East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary/Logistics

The closing date is 28 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated, responsible individual to join the pharmacy team and be an integral part of our 7 day service.

We are a busy department covering a diverse range of activities and functions including: dispensary, logistics, quality control, manufacture and preparation of medicines and products including chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition, clinical trials, ward based/clinical activities, medicines information and community services.

On the job training will be given with departmental competencies to complete. You must have at least 2 GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent), including Maths and English. Must be willing, able and eligible to undertake the L2 Pharmacy Service skills apprenticeship (if not already achieved) and any other required training.If you are an enthusiastic and flexible individual who reacts positively to change, this pharmacy role may be for you. The ability to work calmly and effectively in a busy environment; an eye for detail, good team-working and interpersonal skills are all key skills for this role. As well as being able to follow written procedures, work under supervision, complete tasks accurately to set deadlines, and move and handle stock including provide portering services.

Please note this position is not eligible for a Health and Social Care Visa and does not meet the requirements for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa.

Main duties of the job

Details about our pharmacy service - https://esneft.pagetiger.com/buqzfou/1

You will support our Logistics and Dispensary teams providing pharmacy services in the dispensary, store and distribution areas, including portering (transportation of stock to the wards and clinics) and ward stock top-ups.

Dispensary

Working at our reception hatch greeting customers (eg. patients, hospital staff), taking payment, receiving and giving out prescriptions, dealing with phone calls and helping with basic queries, referring when required.

Dispensing medication for in and out patients, community hospitals and units.

Logistics

Supporting with stock management in all areas of work, receipt and safe storage of goods, picking and packing stock orders for the hospital and community hospitals. Movement of stock across the hospital site including heavy loads (portering). Stock topping-up on wards and return and recycling of medicines no longer required.

Stock rotation and expiry date checking.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

432-HR725-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • At least 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above including maths and English (New GCSEs Grade 4 - 9)
  • Willing and able/eligible to undertake the Pharmacy Services Assistant Level 2 apprenticeship course or relevant units/training as defined by management (unless already attained).

Desirable

  • Science GCSE (or equivalent qualification)
  • NVQ L2 Certificate in Pharmacy service skills or unit accreditation (or GPHC equivalent qualification) eg. Pharmacy Services Assistant L2

Experience

Essential

  • Working effectively as part of a team or alone under supervision.
  • Working effectively under pressure.
  • Moving and handling loads
  • Applying theory to practice
  • Working in a busy and stressful environment

Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic knowledge of stock control/rotation.

Desirable

  • Standards for pharmacy professionals (GPhC)
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • At least 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above including maths and English (New GCSEs Grade 4 - 9)
  • Willing and able/eligible to undertake the Pharmacy Services Assistant Level 2 apprenticeship course or relevant units/training as defined by management (unless already attained).

Desirable

  • Science GCSE (or equivalent qualification)
  • NVQ L2 Certificate in Pharmacy service skills or unit accreditation (or GPHC equivalent qualification) eg. Pharmacy Services Assistant L2

Experience

Essential

  • Working effectively as part of a team or alone under supervision.
  • Working effectively under pressure.
  • Moving and handling loads
  • Applying theory to practice
  • Working in a busy and stressful environment

Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic knowledge of stock control/rotation.

Desirable

  • Standards for pharmacy professionals (GPhC)

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

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Pharmacy Technician – Patient Services

Courtney Howlett

Courtney.Howlett@esneft.nhs.uk

07926066054

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

432-HR725-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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