Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- 1 x 37.5, 1 x 30 hours per week (Permanent) & 1x 22.5 hours per week (12m Maternity Cover)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 275-2503PDA
- Employer
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Medway Hospital
- Town
- kent
- Salary
- £23,615 per annum/pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/04/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Pharmacy Distribution Assistant
Band 2
Job overview
Role: Pharmacy Distribution Assistant
Division: Cancer & Core Clinical Services
Band: 2
Salary: £23,615 per annum/pro rata
Hours: 3 Positions available
1 x 37.5 hour per week - Permanent
1 x 30 hours per week - Permanent
1 x 22.5 hours per week 12m Maternity Cover
All positions will include late night/weekend and bank holiday commitment (7 day working)
We are recruiting for a Pharmacy Distribution Assistant who shares our ambition and vision to deliver the Best of Care by the Best People and has the drive to take us forward, by ensuring that the Trust continues to be the first choice for patients and our staff.
Main duties of the job
To undertake general supply, distribution and inventory management duties within the Pharmacy to meet the needs and expectations of our service users
Participate in Pharmacy reception duties and general dispensary duties including dispensing as required including dispensing controlled drugs for wards and patients.
To support and assist all members of the Pharmacy team.
The successful applicant(s) will be required to work towards a Level 2 in Pharmacy services. Full support will be given for this.
Our values are Bold, Every Person Counts, Sharing and Open and Together. It is important that you understand and to refer to our values when completing your application and always reflect our values throughout your employment with the Trust.
We are committed to endorsing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion; our policies / procedures ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
To contribute to our exciting future and become part of our team, apply today.
Working for our organisation
People providing excellent care, every time?
Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision is achieved for our patients.
As a key partner in the healthcare of our local population, we are keen to deliver this as an outcome of our Trust-wide strategy – Patient First. Using an Operational Excellence approach to align our priorities and operational management structures, we are just over a year and half into our Patient First deployment. We are looking for creative, skilled people to join our Transformation Team and further support us on this journey.
Our culture and values define us here at Medway NHS Foundation Trust and are the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation.
Our BEST values underpin Patient First and are at the core of the care we give to our patients, the support we offer to our staff and our overall leadership approach:
B – Bold
E – Every person counts
S – Sharing and open
T - Together
Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious and dynamic environment; our employees are able to choose the coverage and supplemental benefits that best fit their needs and those of their families. This includes the promotion of flexible working opportunities across the Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Dispensary Services and Distribution services:
Prioritise work to deliver an efficient service
Participate in the supply of stock medication via the ward top up service. Liaise with relevant ward Pharmacists and ward staff to provide an effective and efficient service.
Process and return any surplus or unused drugs following departmental standard operating procedures
Assist in the delivery of stock & dispensed items to the wards and departments
Ensure that the goods received by the pharmacy are promptly unpacked and checked off against delivery notes.
Ensure the correct storage of the medication and ensure good stock rotation and monitor and check for expiry dates
Ensure that any to-follow or out of stock issues are promptly and accurately reported to both the procurement and distribution managers
Sort, file and archive prescriptions and other relevant paper as advised as per standard operating procedures.
Collate stock, including orders from Community clinics and other outside agencies, ready for collection by the pharmacy porter or hospital transport.
Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.
Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the dispensary and ward stock distribution areas.
Answer the telephone and refer clinical queries to the appropriate trained staff member.
Maintain good customer services at all times.
Ensure that the appropriate manual and computer records are amended when stock is transferred and that stock discrepancies are either corrected immediately or reported to a senior member of staff
Carry out daily stock checks against the computer generated monitoring sheets for stock audit. Ensure that any discrepancies are reported.
Record all prescriptions received onto the prescription tracking system
To provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service of various types of prescriptions in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures
To maintain patient records using the Pharmacy computer systems to ensure information is accurate and up to date and complies with the Data Protection Act
Record all financial transactions connected with NHS and private patients
Responsible for the Dispensary cash register procedure, including the float and cashing up.
To maintain current and relevant information in the waiting area as per departmental procedures and as advised by the dispensary manager.
To assist with administration duties within the anticoagulation clinic
Dispensing and distribution of controlled drugs as ward stock
Portering of medicines to wards and clinics when required during the week and at weekends
Participate in the late night service; weekend and bank holiday rota’s as required.
Report any complaints, incidents or near miss situations via the error reporting system and your line manager.
Maintain a clean and tidy environment
All pharmacy staff must show confidentiality with regard to any information about patients, confidential information about the Trust and commercial information (e.g. drug prices).
All work will be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws, the guidelines of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the General pharmaceutical council, Trust and departmental procedures and standards of professional practice
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE (English & Maths C or above)
- NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) or ability to work towards NVQ2 (pharmaceutical) within 6 months
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Basic computer skills
- Accurately dispense to set standards
- Familiar with pharmacy procedures and workflow Pharmacy services
- Working within the NHS
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous hospital or pharmacy Experience
- Understanding of hospital pharmacy environment
Skills
Essential criteria
- Evidence of excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
- Good team worker and works effectively within multidisciplinary team
- Work well under pressure Ability to communicate routine information effectively using clear written and spoken English
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Samantha Stroud
- Job title
- Pharmacy Distribution Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01634 825148
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