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Job summary

Main area
Diagnostics
Grade
Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend and bank holiday working as part of a rota)
Job ref
210-2026-350-A
Employer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Countess of Chester Hospital
Town
Chester
Salary
£25,272 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacy Receptionist (Providing portering cover)

Band 2

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.  

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit. 

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours  per week 

To carry out a Portering function from the Pharmacy Department to all wards at The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation. The successful applicant will be delivering medicines, some of which require additional paperwork and act as a Receptionist, dealing with staff and patients in the main Pharmacy Department.

We are looking for an individual who can work under pressure and communicate effectively in a number of situations with a variety of people including Patients, Pharmacy Staff, Doctors, Nurses and many other health care staff.

This role is not a normal receptionist role - it can be very demanding and requires the post holder to be on their feet all day whilst managing the Dispensary and Ward Based workflow, manning the hatches and phones

Previous unsuccessful applicants need not apply

Main duties of the job

  • To participate in providing an efficient delivery service to and from wards and the pharmacy department at COCH.
  • Participate in the processing of stock returned from wards to be recycled or destroyed in the pharmacy department in line with Disposal procedures
  • Receive in and document all prescriptions/charts and ward requisitions received at the dispensary  reception.
  •  File all outpatient prescriptions, discharge notification forms, ward requisitions and faxed requests according to departmental policy

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
 
• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
 
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
 
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
 
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’ 

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.​

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.​

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services (must be willing to undertake if not possessed)
Desirable criteria
  • GCSE in 3 subjects preferably including English and Mathematics

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of a pharmacy environment.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Team player
  • Methodical good attention to detail
  • Experience of using computer systems.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to undertake manual lifting, delivery and cleaning duties
  • Willingness to undertake further training including NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employerJAG Accredited

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 Williams
Job title
Chief Pharmacy Technician - Patient Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01244 365251
Additional information

Or contact Deputy Dispensary Manager: -

Katie Jones 

01244 365251 

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