Pharmacy Assistant
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Job Ref: 287-DTC-101-25
Site: Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool
Position: Senior Pharmacy Assistant – Rotational (Band 3)
Contract: Permanent – Full time (Weekends, late and bank holidays as per additional rotas)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)
Salary: £24,937 – £26,598 per annum (pro rata)
Closing date: 22/12/2025 23:59
Job Overview
Are you an experienced pharmacy assistant who has completed an NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent? LUFHT may have the perfect opportunity for you. We are looking for a Rotational Senior Pharmacy Assistant who can act as a great role model, provide excellent training and demonstrate our trust values. You must be able to show great leadership qualities, a broad experience of working in a pharmacy and knowledge and understanding of working in a hospital. We want to recruit a Senior Pharmacy Assistant who is enthusiastic, motivated and will work to our professional standards to provide an efficient and patient focused service. All levels of experience within a Pharmacy Assistant role will be considered and salary will be dependent. You may be required to rotate across all sites of LUHFT.
Main Duties
In the role as a Rotational Senior Pharmacy Assistant you must have excellent communication skills, attention to detail and be flexible as you will work within our dispensaries, stores and on wards alongside pharmacy teams including pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. You will be required to supervise work of pharmacy assistants ensuring work is prioritised appropriately and play a key role in training and development of staff to maintain a quality and standards of work. You will be required to participate in evening, weekend and bank holiday working in keeping with the Pharmacy Directorate arrangements and the needs of the Trust.
Key Responsibilities
* Dispense and issue medicines from the Pharmacy Department including extemporaneously prepared products, controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines and clinical trials, in accordance with the policies, procedures and safe systems of work.
* Order and supply pharmaceuticals as part of the ward stock top‑up service.
* Load medicines received into the automated dispensing machine.
* Take lead responsibility for reception duties and direct workload and queries in the most appropriate staff members within the department and escalate if required.
* Input data into the Pharmacy computer system to ensure all appropriate records are made and kept up to date.
* Receive medicines into the Pharmacy Department and ensure that documentation and computer entry is carried out in a timely and accurate manner.
* Investigate and resolve delivery discrepancies, liaising with invoicing staff, and suppliers, making appropriate records of all investigations and outcomes keeping line manager fully briefed about key operational matters.
* Ensure that all pharmaceutical preparations are stored appropriately.
* Rotate stock at the point of goods receipt.
* Deal with more complicated enquiries referring to line manager if they are not commensurate with role.
* Ensure that all unused medicines (if appropriate) returned to the pharmacy are recycled in accordance with the safe systems of work and always participate in the safe disposal of medicines in accordance with departmental procedures.
* Manually handle IV fluids, bulk feed deliveries and manoeuvre cages and tote boxes for delivery towards departments, outside clinics.
* Deliver medicines to ward and departments as required.
* Deal with frequent interruptions e.g. telephone enquiries from internal and external customers.
* Fix the robot when basic errors occur.
* Participate in daily stock count.
* Issue medicines which are on “To‑Follows” list.
* Participate in development and project work in line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.
* Check picked stock items to ensure accuracy of medicines supplies on top up.
* Train, supervise and assess support workers.
* Deliver robot error training for pharmacy assistants and other staff who are new to the department in line with standard training plan.
* Deliver training to pharmacy assistants and other staff as they rotate through areas of practice.
* Deal with ad‑hoc stock requests as they arise (by telephone or portal) from wards/departments and outside clinics. These may be urgent and will need to be prioritised appropriately.
* Supply emergency orders.
* Support pharmacy assistants with NVQ level 2 training where appropriate.
* Prioritise work so that services meet their objectives.
* Together with other members of staff to ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH and that other pertinent recommendations and standards are complied with.
* Participate and co‑operate in weekend, bank holiday, statutory holiday, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.
* Undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with this role as required. This may be subject to change to meet the needs of our patients.
* Work across site where required.
* The post holder will be expected to adapt to changes that may occur, which may affect the current practices within the Pharmacy Department, such as the introduction of new equipment, procedures, policies, and hours of working.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services or Pharmacy equivalent.
Experience
* Demonstrable experience working in a pharmacy environment.
* Experience of working in a team.
* Experience of dispensing prescriptions or the preparation of aseptic products.
Skills
* Clear and accurate written communication skills.
* Ability to use different IT applications.
* Methodical with attention to detail.
* Ability to train others.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of procedures for own pharmacy area – on the job training, experience to NVQ3 or equivalent level.
* Knowledge of stock control systems and storage of medication.
Desirable
* Knowledge of hospital pharmacy supply and discharge planning.
* Able to relate to all grades within a multidisciplinary team.
Application Notes
Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Applicants who require sponsorship must realise that the position is not eligible for visa sponsorship due to salary thresholds. For those seeking sponsorship, please check the government website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from under‑represented groups.
Contact
For further details, contact Kathryn Finneran, Lead Technician Dispensary Services, telephone 0151 706 2025.
Apply online now.
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