Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Medicines Management

Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals Nhs Trust; Epsom; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a motivated Medicines Management Assistant to support ward-based clinical pharmacy services at the Epsom Hospital site. The team recently restructured to strengthen patient care and efficiency, and we welcome applicants who can contribute to safe, timely pharmaceutical provision.

NVQ Level 2 trained MMAs work as part of the clinical team, handling stock control, ward transfers, and accurate dispensing.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services is essential.
• Experience in hospital pharmacy and stock systems is required.
• Strong communication and time-management skills are important.

Responsibilities

• Support transfer of patients' own and dispensed medications between wards.
• Put stock items away and rotate stock to minimise wastage.
• Identify slow moving stock and transfer to optimise locations.
• Deliver medicines to patients' current location to reduce re-dispensing.
• Check and clear medicine trolleys at least weekly.
• Ensure fridge and clinical room temperatures are recorded daily.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Tools

Pharmacy software

Job description

Job summary

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Medicines Management Assistant (MMA) team. Our MMA team is required to support the ward based clinical pharmacy services primarily at the Epsom Hospital site. It is an exciting time to join our team as we have recently restructured our team to help meet our ambition of providing outstanding pharmacy services. As part of this we want to shine a spotlight on MMAs and the value they add to our team, patient care and the organisation. If you think you have what it takes please give us a call for an informal chat, we can facilitate departmental walk rounds and can give further information about this exciting role.

Main duties of the job

All MMAs at ESTH are NVQ Level 2 trained and provide a full ward based service to ensure the safe, timely and financially sound provision of pharmaceutical items. You will be a key member of the pharmacy clinical team, working together to provide excellent patient focused care. You should be able to demonstrate excellent communication and time management skills, and have a good attention to detail. NVQ Level 2, previous experience of working in hospital pharmacy and knowledge of pharmacy distribution and stock systems is essential.

About us

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provides a range of medical services to approximately 490,000 people living across southwest London and northeast Surrey. In addition, we provide more specialist services, in particular renal and neonatal intensive care, to a wider area, covering parts of Sussex and Hampshire. We serve an area that is rich in diversity, with a mix of urban and rural areas, and differing levels of quality of life. We cover some of the most prosperous postcodes in the country, as well as some poorer areas. Together with our colleagues at NHS Surrey and NHS Sutton and Merton, we work to make sure that we deliver the best possible care to the communities we serve. The Trust employs approximately 5,000 staff across its hospitals and is supported by over 500 volunteers. As you know, here at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, we are always looking to grow our teams with talented people, just like you.

Job responsibilities

Key activities in addition to provision of a regular top-up service will be:

• Support the transfer of patients own and dispensed one-stop medication between wards
• To put stock items away and rotate stock to minimise wastage.
• To identify slow moving stock and transfer to alternative locations in the trust to minimise wastage.
• To identify medicines supplied for patients that have been transferred and to deliver to patient's current location to reduce requirement for re-dispensing.
• To check and clear medicine trollies at least once a week.
• To reduce number of expired medicines & liquid medicines not labelled with "opened on"/expiry date.
• To support the ward staff in ensuring fridge and clinical room temperatures are recorded on a daily basis.

The role is primarily ward based and will require a good understanding of medicine supply systems. You will be required to rotate between sites and participate in the seven day, late duty and Bank Holiday rotas on the Epsom site to support the inpatient team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of stock rotation & expiry dates
• Knowledge of different medicine formulations
• Significant experience of pharmacy distribution/dispensing systems
• Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to organise own and others workload
• Good customer care skills
• Computer literate, IT skills
• Good written communication

Desirable

• Experience with CMM (previously JAC) Pharmacy Computer System

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.