Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 434-SCS6684739-B
- Employer
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Stoke Mandeville Hospital
- Town
- Aylesbury
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/04/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Lead Pharmacy Support Worker - Dispensary
Band 4
Be part of our BHT family
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
We care for over half a million patients every year:
- provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
- nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
- regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
- deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.
More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.
We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.
If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work – and invite you to join our BHT family.
Job overview
The post holder will:
- Be responsible for coordinating the safe and accurate dispensing and distribution of medicines to patients, wards, departments and other users within Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. (BHT) Work will be carried out under the control and direction of senior pharmacy technicians and pharmacists.
- Use the pharmacy computer systems in order to carry out all tasks in an accurate and timely manner, ensuring safe and efficient pharmacy service can be provided whilst delivering the highest quality patient care through personal actions and continuous improvement.
- Assist in the recruitment of staff, delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), production of rotas and error trend analysis.
- Assist in the training provision of all staff.
- Manage, supervise and coordinate pharmacy support workers working in BHT, including staff appraisal, allocation of work, sickness management and annual leave management.
- Assess situations that are highly complex and take appropriate actions, including escalating to senior pharmacy technicians to ensure resolution. This may include resolving issues and communicating outcomes around availability of prescribed medicines.
- Follow all legal and departmental practices including Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), GDP (Green Guide), COSHH, Moving and Handling Regulations and all Trust Policies and Procedures.
Main duties of the job
This post requires:
- Prolonged concentration when carrying out tasks to minimise the risk of errors.
- Frequent light effort for several long periods during the day, occasional moderate effort for several short periods.
- Working in a busy environment with frequent interruptions to answer the telephone and customer hatch.
- Working independently to prioritise work as it is received and communicating supply problems to relevant pharmacy and hospital staff, requiring specialist pharmaceutical knowledge.
- Working directly with patients, staff and other service users, dealing with enquiries and complaints.
- Exposure to potentially hazardous working conditions including handling of cytotoxic drugs and various other agents under COSHH regulations.
- Working and maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the dispensary environment.
- An NVQ2 certificate / Apprenticeship in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
- Understanding of a range of work procedures requiring and intermediate level of theoretical knowledge acquired through training and experience to NVQ3 level or equivalent.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and pharmacy computer systems
Working for our organisation
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - https://bit.ly/3DNEQfD
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued, and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
Person specification
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential criteria
- NVQ level 2/ apprenticeship in pharmacy services or equivalent pharmacy qualification
- Understanding of a range of work procedures requiring and intermediate level of theoretical knowledge acquired through training and experience
Desirable criteria
- Practice Supervisor/ Assessor course or practicing Workplace Training Supervisor (WTS)
- Entry level management training/course
EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience in hospital or community pharmacy
- Experience managing a Team
Desirable criteria
- Experience of utilising intermediate level theoretical knowledge when counselling patients on the use of their medication
SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
- Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner (verbal and written) • Speaking to patients and pharmacy staff face-to-face and on the telephone • Keeping accurate and legible records
- Ability to work as part of a diverse team.
- Ability to work to standard operating procedures accurately and in a timely manner
- Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
- To have a clean and tidy appearance
- Ability to effectively lead and communicate with a team
- Ability to recognise limits of own competencies and to refer and seek advice from colleagues.
- Ability to work in an organised and calm fashion in a busy environment.
- Ability to supervise and train other pharmacy staff (including assistants, student technicians and pre-registration pharmacists)
Desirable criteria
- Ability to organise own and others work load within the department
- To have good IT skills using Microsoft Office package
- The ability to identify the need for SOP’s and assist in the preparation and implementation of new ones.
- Ability to analyse data and report KPI’s
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel between sites
Desirable criteria
- Flexibility and willingness to work in other sections with short notice
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Louise Watkins
- Job title
- Dispensary Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01296 316168
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