Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekends and Lock up shifts as per Pharmacy rota)
- Job ref
- 193-7303921NCG
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/07/2025 12:00
Employer heading

Pharmacy Homecare Services Senior Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’. This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust. Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
Band 3 - Pharmacy Homecare Services Senior Assistant
This is an exciting opportunity for a reliable, self-motivated and enthusiastic applicant to join our expanding office-based Pharmacy Homecare Team to assist with the smooth running of the Pharmacy Homecare service.
Working with a wide variety of stakeholders, this post requires the processing and flow of information which is essential for the timely, safe and efficient provision of patient focused Homecare Medicines Services.
The department provides homecare activity across the Trust processing invoices relating to outsourced homecare services that deliver medication directly to the patient's home.
Prior experience working in a homecare team is desirable, but not essential.
The ideal candidate must have experience working in an office-based environment and have good communication and organisational skills. You must be flexible and able to work well in an environment of change, be computer literate and have attention to detail.
Here in Pharmacy we strive to deliver an efficient, safe and resourceful service to our patients. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their skills in many aspects of the Pharmacy service and will be expected to take part in our lock up and weekend duties as per rota.
If you believe you are the right person for the job, we welcome your application!
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work as a key member of the Pharmacy Homecare team supporting the day-to-day processing of prescriptions and invoices via the Pharmacy computer system.
The individual will be an active member of the team and will:
- Assist with the smooth running of the Pharmacy Homecare service.
- Ensure accurate processing of homecare prescriptions.
- Liaise with clinical teams to ensure homecare prescriptions are made available in a timely manner.
- Ensure homecare invoices processed in the Pharmacy computer system are accurate, and that appropriate discounts have been applied.
- Answer/resolve/escalate queries as appropriate.
- Assist in the investigation and resolution of complaints and incidents.
- Respect and maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times.
- Provide general administrative support to the department.
As part of this role you will be required to work weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis. Additional training will be provided. This post will support the BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles & Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff or equivalent, for staff who do not already have this.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006. It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority. The Trust has a successful track record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading’s biggest employer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details on the job role, please refer to the Job description and person specification attached.
For further information please contact Emily Coulsting, Deputy Lead Technician - Pharmacy Homecare Services. Tel: 0118 322 8794 or email: [email protected]
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSEs at level 4-9 (grade A* - C or equivalent) in Maths and English Language
- BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles & Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff or equivalent (or must be willing to work towards)
Desirable criteria
- QCF level 3 in business administration or customer service (or equivalent)
- ECDL or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of following detailed protocols or procedures
- Previous administrative experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience using CMM computer systems
- Previous experience of handling medicines
- Stock Control Experience
- Experience working within NHS or other healthcare context.
- Customer service experience
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work with a continuous high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
Desirable criteria
- Able to produce reports and other materials using Microsoft office applications
- Computer skills including use of NHS email
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
- Emily Coulsting
- Job title
- Deputy Lead Technician - Homecare Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01183228794
- Additional information
Monday - Friday 09:00 - 16:00
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