Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Bank
- Hours
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- Bank - D Pharmacy Ast - 3
- Employer
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- MSE Southend
- Town
- Southend
- Salary
- £13.16 Per Hour
- Salary period
- Hourly
- Closing
- 09/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Bank - Dispensary Pharmacy Assistant - Band 3
NHS AfC: Band 3
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.
Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.
We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.
Job overview
The post holder will provide support services to the Trust from the Pharmacy department, including (but not exclusive to) the ordering, receipt, storage and supply of Pharmaceuticals and other stocks. Duties will also include administration support to the pharmacy departments various teams, including Medication Governance, Clinical pharmacy teams and the Operational Lead Technician
Main duties of the job
Distribution
Take part in the Pharmacy ward top-up service:
· Print ward stock lists to a schedule.
· Check ward and department stock of Pharmaceuticals against an agreed list.
· Order required items.
Process ward stock orders including top-up orders and telephone requests, using the pharmacy stock control system, pick and package orders for delivery.
Stores
Maintain supplies of non-drug items including requesting, receipting and stock checking.
Receive deliveries, check and book in orders of pharmaceuticals and other stocks.
Assist in the resolution of order discrepancies, identification of late and outstanding orders and return of stock to suppliers.
Policy and Service Development
Assist with Monitoring of pharmacy performance with regular audits and reporting
Working for our organisation
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest Trust in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust, comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon, and Southend, is determined to provide the best health services for its local population. We are a well-led, high-performing, and innovative organisation working in the best interests of the people we serve.
With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.
Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties are to be undertaken in accordance with departmental SOPs.
Distribution
1. Take part in the Pharmacy ward top-up service:
· Print ward stock lists to a schedule.
· Check ward and department stock of Pharmaceuticals against an agreed list.
· Order required items.
2. Process ward stock orders including top-up orders and telephone requests, using the pharmacy stock control system, pick and package orders for delivery.
3. Unpack and put away ward orders where applicable.
4. Process, pick and package requisitions from other areas within Pharmacy e.g., the Technical Services Unit.
5. Monitor and maintain stock in the Emergency drug cupboard.
6. Perform the daily top ups of stock within the pharmacy department.
7. Perform departmental stock checks and expiry checks for both medication and sundry items
8. Perform daily stock maintenance of the pharmacy automated dispensing robot.
9. Perform pharmacy storage audits on wards/departments.
10. Assist with the recording and storage of archive material.
11. Supply orders of Pharmaceuticals to community clinics, GP surgeries and other external organisations according to departmental procedure. Answer and deal with telephone enquiries from customers relating to orders.
12. Take orders for Liquid Nitrogen; fill canisters and ready for dispatch to clinics and surgeries
13. Assemble emergency resus drug packs. Monitor the expiry dates and recall/replace stock in a timely manner
14. Assess suitability of Pharmaceuticals for return to stock. Return items to stock using the pharmacy stock control system or dispose of according to departmental procedure.
15. Assist with the management and disposal of Special (Pharmaceutical) waste according to departmental procedure.
Stores
1. Maintain supplies of non-drug items including requesting, receipting and stock checking.
2. Receive deliveries, check and book in orders of pharmaceuticals and other stocks.
3. Assist in the resolution of order discrepancies, identification of late and outstanding orders and return of stock to suppliers.
4. Process computer receipts of orders.
5. Put goods away and maintain an efficient stock rotation system.
6. Unload and put away bulk deliveries of large volume fluids and containers using departmental equipment such as pallet trucks.
7. Deliver Pharmaceuticals to wards and departments.
8. Maintain a clean and tidy workplace
9. Assist in the ordering and invoicing of pharmaceuticals and sundry items.
10. Assist with medical gas supply; maintaining full stock records as required and processing invoices.
11. Liaise with other Pharmacy staff to ensure that correct stock control procedures are adhered to and support other staff in maintaining.
Administrative duties
1. Sort and distribute incoming departmental post.
2. Collate audit results.
3. Detail items sold to non-contract parties and pass to the senior distribution technician.
4. File ‘hard copy’ orders and other related documents.
5. Maintain archive records.
6. File other Pharmacy literature and documents as required.
7. Produce drug usage reports for the Clinical Pharmacy team when required.
8. Assist with the couriering of medications if required.
Other Duties
1. Follow Departmental Standard Operational Procedures at all times.
2. Undertake any other reasonable duties the Senior Distribution Technician, Senior Purchasing Technician, or Operational Lead Technician may allocate from time to time.
Communication
Clear and effective verbal communication with other staff members. Communication via telephone with all service users.Written communication via NHS.net email system, pharmacy IT systems
Analytical and Planning
Managing own workload and independent working.
Taking part in pharmacy late rota and weekend/bank holiday working rota.
3. Clinical Duties (If Applicable)
Communicate with ward staff to ensure timely supply of medicines. Contribute to the maintenance of good stock control
4. Policy and Service Development
Assist with Monitoring of pharmacy performance with regular audits and reporting
5. Financial and Physical Resources
Participate in stock control including expiry date checking to minimize wastage.
6. Staff Management
Assist with Training of new staff and visiting students.
7. Information Resources
To use the Document control system for viewing Pharmacy procedures.
To use the Pharmacy Prescription Tracking system appropriately as required.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council under the relevant units of NVQ level 2 for Pharmacy Assistants, or the ability and willingness to attain these units after a period of in house training.
- A good standard of basic education including Maths and English
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
- Experience in a role that required following strict guidelines and procedures
- Previous experience of team working
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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
- Bank Recruitment Team
- Job title
- Bank Recruitment Team
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 0430160
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