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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
334-CLI-7489550
Employer
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bethlem Royal Hospital
Town
Beckenham
Salary
£29,179 per annum incl. outer HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
03/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

NHS AfC: Band 2

 

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives  in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology  to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust. 

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

The Pharmacy department is looking for an Assistant Technical Officer (Pharmacy Assistant) to become part of our friendly, patient centered team based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. You will support the pharmacy team including the dispensary and pharmacy stores as well as providing a “top up” service to our wards and community units.

 

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the pharmaceutical care of hospital patients through the supply of medicines, and is suitable for qualified Pharmacy Assistants or those new to the field looking to start their career in pharmacy.

 

Your main duties will be concentrated in the dispensary, supplying medicines for in-patients, community patients plus medication upon discharge. Our pharmacy assistants also rotate into pharmacy stores processing deliveries and ensuring wards are fully stocked with the medicines they require to treat their patients.

 

Full training will be given, including NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services which will provide a solid foundation to your work, with potential to progress further.  

 

Flexible working:

As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. 

Main duties of the job

To ensure the safe, efficient and correct storage and distribution of pharmaceutical stock as appropriate.

Ensuring the timely procurement and correct storage of medication within the dispensary. Being responsible for replenishing stock, using stock rotation methods to ensure minimum waste.

Regularly date check stock medication and assist the dispensary manager in the implementation of systems to reduce waste.

Regularly partake in the dispensing of routine inpatient, outpatient and community mental health team prescriptions and the replenishment of ward medication stock.

Act as a support net for all members of the dispensary team, to allow them to concentrate on more clinical activities.

Working for our organisation

South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK. We are a world leading Trust in research, working closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. Our services include the Maudsley Hospital, Lambeth Hospital and Bethlem Royal Hospital. We are also part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

 

The pharmacy department provides a clinical and dispensing service to wards and community teams in Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham across four hospital sites and a wide variety of community mental health teams. We also provide information about medication to both staff and patients to improve understanding and contribute to evidence based care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  1. To ensure the safe, efficient and correct receipt, storage and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
  2. To participate in stock topping up service to wards and departments.
  3. To carry out the routine dispensing and issuing of prescriptions including in-patients, outpatients, and community prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist
  4. To use the pharmacy computer system to dispense, issue, label and return medicines in accordance with level of training provided.
  5. To ensure correct storage and stock rotation of all items.
  6. To ensure that the stores, dispensary and distribution areas are kept clean and tidy.
  7. To dispose of and recycle pharmaceuticals in accordance with the departmental and local policies.
  8. To ensure a supply of sundries in the dispensary area.
  9. To assist the purchasing officer to ensure supplies are maintained at optimum levels.
  10. To ensure that requisitions are dealt within a timely manner.
  11. To ensure the maintenance of efficient stock control, including stock checks and expiry date checks.
  12. Any other duties deemed appropriate by the Dispensary Manager

Person specification

Education and Training

Essential criteria
  • 5 GCSEs or equivalent (Grade C or above including maths and English)
  • Commitment to undertake and complete NVQ Level 2 in pharmaceutical services
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ level 2 in pharmaceutical services or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working within a team
  • Experience of working within standard operating procedures
  • Adapting to different computer packages / systems
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience with computerised stock control system.
  • Experience of working in a mental health setting
  • Previous experience of working in a hospital
  • Previous experience of working in a pharmacy

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good organisational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
  • Ability to lift and handle heavy goods
  • Good time management skills
  • Ability to work within a team and individually
  • Good attention to detail and a responsible attitude towards quality and accuracy

Employer certification / accreditation badges

London Healthy workplaceCapital Nurse, LondonNo smoking policyLondon Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage FoundationImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Stonewall Silver 2022Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carly Wood
Job title
Dispensary Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
020 3228 5479
Additional information

Eleanor Styles

Dispensary Manager

020 3228 5479

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