Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Rotational

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Liverpool is seeking a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join their team. The role involves dispensing medications, supervising pharmacy assistants, and ensuring high-quality patient care. Candidates should have NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services and experience in a pharmacy environment. This position offers a chance to contribute to patient-focused services within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• Must have NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent.
• Experience in a pharmacy environment is required.

Responsibilities

• Dispense and issue medicines from the Pharmacy Department.
• Supervise the work of pharmacy assistants.
• Participate in evening, weekend, and Bank Holiday working.

Skills

Communication

Attention to Detail

Teamwork

Adaptability

Supervision

Education

NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services

Job description

Go back Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Rotational

The closing date is 20 May 2025

Are you an experienced pharmacy assistant who has completed NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent?

At LUHFT, there may be a perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking for a Rotational Senior Pharmacy Assistant who can act as a great role model, provide excellent training, and demonstrate our trust values.

You must be able to show great leadership qualities, have broad experience working in a pharmacy, and possess knowledge and understanding of working in a hospital setting.

We want to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated Senior Pharmacy Assistant who will work to our professional standards to provide an efficient and patient-focused service.

All levels of experience within a Pharmacy Assistant role will be considered, and salary will depend on experience.

You may be required to rotate across all sites of LUHFT.

Main duties of the job

As a Rotational Senior Pharmacy Assistant, you must have excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and be flexible, as you will work within dispensaries, stores, and on wards alongside pharmacy teams including pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists.

You will be required to supervise the work of pharmacy assistants, ensuring work is prioritized appropriately, and play a key role in training and staff development to maintain quality standards.

You will participate in evening, weekend, and Bank Holiday working in accordance with Pharmacy Directorate arrangements and the needs of the Trust.

About us

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, and Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group aims to improve patient care.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities—from birth onwards.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialized regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts several regional services, including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital offers elective surgical, diagnostic, and treatment services, along with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specializes in women's and babies' health, delivering over 7,200 babies annually. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women's, please visit their careers page.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

1. Dispense and issue medicines from the Pharmacy Department, including extemporaneously prepared products, controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines, and clinical trials, following department policies and procedures.
2. Order and supply pharmaceuticals as part of the ward stock top-up service.
3. Load medicines received into the automated dispensing machine.
4. Take lead responsibility for reception duties and direct workload and queries appropriately, escalating when necessary.
5. Input data into the Pharmacy computer system to ensure accurate record-keeping.
6. Receive medicines into the Pharmacy Department and ensure documentation and computer records are updated promptly.
7. Investigate and resolve delivery discrepancies, liaising with invoicing staff and suppliers, and keep records of investigations and outcomes.
8. Ensure pharmaceutical preparations are stored correctly.
9. Rotate stock at the point of goods receipt.
10. Handle more complicated enquiries and refer to line manager when outside scope.
11. Ensure unused medicines are returned and recycled according to procedures, participating in safe disposal practices.
12. Manually handle IV fluids, bulk feeds, and manoeuvre cages and tote boxes for deliveries.
13. Deliver medicines to wards and departments as required.
14. Deal with frequent interruptions, such as telephone inquiries from internal and external customers.
15. Fix robot errors when basic errors occur.
16. Participate in daily stock counts.
17. Issue medicines on the To-Follows list.
18. Participate in development and project work aligned with Trust and Pharmacy Directorate objectives.
19. Check picked stock items for accuracy.
20. Train, supervise, and assess support workers.
21. Deliver robot error training for new staff and support staff rotations in different practice areas.
22. Manage ad hoc stock requests from wards/departments and outside clinics, prioritizing urgent requests.
23. Supply emergency orders.
24. Support pharmacy assistants with NVQ level 2 training where appropriate.
25. Prioritize work to meet service objectives.
26. Ensure procedures comply with current legislation, health and safety regulations, COSHH, and other standards.
27. Participate in weekend, Bank Holiday, early morning, and evening services as per departmental arrangements.
28. Undertake other duties as required, which may change to meet patient needs.
29. Work across sites as required.
30. Adapt to changes, including new equipment, procedures, policies, and hours.

Person Specification

Other

• Enthusiasm for the position
• Use own initiative and show attention to detail
• Interest in pharmacy service provision
• Proactive and reliable
• Friendly, empathetic, and team-oriented
• Willingness to learn
• Committed and flexible
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others
• Able to work as per departmental weekend, evening, and bank holiday rotas

Skills

• Clear written and verbal communication
• Proficient in IT applications
• Ability to work in a busy environment and meet deadlines
• Teamwork and independence
• Methodical with attention to detail
• Adaptability and initiative
• Supervision and prioritization skills
• Ability to train others
• Respond to non-routine queries and escalate when necessary

Knowledge

• Knowledge of procedures in pharmacy area, ideally NVQ3 or equivalent
• Stock control and medication storage
• Numeracy skills
• Hospital pharmacy supply and discharge planning
• Ability to relate to all staff levels

Experience

• Experience in a pharmacy environment
• Teamwork experience
• Dispensing prescriptions or aseptic preparation experience

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role requires a DBS check in accordance with UK legislation and trust policies.