Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 432-HR26-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ipswich Hospital
- Town
- Ipswich
- Salary
- £24,169 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/04/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary
NHS AfC: Band 2
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
Do you have the enthusiasm to beginning a long-term career in the NHS? If so this could be the job you are looking for.
We are looking for a motivated and responsible individual to join our pharmacy team as a pharmacy assistant based in the dispensary at Ipswich hospital and, become an integral part of our 7 day service.
You will work with our Dispensary team providing pharmacy services from the Ipswich dispensary and hatch area. Duties will include dispensing for inpatients and outpatients, dispensing controlled drugs, liaising with patients for the home delivery of medication, and following standard procedures. You will also support our ward based team by providing a stock top-up service on designated wards/clinical areas.
On the job training will be given and departmental competencies will also be undertaken.
You should have good interpersonal skills with the ability to work calmly in a busy environment. In addition you need to be flexible and be able react positively to change, have an eye for detail and be able to demonstrate good team-working.
Details about our pharmacy service - https://esneft.pagetiger.com/buqzfou/1
Main duties of the job
Undertake study and complete NVQ Level 2 training relevant to post, and complete in-house competencies and training while gaining relevant experience.
Dispense medication including controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines, cytotoxic medicines and Monitored Dosage System (MDS) to In-patients and Out-patients by receipt of prescriptions from patients, staff or representatives.
Attend to patients/customers/representatives/carers/hospital staff and other hospital visitors at the reception hatches.
Collect prescription charges from eligible Out-patients and issue ticket.
Issue medication to patients following procedure and referring to Pharmacist if required.
Record requests on a computerised tracking system, for discharge prescriptions and inpatient charts received in and dispatched from Pharmacy.
Check that the patient has a valid exemption eg. Pre-payment card/maternity exemption card and ensure/support patients to complete the relevant information on the back of the prescription.
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- At least 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above including maths and English (Grade 9 – 4)
- Willing and able to undertake the L2 Pharmacy Service Assistant course or other relevant course as required/defined by management.
Desirable criteria
- Science GCSE (or equivalent qualification)
- NVQ L2 Certificate in Pharmacy service skills or unit accreditation (or GPHC equivalent qualification)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Working effectively as part of a team or alone under supervision.
- Working effectively under pressure.
- Applying theory to practice
Desirable criteria
- Moving and Handling
- Dispensing
- Stock management
- Accurate record keeping
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Basic knowledge of stock control/rotation.
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
- Courtney Howlett
- Job title
- Lead Pharmacy Technician – Patient Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07926066054
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Colchester General Hospital
- Telephone
- 07789651269
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