Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Transformation Unit; Radlett; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Senior Pharmacy Assistant. Based in Radlett, you will help dispense medicines, manage stock, and support procurement within a busy pharmacy service across inpatient and community settings.

The role requires NHS experience, attention to detail, and good communication. Provides patient-centred care and supports audits and training for staff.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including Maths, English and Science at grade 4/C or higher.
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent.
• Experience in a hospital/NHS pharmacy environment is desirable.
• Ability to work to deadlines and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Assist dispensing and issuing medicines under supervision.
• Support stock control, procurement and inventory records.
• Process supplier invoices and maintain audit trails.
• Support ward stock and medicines management across sites.
• Maintain accurate records using pharmacy IT systems.
• Assist with audits, data collection and training of staff.

Skills

Teamwork

Deadline adherence

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

GCSEs including Maths, English and Science

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Tools

Microsoft Office/365

Job description

Employer Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Pharmacy Department Town Radlett Salary £27,106 - £28,850 per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS) Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2026 23:59

Senior Pharmacy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 3

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) as a Senior Pharmacy Assistant within the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Team.

Working as part of a busy pharmacy service, you will support the safe, efficient and effective supply of medicines across inpatient and community services. The role offers a varied workload including dispensing, medicines distribution, stock control, procurement support, invoice reconciliation and ward-based medicines management activities.

We are looking for an organised individual with excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient care. Previous pharmacy experience is essential and experience within a hospital or NHS setting is desirable

Main duties of the job

• Support the dispensing and supply of medicines in accordance with pharmacy procedures and legislation.
• Assist with controlled drug processes and medicines distribution services.
• Receive, check, store and distribute pharmaceutical stock, ensuring accurate stock rotation and inventory management.
• Support procurement activities, including invoice matching, reconciliation and maintaining audit trails.
• Monitor stock levels, assist with ordering medicines and support stocktaking activities.
• Undertake ward stock top-ups and support medicines management services across Trust sites.
• Maintain accurate records using pharmacy computer systems and Trust IT systems.
• Assist with audits, data collection and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support the induction and training of pharmacy assistants and contribute to the smooth running of the pharmacy service.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. E verything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Dispensary Services

• Assist in dispensing and issuing medicines in accordance with departmental procedures and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Accurately label, assemble and dispense prescriptions under supervision.
• Support the supply of medicines to inpatient units and community services.
• Assist in the preparation and supply of controlled drugs in accordance with legal and local requirements.

Purchasing and Distribution Support

The post holder will support the efficient procurement, receipt and distribution of medicines and pharmacy stock by:

• Processing and reconciling supplier invoices, investigating discrepancies and maintaining accurate audit trails under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician.
• Supporting that invoices are processed in accordance with Trust financial procedures and within agreed timescales.
• Supporting any issues relating to outstanding invoices and resolving issues as required.
• Receiving, checking and receipting pharmaceutical deliveries using the pharmacy stock control system.
• Verifying quantities, condition, batch numbers and expiry dates of stock received.
• Accurately recording stock information and maintaining inventory records.
• Storing medicines securely and appropriately, ensuring effective stock rotation.
• Supporting stock control activities, including monitoring stock levels, identifying shortages and participating in stock checks.
• Assisting with the distribution of medicines and pharmacy stock to Trust services.
• Complying with all relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), legal requirements and Trust policies relating to medicines management and financial governance.
• Monitoring stock levels and identify supply shortages.
• Ordering medicines and pharmacy consumables as directed.
• Supporting annual and periodic stocktakes.
• Ensuring pharmacy storage areas remain organised and compliant with Trust requirements.
• Maintaining ward and service stock supplies.
• Participate in stock rotation and expiry date checks.
• Assist with the return and disposal of unwanted medicines

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE's: Math's, English and Science (at level 4/C or higher/A-C) and 3 other subjects at a minimum of grade 4/C
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of working as a member of a team
• Experience of working to deadlines
• Experience of using IT packages such as Microsoft Office/365
• Experience in working in a pharmacy environment
• Knowledge of pharmacy based computer systems
• Previous hospital experience
• Experience of supervising other staff

Skills/Knowledge/Ability

• Ability to read/write in English language
• Good communication skills (written and verbal)
• Basic computer keyboard and mouse skills
• Enthusiastic, reliable and honest
• Proactive approach and willing to learn
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Methodical with attention to detail
• Good time management, organisation and prioritisation skills
• Ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to train and supervise staff

Physical/Mental/Emotional Effort

• Able to travel using own vehicle to various Trust and other locations across Hertfordshire to meet the needs of the service. *Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
• Moving and handling of pharmacy items
• Demonstrates ability to meet set targets
• Ability to understand and empathise with people suffering from mental illness

Please note, we do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. Please see the Trust careers vacancy webpage and Trac as the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.