Job overview
At Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to excellence and to the provision of high quality healthcare. We want to be one of the safest hospitals in the country and our patient’s safety is our priority.
Are you interested in a varied role which has ensuring patients experience the best pharmaceutical care at its heart? We are looking for enthusiastic pharmacy assistants to work as a key part of the clinical pharmacy team at ward level to support patients and nursing staff in using and looking after medicines.
If you are interested in this post, you will need previous experience of working in either a hospital or community pharmacy and have a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent.
Your focus when working on wards will be to work closely alongside the Medicines Management Technicians (MMTs) at Luton & Dunstable Hospital to help reduce medication waste and support appropriate storage of medicines. You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles and delivering an excellent patient experience. Ward based roles will be included only when dispensary competence and efficiency is embedded.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide pharmacy assistant support to the clinical pharmacy team and ward based medicines management at ward level
2. Working closely alongside the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician to help reduce medication waste, support appropriate storage medicines and process medication orders through our electronic prescribing system
3. To provide medicine dispensing services where necessary
4. You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles and delivering an excellent patient experience.
The Pharmacy is a 7 day service and contribution to weekend, bank holiday and late night shifts will be required.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.
1. Provide pharmacy assistant support to the Clinical Pharmacy team at ward level
2. Provide medicine dispensing services at ward level and in dispensary.
3. Assist in the training of other members of team, such as Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs) and new entrants to own role
4. Take part in the late dispensary, weekend and bank holiday shift system
5. Undertake all designated training and consistently demonstrate competence in the relevant underpinning knowledge and skills at NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services
6. Be aware of and comply with all departmental and trust procedures
7. Comply with patient confidentiality procedures
8. Provide 100% customer care at all times
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
6. Basic numeracy and literary skills
Desirable criteria
7. Qualification in customer services
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Experience in pharmacy dispensing
9. Experience of supervising staff in training
10. Experience in customer/patient orientated role
Desirable criteria
11. Hospital based pharmacy experience
Skills
Essential criteria
12. Ability to organise own day to day work tasks
13. Standard keyboard skills
14. Motivated and self-driven
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone 01582 497325