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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy Assistant
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week (weekends and banks holidays)
Job ref
435-D036-25-A
Employer
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Blackburn Hospital
Town
Blackburn
Salary
£24,169 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Pharmacy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 2

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care.  We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

Job overview

We are looking for Pharmacy Assistants for our Burnley and Blackburn sites. 

Pharmacy Assistants cover a range of tasks to ensure we meet the needs of the hospital sites. Training will be provided in each of the various rotational areas of the hospital pharmacy including dispensary, stock distribution and aseptic services

The successful candidates will be enrolled on a distance learning program to complete an NVQ level 2, with the support of our training lead and on-site assessors if they don't already hold this necessary qualification. 

Main duties of the job

General duties of this post include:

Stock management:

  • Maintaining  accurate stock levels of medicines and consumables
  • Picking and packing medicines for wards which includes heavy lifting and bending
  • Visiting wards to replenish stock including large quantities of IV fluids
  • Inputting orders into the computer systems
  • Storing stock in line with stock rotation

Further duties

  • Working on reception dealing with members of the public and clinical staff, taking in prescriptions and directing telephone calls
  • Dispensing a wide range of medicines supported by a dispensing robot
  • Processing and disposing of medicinal waste
  • Working in state of the art clean rooms assisting in the production of IV medicines and chemotherapy, cleaning and general environmental monitoring

You will need to have basic IT skills, good people skills and be able to demonstrate initiative.  You should be able to demonstrate attention to detail, be a strong communicator, and have the ability to work well under pressure. 

You will have the physical ability to bend, kneel and lift stock which is a key part of the role. 

A rota is in place to cover weekends and Bank Holidays; you will also be expected to participate in the late night rota which involves working until 19:00, on occasion to cover the regular team. Core hours of the service run from 08:00 - 17:30, with staff working 7.5 hours within these hours, there may be an option to work longer shifts. All working patterns can be discussed at interview. 

 

Working for our organisation

We are looking for motivated and hardworking individuals to join our busy and friendly department.  Whilst previous pharmacy experience is desirable, it is not essential. We are committed to giving our team opportunities to develop, and many of our pharmacy assistants have gone on to further education, supported by the department to qualify as Pharmacy Technicians.  If you are looking for a new challenge, please let us know via your application form how you can meet the person specification of the role. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General duties of this post include:

  • Maintaining  accurate stock levels of medicines and consumables
  • Suppling medicines for wards which will include some heavy lifting and bending
  • Visiting wards to replenish stock
  • Inputting orders into the computer systems
  • Working on reception dealing with members of the public and clinical staff, taking in prescriptions and directing telephone calls
  • Dispensing a wide range of medicines supported by a dispensing robot
  • Processing and disposing of medicinal waste
  • Working in state of the art clean rooms assisting in the production of IV medicines and general environmental monitoring

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Four GCSE or equivalent grade C or above. Must include English and Maths
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Communication

Essential criteria
  • Accurate written and verbal communication

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Keyboard and computer skills
  • Able to follow procedures
Desirable criteria
  • Pharmacy experience
  • Stock management experience

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Prioritise and meet deadlines
Desirable criteria
  • Flexible to meet requirements of the role for hours and location

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleCare quality commission - GoodDisability confident committedStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Emma Lowe
Job title
Senior Pharmacy Technician
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01254 732256

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Level 1
Fusion House
Evolution Park
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 2FD
Telephone
01254 732075
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