Pharmacy Assistant
The closing date is 14 December 2025
We are looking to recruit a Pharmacy Assistant who will work Saturday / Sunday at the in‑patient dispensary for the Freeman and RVI hospitals, to support our weekend dispensary service.
This position would suit an undergraduate university student seeking new challenges in an innovative environment who are keen to develop their knowledge and skills in the dispensary setting of a large acute trust.
* Interview date: Wednesday 14 January 2026
* 15 hours/week
* You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
* Work in the in‑patient dispensary which has automated robotic dispensing to facilitate the dispensing of a wide range of prescriptions to various specialties across the Trust.
* Work alongside pharmacists, technicians, assistants and students supporting the rapid discharge of our patients 7 days a week. You will also support the timely supply of controlled drugs and a range of other requests for in‑patient medicines.
* We look for an individual committed to delivering a high‑quality service with personal attributes including accurate work in a very busy environment, good communication skills, a professional manner, a flexible team approach and the ability to adapt and engage in change.
* If you thrive in a busy environment and are seeking new development opportunities this could be the role for you.
* This is an on‑going fixed contract; further funding will be applied for at the end of each period. If successfully granted, a further fixed contract will be offered.
About us
As a flexible‑working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
* Freeman Hospital
* Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
* Health Innovation Neighbourhood (former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
* Newcastle Dental Hospital
* Newcastle Fertility Centre
* Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
* Northern Genetics Service
These include flagship services delivering cutting‑edge care supported by state‑of‑the‑art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on the staff benefits we offer at our Trust under “Documents to download” or “Supporting documents”.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job responsibilities
* Provide technical support to dispensary services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, distribution and storage of pharmaceutical stock.
* Undertake reception duties at the staff hatch, answer the dispensary telephone and ensure orders/prescriptions are entered on the prescription tracking system.
* Provide appropriate support as required to dispensary staff.
* Check off orders received into the dispensary in accordance with procedure.
* Replenish the Emergency Drug Cupboard.
* Replenish a variety of cardiac arrest boxes.
* Issue controlled drugs in response to a written order.
* Deliver drug bags to wards and departments throughout the hospital.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Knowledge of Health and Safety and hygiene in the workplace
* Knowledge of hospital pharmacy
* Knowledge of drug names and differences in formulations / pack sizes
Skills
* Good oral and written communication
* Basic computer skills
* Good organisational and accuracy skills
* Good customer care skills
Experience
* Grandparent clause notification to the GPhC
* Experience of stock control and stock management
Qualifications
* Good basic education (e.g. GCSEs or equivalent qualifications) or previous relevant experience
* Must commit to undertake an NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services if not already achieved
* GCSE (Min. Grade C) or equivalent in Mathematics and English Language or previous relevant experience
* NVQ 2 in pharmacy services
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 name
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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