Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy - Dispensary
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent: Fixed Term/Secondment Avaliable
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Compressed hours
- Job ref
- 234-25-E0812
- Employer
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
- Town
- Norwich
- Salary
- £24,465 - £26,598 per annum (pro rata)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 23/10/2025
Employer heading

Pharmacy Assistant/Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary
NHS AfC: Band 2
At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is to ‘provide the best care for every patient’, and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team.
NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.
Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:
People-focused
We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.
Respect
We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.
Integrity
We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.
Dedication
We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.
Excellence
We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.
Wish you were here? So do we.
We want all our staff to achieve a balance between work and personal life and understand how important flexible working can be. We welcome applications on a full or part time basis, various shift patterns and hybrid working, where roles allow.
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), we know the benefits diversity can bring to our organisation such as creativity, innovation and compassion. All of which have a direct impact towards our staff and patient experience. We are committed to being a Hospital for All – being equitable and inclusive, and a place where all feel a sense of belonging. We therefore particularly encourage and welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in NNUH’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with diverse abilities and people within the LGBT+ community.
Job overview
The Pharmacy Department provides a fully comprehensive pharmaceutical service across the Trust and to a number of external community units. We are a large and very busy department with over 180 members of staff including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, admin and clerical staff and apprentices. There are many varied roles and we all work as a team to provide the different functions and services whilst maintaining a high level of patient care.
Pharmacy Assistants are vital members of the Pharmacy team who work closely with Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians. They support colleagues throughout the Trust. Based in Dispensary they are required to work under the supervision of a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacist.
This is an exciting opportunity to join us as a Band 2 Pharmacy Assistant and develop the required knowledge and skills to become a Band 3 Senior Pharmacy Assistant. Support, training and assessment will enable you to achieve the core and enhanced competencies required for the post. A level 2 GPHC approved qualification will be undertaken and once qualified you will transition from band 2 to band 3. Those already holding a level 2 accredited pharmacy qualification will start at Band 3.
Main duties of the job
You will be supporting the supply and dispensing of medication to patients across the hospital, including outpatient clinics. You will have great attention to detail and like working in a fast-paced environment within a supportive team. The post will involve using the pharmacy computer system (CMM) and dispensing robot for which training will be given.
You will also spend some time each week on a ward to top up stocks of medication. If you have had some previous experience working in a hospital or community pharmacy, or a dispensing doctor’s practice, this is a great position to further develop your career in pharmacy.
This post is for either full or part-time hours. This can be fixed term or substantive. Full-time hours will be worked Monday to Friday with a shift pattern to cover early starts (08:00) and late finishes (18:00). Part-time hours can be worked as either full or part days but again will include the requirement to cover some earlies and lates. There will be a requirement to work 1 weekend every 10 weeks with corresponding time off during the week. There is also a requirement to participate in the bank holiday rota, currently minimum 1 per year. Rotas are subject to change at any time.
Working for our organisation
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.
If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.
Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 7114 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa. The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.
Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role asap
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 4 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C/4 or above to include English, Mathematics and Science
- To undertake and successfully complete the GPhC approved level 2 pharmacy training course
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Previous healthcare experience
Skills
Essential criteria
- Articulate and numerate with excellent written and oral communication skills
Attitude, aptitude
Essential criteria
- Able to work as part of a team with a flexible approach to duties
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ann-Marie Dyer
- Job title
- Dispensary Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01603 289884
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