Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary

The closing date is 24 October 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role where delivering exceptional pharmaceutical care is at the heart of everything you do? We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Pharmacy Assistant to join our vibrant team at Luton & Dunstable Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to work across both our state-of-the-art automated dispensary and our satellite units, playing a vital role in supporting patients through accurate prescription dispensing and effective stock management.

To be considered for this position, you will need prior experience in either a hospital or community pharmacy setting, along with a minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or an equivalent qualification. We are looking for someone who brings energy, adaptability, and a genuine passion for enhancing the patient experience.

As part of our seven-day pharmacy service, the role will include some late-night, weekend, and bank holiday shifts. If you are ready to take on a varied role in a forward-thinking department, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

To provide medicine dispensing services in the main dispensary and satellite dispensary units.

To supervise the activity of trainee Pharmacy Assistants and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.

To take part in the late dispensary, weekend and bank holiday shift system.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Date posted

10 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-DTO7872-KA

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

To issue stock from the pharmacy to wards and departments.

To deal with any queries or problems concerning ward stocks and pharmacy stocks as and when they arise. To liaise with ward pharmacists and ward Pharmacy Technicians so that they are aware of problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued.

To receive prescriptions and other requests into the Main Dispensary and Dispensary Satellites according to the agreed procedures and deal with straightforward problems.

To interpret prescriptions and where necessary, contact a pharmacy technician or pharmacist to clarify prescriptions.

To undertake dispensing tasks under supervision including use of the pharmacy computer system for labelling and assessment of patients own drugs (PODs) and previously dispensed ward-TTAs for appropriateness for use at discharge .

To check and restock the emergency drug cupboard.

To answer the telephone and resolve problems.

To replenish dispensing sundries such as bottles and cartons and order stock.

To be responsible for ordering and maintaining stock of additional labels.

To be responsible for ordering stock and maintaining display of leaflets for outpatient waiting area.

To ensure the distribution/dispensing area is maintained in a tidy and orderly manner.

To perform environmental monitoring of the stores areas, e.g. temperature monitoring.

To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH principles and Trust waste disposal procedures including completion of necessary paperwork.

To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as they relate to the delivery of services.

To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust.

To train other staff members and volunteers as outlined in their training schedule. This will include Dispensary Assistants, Junior Technicians, and Pre-Registration Pharmacists and Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.

To maintain safe systems of work in accordance with relevant medicines legislation and with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To cover duties of any other stores assistant or senior stores assistant duties as and when required.

To pack and check emergency trays.

To participate in departmental audit programmes

To participate in the weekend, bank holiday and late dispensary rota.

To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacist.

Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.