within a large NHS hospital Trust in Norwich.
Qualifications
- GCSE passes in Maths, English and Science.
- NVQ 2 in Pharmacy Services required.
- NPA Dispensers Certificate preferred.
- NVQ 2 in Pharmacy Services specialist units beneficial.
Responsibilities
- Dispense discharge prescriptions on the ward.
- Check patients' own medicines for suitability.
- Order and supply medications for patients and ward stock.
- Process medication returns and support ward audits.
Skills
Education
Job description
Employer Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital Town Norwich Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is a 1,200-bedded teaching hospital with state-of-the-art facilities for modern patient care: 1100 beds in the PFI and 100 in Cromer Community Hospital.
The NNUH is part of Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group which includes the James Paget Hospital, in Great Yarmouth and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King Lynn.
We carry out nearly one million outpatient appointments, day case procedures and inpatient admissions annually. The population we serve is predominantly the people of Norfolk and north Suffolk, although some patients are referred from further afield especially to access specialist services available at this Trust.
Our staff of c10,000 care for and support patients who are referred to us by around 100 local GP practices and from other acute hospitals. We run more than 60 specialist services as a tertiary centre, including more than a dozen specialist cancer and radiotherapy treatments, and we are one of the biggest cancer centres in the country.
We provide complex spinal surgery services, specialist Neonatal Intensive Care, neurosciences services and specialist cardiac services. Our Trust runs specialist dermatology, rheumatology, endocrinology, adult congenital heart disease services, treatment of complex liver and pancreatic diseases in adults, cystic fibrosis services and intestinal failure services. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs.
At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare, and our vision is to ‘provide the best care for every patient’. If this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team.
Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:
People-focused
We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.
Respect
We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.
Integrity
We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.
Dedication
We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.
We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), we know the benefits diversity can bring to our organisation such as creativity, innovation and compassion. All of which have a direct impact towards our staff and patient experience. We are committed to being a Hospital for All – being equitable and inclusive, and a place where all feel a sense of belonging. We therefore particularly encourage and welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in NNUH’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and long term conditions and people within the LGBT+ community.
Are you a highly motivated and enthusiastic person looking for your next challenge in a new role?
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our surgical pharmacy team, working alongside our Specialist Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to support the flow of patients through the hospital. This is a ward-based, patient-facing role in which you will be dispensing discharge prescriptions on the wards, carrying out checks on patients own medicines and ordering further supplies, processing pharmacy returns, supporting with completion of ward audits and assisting with pharmacy ward top ups.
The ideal candidate will be motivated to continue to develop this innovative role alongside the surgical pharmacy team and will already have experience of working as a SATO within a hospital pharmacy setting.
The NNUH is a large teaching hospital and as a pharmacy department we have links to the UEA School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, the postholder will have the opportunity to become involved in teaching within the multi-disciplinary team if interested.
You will be working alongside our surgical specialist pharmacists and clinical pharmacy technicians to provide services to the surgical wards with in the Trust. The main duties of the role include:
- Dispensing medications for discharge on the ward utilising a mobile dispensing station and satellite dispensary
- Processing medication returns from the surgical wards
- Conducting checks of patients own medications to ensure they are suitable for use
- Ordering and/or supply of medications for individual patients and ward stock
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
See attached Job Description
- Dispensing medications for discharge on the ward utilising a mobile dispensing station and satellite dispensary
- Processing medication returns from the surgical wards
- Conducting checks of patients own medications to ensure they are suitable for use
- Ordering and/or supply of medications for individual patients and ward stock
Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.
Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 7114 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa. The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.
- GCSE or equivalent passes in Maths English and Science
- NVQ 2 in Pharmacy Services
- NPA Dispensers Certificate
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services specialist units relating to Dispensary
- Previous experience working in a pharmaceutical environment
- Able to work as part of a team with a flexible approach to duties
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Job Description, which includes a Person Specification, provides a full outline of responsibilities and requirements for this role. Please use your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the person specification.
Visa and Immigration
If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.
Travelling to work
Staff parking is available onsite; however, this is limited during core working hours. We have more capacity in the evening and at weekends and can usually provide spaces during those hours.
We look to allocate these spaces fairly. Our Travel Office have a set of criteria that staff must meet in order to qualify. If you qualify for a space, you may be placed on a waiting list if we are at full capacity.
The NNUH is served by a number of public buses, and we offer generously discounted monthly passes with First Bus & Konect.
The Costessey Park and Ride runs regularly each day from 06:30 (from P&R) to 20:45 (from NNUH) and this service is free for NHS staff. Applications to the Travel Office for a Trust ID badge are required for this service. We also have a discounted service from the airport P&R if you purchase a bundle. Please see Konect website for further details.
The NNUH host multiple bicycle racks and a salary sacrifice scheme. We also benefit from a Beryl station onsite.
If you work at another Trust site, please discuss travel and parking arrangements at interview.
DBS
If this post involves working with children or adults the application form will ask for information regarding previous convictions as you will be required to undertake a Criminal Record and Barring Check known as a DBS check.
If you are a new employee or registering with the Staff Bank you will need to meet the cost of this unless your salary is below Band 4 (AfC).
NHS Service
Should you be appointed to the post we will need to establish any previous NHS service via the ESR IAT and we will accept the submission of your application as your agreement to this.
UK Professional Registration
You will need to have current UK professional registration where this is a requirement of the role. When you submit an application which includes professional registration details, you are providing consent to the checking and verification of this information.
Application
Following candidate feedback and to reduce our dependency on paper, all our communication with you regarding your application will be by email so could you please check your e-mails (and Spam) regularly.
We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application.
We look forward to receiving your application and if you do not hear within the next four weeks this will usually mean that you have not been short-listed. However, if you wish to confirm this please contact the person indicated on the advert.
Flexibility
Whilst every effort will be made to recruit to the post as it is advertised, there may be occasions where we consider alternative working patterns, such as part time working, or contract types, such as secondments, depending on circumstances. Should you wish to work in a different working pattern to that stated in our advertisement, please indicate this in the supporting statement to your application.
Notice: the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) will never ask candidates to make any payment during the recruitment process, offer employment without a formal recruitment process, or contact applicants via WhatsApp, social media, or free email accounts. Please only apply for vacancies advertised through official NHS recruitment channels and be cautious of any unsolicited job offers. If you receive suspicious recruitment communications claiming to represent NNUH, do not share personal information or make any payments.
Useful Information
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates about the exciting career opportunities available at NNUH - @NNUHjobs
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Name Anne Bochmann Job title Advanced Pharmacist - Surgery Email address anne.bochmann@nnuh.nhs.uk Additional information
Dawn Whitbourn
Pharmacy Team Leader - Surgery, Women and Children
Contact Telephone number 01603 646676
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