Job Title: Pharmacy Assistant
Employer: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Location: HMP Bristol, Bristol, BS7 8PS
Job Type: Permanent, full‑time, entry level
Website: http://oxleas.nhs.uk/
Job Summary
This role provides essential support within the pharmacy service at HMP Bristol, ensuring efficient, accurate and compliant medication management for residents, in a secure environment. The Pharmacy Assistant will assist with stock control, distribution, procurement, and quality assurance under the direction of the senior prison services pharmacist.
Key Responsibilities
* Contribute to the smooth and efficient running of the pharmacy service on site.
* Order, receive, unpack and store pharmaceutical products from suppliers in accordance with GDP and departmental SOPs.
* Source medicines promptly and ensure stock accuracy across all medication categories.
* Use the pharmacy computer system to record goods into the pharmacy store.
* Act as the second checker for administration of controlled drugs by registered healthcare professionals.
* Perform regular stock, expiry date, temperature and other monitoring checks, logging data and addressing anomalies.
* Ensure high standards of accuracy, compliance with all SOPs and company policies.
* Sort and either return to stock or safely dispose of medicines that return from clinical areas.
* Dispense weekly/monthly in‑possession medication to patients.
* Prepare and manage medicines optimisation work, ensuring timely orders and deliveries.
* Communicate routinely with the pharmacy/health‑care department for orders, queries and discrepancies.
* Triage telephone and staff queries, referring to the appropriate professional as required.
* Communicate with external regulatory bodies and provide information for the WDL or other requests.
* Undertake any other tasks requested by the senior prison services pharmacist.
* Acquire and maintain a level‑2 prison security clearance and complete standard NHS recruitment checks.
* Adhere to all prison procedures and maintain a secure working environment.
Qualifications and Experience
* Completion of dispensary competencies (signed off as competent to dispense medicines) – Essential.
* Previous experience working within a pharmacy or healthcare setting – Essential.
* Ability to work in all sections of medicines supply – Essential.
* Knowledge of GDP (Good Distribution Practices) – Essential.
* Competent in coordinating and completing day‑to‑day workload with minimal supervision – Essential.
* Certificate in purchasing and supply (CIPS) level 2 or equivalent – Desirable.
* NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services Certificate (or willingness to obtain via Oxleas) – Desirable.
* GPHC registration – Desirable.
* Experience with pharmacy stock‑control systems – Desirable.
Additional Requirements
* All applicants must be willing to undertake National Security Vetting for a Prison Setting.
* Proof of right to work in the UK.
* Proof of identity (one photographic ID).
* Proof of address documentation.
* UK passport holders who have lived abroad for more than six months in the last three years must provide a certificate of good conduct or an overseas police check in English.
* Non‑UK passport holders must provide a Home Office Share Code and a valid right‑to‑work certificate and related documentation.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Sponsorship Information
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is currently unable to offer a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position.
Employer Details
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
HMP Bristol, Bristol, BS7 8PS
Website: http://oxleas.nhs.uk/
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