Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity or an enthusiastic, motivated and ambitious Trainee Pharmacy Assistant to join our busy team at Barts Health NHS Trust (Royal London Hospital). The post holder must be keen to learn and develop with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Full training will be provided, working towards gaining a Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support staff (Apprenticeship) by the end of the 15-month programme. The Level 2 qualifications are run by allocated provider – Capital City College (WKC)
You must be a team player, demonstrate reliability and be able to communicate well. You must also have a keen interest in developing a career in hospital pharmacy.
Duties/Areas of this post include:
1. Dispensary
2. Stores and Distribution
3. Medicines Management
4. Technical services
Once qualified there will opportunities to work towards becoming a Senior Pharmacy Assistant or go on to become a Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician (ensuring that the relevant criteria are met).
Main duties of the job
As a trainee pharmacy assistant, the post holder will be in training to learn aspects relating to the role of a pharmacy assistant. Assist in the supply and dispensing of prescribed items, receive and put away stock including dispensary consumables, carry out a pharmacy top-up service to the wards, support the medicines management team to deliver a patient focused service at ward level. The trainee pharmacy assistant will also rotate and gain experience in pharmacy manufacturing. The post holder will work towards gaining level 2 Principles and Practice for pharmacy support staff and complete the training program within the set deadline.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Although this position is a 15 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 15 months.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Experience of working in a team
6. Experience of working in customer care environment
Desirable criteria
7. Understanding of relevant legislation
8. Experience of working in a hospital environment
Skills
Essential criteria
9. IT skills
10. Able to plan own work
11. Able to work alone or as part of a team with different grades of staff.
12. Able to work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines.
13. Attention to detail and accuracy
14. Able to follow policies and procedures.
15. Numeracy skills - Able to perform simple calculations.
16. Time management skills
17. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
Desirable criteria
18. Able to use Excel and Word proficiently
19. Manual handling skills.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
20. Understand customer care issues.
Desirable criteria
21. Understand issues involved in stock control
22. Interested in and have knowledge of the use of drugs.
23. Understand the importance of quality issues.
24. Dispensing and interpreting prescriptions
Qualifications
Essential criteria
25. GCSE grades A/C or 4-9
26. English Language
27. Maths
28. Double Science
Other
Essential criteria
29. Enhanced DBS check as patient facing role.
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
30. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
31. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
32. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
33. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher.
34. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)