Ward Based Pharmacy Assistant | Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Southend University Hospital NHS Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Basildon is seeking a Pharmacy Assistant. In this role, you will handle dispensing and patient support under supervision, ensuring accurate medication delivery and stock management. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and eager to learn within a dynamic team. This position offers a supportive working environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Professional training opportunities

Flexible working hours

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in a pharmacy setting or similar.
• Capable of dispensing medications accurately.
• Good communication skills for patient interaction.

Responsibilities

• Dispense inpatient and TTA prescriptions.
• Hand out prescriptions with counselling.
• Perform stock checks and maintain records.
• Arrange medication couriering to patients.
• Support pharmacy IT systems usage.

Skills

Pharmacy reception duties

Telephone enquiry handling

Knowledge of prescription processes

Attention to detail

Ability to work under supervision

Job description

Pharmacy Assistant – Band 3

Are you looking to join an enthusiastic team within the pharmacy department? Then we have the right opportunity for you. MSE is looking to hire a band 3 Pharmacy assistant. Come join us to learn new skills and become a part of a valued team.

Managed by the senior pharmacy technician in charge, the post holder will receive, dispense and hand out prescriptions both within the pharmacy and ‘near patient’ on the wards. Provide support to other Pharmacy services, including IT and electronic prescribing system maintenance, receipting of orders, storage and supply of stock Pharmaceuticals, and undertaking audits and stock checks.

Responsibilities

• Pharmacy reception duties
• Answering telephone enquiries from staff and patients
• Dispense Inpatient and TTA prescriptions
• Hand out completed prescriptions with appropriate counselling, under the supervision of the senior pharmacy technician in charge.
• Arrange the couriering of medications to patients home address, including labeling and secure sealing of medication packages, contacting patients and accurate record keeping of all deliveries.
• Perform departmental stock checks, counting and escalating discrepancies.
• Perform departmental expiry date checks to schedule
• Process homecare prescriptions and invoices.
• Provide support to end users of the pharmacy Wellsky system.
• Assess suitability of pharmaceuticals for return to stock.
• Follow departmental standard operating procedures at all times.
• Maintain a clean and tidy workplace.
• Participate in late shift, weekend and bank holiday rota’s.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties the Operational Lead Technician may allocate from time to time.
• Help with the delivery of medications to patients home address including organising and using the pharmacy provided vehicle

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook – if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress.

Additional Responsibilities

• Dispense Inpatient and TTA prescriptions both within the pharmacy department and out on the wards using the mobile dispensing trolleys. Process the prescription using the Pharmacy stock control and electronic prescribing system. Select, count, package and label prescription items according to department procedure. Make records as necessary e.g. endorse prescription; make an entry into the controlled drug register.
• Hand out completed prescriptions with appropriate counselling, under the supervision of the senior pharmacy technician in charge.
• Arrange the couriering of medications to patients home address, including labeling and secure sealing of medication packages, contacting patients and accurate record keeping of all deliveries.
• Assess suitability of pharmaceuticals for return to stock. Return items to stock using the pharmacy stock control system, or dispose of according to departmental procedure as appropriate.
• Maintain supplies of non-drug items including controlled stationary e.g. FP10 prescriptions and controlled drug registers, ensuring accurate records are maintained.

This advert closes on Sunday 30 Nov 2025