Job summary
We are recruiting for a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join our team. The role of a Senior Pharmacy Assistant is a varied and exacting role and plays a vital part in the busy, friendly Pharmacy team of St Mary's Hospital.
Attention to detail is key as is the ability to communicate effectively with other members of staff, and manage conversations with patients who might be anxious. We are looking for someone who can remain calm when pressed and hold their concentration at all times, despite interruptions and the potential unpredictability of the work.
If this is you, we would be very pleased to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Receive prescription and ward/department requests, assess the urgency and act, accordingly
Receive prescriptions from outpatients, providing information on waiting times and other methods of supply in cases where items are out of stock.
Interpret, label, and dispense inpatient, outpatient, and discharge prescriptions as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Carry out temperature monitoring of pharmacy areas and refrigerators and freezers.
Carry out stock top ups to wards on a rotational basis.
Assist with the receipt, issue, and stock checking of FP10 prescription pads.
Hand out medication to staff collecting on behalf of patients
Communication
Take phone messages and clearly communicate the relevant information to the appropriate person in either a written or verbal format.
Assess patient eligibility to pay a prescription fee, or the reason for free prescriptions and ensure the prescription is signed by the patient or representative
Participate in covering reception in the absence of the regular Receptionists on rota and provide additional help to the Receptionists when appropriate.
Deal effectively with clients who might present with difficulties and, when necessary, refer them to a senior staff member.
Collect prescription charges and advise patients on all methods of payment.
About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.
Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Administrative and General Duties
Ensure prescribed items are put on order (through the To-Follow system) when insufficient supply is made and once received from the supplier are completed in a timely manner with support from the Senior Pharmacy Technicians.
Use the Prescription Tracking System to receive, dispense and complete discharge prescriptions.
Replenish dispensary stocks and participate in the stock control processes
Assist with investigating stock discrepancies.
Store data and information safely and confidentially in a manner that allows immediate retrieval.
File all dispensary generated paperwork, including orders and prescriptions, in line with the legal requirements for the retention of pharmaceutical records.
Understand and follow Medicines Management Procedures for the Safe Storage and Disposal of Drugs and other hazardous substances handled in the pharmacy.
Minimise hazards in the working area and report any identifiable hazards to your Line Manager and adhere to all safe systems of work applicable to the work area.
Ensure cold storage areas are maintained, and that the cold storage chain is maintained while awaiting delivery.
Be aware of the Pharmacy Department's Spillage Procedure and be able to act quickly and appropriately in the event of an occurrence.
Always maintain confidentiality
Undertake accurate record keeping as described in the Pharmaceutical Quality System, ensuring completion of all production documentation to provide a complete audit trail for all manufactured/dispensed products.
Help maintain the tidiness and cleanliness of the department, including shelves
Assist in other areas of the Pharmacy Department when the need arises.
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Administrative and General Duties
Ensure prescribed items are put on order (through the To-Follow system) when insufficient supply is made and once received from the supplier are completed in a timely manner with support from the Senior Pharmacy Technicians.
Use the Prescription Tracking System to receive, dispense and complete discharge prescriptions.
Replenish dispensary stocks and participate in the stock control processes
Assist with investigating stock discrepancies.
Store data and information safely and confidentially in a manner that allows immediate retrieval.
File all dispensary generated paperwork, including orders and prescriptions, in line with the legal requirements for the retention of pharmaceutical records.
Understand and follow Medicines Management Procedures for the Safe Storage and Disposal of Drugs and other hazardous substances handled in the pharmacy.
Minimise hazards in the working area and report any identifiable hazards to your Line Manager and adhere to all safe systems of work applicable to the work area.
Ensure cold storage areas are maintained, and that the cold storage chain is maintained while awaiting delivery.
Be aware of the Pharmacy Department's Spillage Procedure and be able to act quickly and appropriately in the event of an occurrence.
Always maintain confidentiality
Undertake accurate record keeping as described in the Pharmaceutical Quality System, ensuring completion of all production documentation to provide a complete audit trail for all manufactured/dispensed products.
Help maintain the tidiness and cleanliness of the department, including shelves
Assist in other areas of the Pharmacy Department when the need arises.
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- English and Maths grade C or above
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or BTEC in pharmaceutical sciences
- Evidence of continued learning
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience processing prescriptions, (labelling and assembling) Experience of dealing face-to-face with the public and resolution of queries.
- Experience of working flexibly, under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Track record of problem solving
Desirable
- Expertise in Microsoft Office, JAC, SBS and ESR
Additional Criteria
Essential
- To provide a professional, efficient and patient centred pharmacy service. To be knowledgeable about the products being dispensed, approachable to queries and able to respond in a composed manner even when very busy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- English and Maths grade C or above
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or BTEC in pharmaceutical sciences
- Evidence of continued learning
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience processing prescriptions, (labelling and assembling) Experience of dealing face-to-face with the public and resolution of queries.
- Experience of working flexibly, under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Track record of problem solving
Desirable
- Expertise in Microsoft Office, JAC, SBS and ESR
Additional Criteria
Essential
- To provide a professional, efficient and patient centred pharmacy service. To be knowledgeable about the products being dispensed, approachable to queries and able to respond in a composed manner even when very busy.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
St.Mary's Community Health Campus (Portsmouth)
Milton Road
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO3 6AD
Employer's website
https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
