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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Grade C
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
372-CHS1605
Employer
Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd
Employer type
NHS
Site
CHS Pharmacy, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Town
Huddersfield
Salary
Dependent on experience. CHS grade C(£26,926) or grade B(£24,515)
Closing
12/10/2025 23:59
Interview date
30/10/2025

Employer heading

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd logo

Pharmacy Assistant - Outpatients

Grade C

CHS is able to offer a wide range of services. Our scale enables us to offer competitive rates and we have a long track record of providing high quality, customer-focused services.  

We offer comprehensive estates, facilities management, medical engineering, catering solutions and procurement services supporting the provision of safe, effective healthcare to our communities. We are committed to delivering our Green Plan goals of reducing carbon emissions, air pollution, waste generation and improving recycling throughout delivery of our services. We also enable profit to go back into patient care.

CHS recognises that its staff are its greatest asset and that its business is its people. The company aims to create an environment and culture of openness, trust and honesty.  We encourage and celebrate diversity because broader perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge will enrich and enhance the value we bring to each other, our clients, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Job overview

To assist in the provision of a high-quality patient focused dispensary service to outpatients at the Trust. 

Main duties of the job

·       To accurately dispense clinically checked prescriptions referring any areas of doubt to the Responsible Pharmacist

·       To provide quality customer service to all outpatient pharmacy customers including multidisciplinary healthcare professionals  

·       To contribute to the development and maintenance of a high quality and timely outpatient service for patients 

·       To contribute to the safe and accurate issue of completed dispensed prescriptions to patients

Working for our organisation

At CHS we understand the differences in delivering our services in complex environments and we have a flexible approach to meet the needs of our customers. Our Estates and Facilities management functions alongside our Clinical Engineering, decontamination and procurement service, provides the following:

  • Fully managed estate and building maintenance
  • Clinical Engineering and Decontamination
  • Procurement advice, guidance and governance
  • Capital project management
  • Transport
  • Grounds maintenance.
  • Portering
  • Catering
  • Cleaning (including robot and deep cleaning)

All provided to nationally recognised standards giving you assurance that your premises and equipment will be the best they can, and your customers will have confidence in you as a provider.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Dispensary Duties

·       To carry out the validation, labelling, dispensing and issue of prescriptions in the outpatient pharmacy

·       To calculate varying degrees of complex doses and quantities to supply on prescriptions

·       To undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items prior to the final accuracy check

·       To work on the pharmacy outpatient reception, taking in and handing out prescriptions, taking payment and dealing with customer queries

·       Use the Electronic Patient Record system to locate and print outpatient prescriptions

·       To securely and accurately input data, patient and prescription details onto the computer system and assist with the maintenance of records relating to work and workload statistics

·       To participate in the ordering, receipt of goods, stock checks and stock control of medicines in the outpatient pharmacy, ensuring efficient use of pharmaceuticals and resources

·       To assist with the dispensing, recording, maintenance, issue and receipt of Controlled Drugs as appropriate

·       To work under the supervision of site pharmacy manager within the outpatient dispensary to ensure efficient workflow and pharmacy provision

·       To carry out general duties, including stock and preparation of bottles, sundry items, additional information and labels, packaging, and counting and cleaning equipment

·       To use the prescription tracking system to record patient information and monitor and audit the transit of prescriptions through the dispensing, checking and delivery processes

  • To assist with the monitoring of the till to enable the team to process transactions efficiently
  • To monitor and record safe storage of stock by carrying out environmental temperature checks, expiry date checking, stock checks and assisting in the rotation of stock
  • To clean shelving where pharmaceuticals are stored, keeping them in a tidy, organised and fit for purpose condition 

Communication

·       To provide / receive routine information that may require tact or persuasive skills where there may be difficulties in understanding, especially when answering the telephone

·       To provide medication information verbally or in written format to outpatients or their representatives

General Duties

  • To work flexibly to support the team and service needs
  • To adhere to all policies and procedures for CHS and CHFT
  • To complete all mandatory training
  • To participate in and contribute towards an annual individual appraisal, with the dual goals of enhancing performance and developing a personal development plan
  • To carry out duties with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity policy
  • To seek advice and support from Line Manager whenever necessary
  • To maintain professional conduct including appearance at all times

Person specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Calm and professional manner under pressure
  • Flexible, enthusiastic approach
  • Evidence of good team working and interpersonal skills
  • Able to pay meticulous attention to detail
  • Able to understand and follow written procedures (
  • Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – able to form positive relationships
  • Organised, tidy and methodical
  • Able to clearly and accurately complete routine documentation
  • Able to deal with frequent interruptions, stressful situations or changing priorities whilst completing planned work
  • Reliable, trustworthy and punctual
  • Keyboard skills. Able to use basic Microsoft Office application
  • Demonstrate accurate numeracy skills, without using a calculator, including o Simple calculations e.g. Addition, subtraction, division and multiplication
  • Percentages, decimal, fractions and ratios
Desirable criteria
  • Able to deal with difficult, angry, annoyed patients and/or healthcare colleagues

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE English and Mathematics passed at grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent)
  • Working towards (or eligible to complete) GPhC accredited checking Pharmacy Assistant qualification
Desirable criteria
  • Completed NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills / BTEC Level 2 certificate in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) or equivalent Pharmacy Assistant course approved by GPhC

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Able to work under pressure in a busy environment
Desirable criteria
  • Experience as a Pharmacy Assistant in the hospital environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

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
Lois Cantrell
Job title
CHS Pharmacy Manager (HRI)
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07860 605668
Additional information

Kameo O’Hara, CHS Pharmacy Manager (CRH) on 07497 102160 or email at kameo.o'[email protected] 

Nigel Watson, Superintendent Pharmacist on 01484 355231 / 07823 702318 or email at [email protected]

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