Job summary Our friendly and progressive department are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join the cancer services pharmacy team with the potential to rotate through the acute hospital pharmacy, depending on candidate experience and training. This is an excellent opportunity to work in the heart of a well-established clinical pharmacy team with a wide range of patients and healthcare professionals in a busy and expanding cancer centre. The successful candidate will perform a wide range of duties at clinic and dispensary level. Key duties include dispensing of prescriptions and processing prescriptions for homecare delivery. Past experience in pharmacy is helpful but not essential to the role as full training will be provided, based on your existing qualifications and future role requirements. Candidates would ideally already hold the NVQ 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent or be willing to work towards this. Main duties of the job Interpreting and dispensing of prescriptions (inpatients, outpatients and discharge) according to set rota. Liaising with ward staff when there are drug supply problems. Assist with relevant queries from nursing staff in clinic. Handing out of medication to outpatients - where appropriate according to SOP. Processing prescriptions for Homecare delivery. Maintain adequate stock levels of medications. Answering the telephone and directing queries from staff and patients to the appropriate team member. About us With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. Both hospitals are located in the city centres with access to shops and cafes. The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff. The 2 sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards; the onsite aseptic and manufacturing services are centralised at CGH. Pharmacy is at the forefront of many exciting projects including an award-winning service provided by pharmacist prescribers in orthopaedic pre-admission clinic. Within the department are specialist clinical teams; the Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy facilitates delivery of Specialist services for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities. The cancer services team provide a pharmacy service at both sites for oncology & haematology and satellite pharmacy. We are a friendly, inclusive department who wish to nurture and develop our staff at all grades. Date posted 28 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share Reference number 318-25-T0064 Job locations Pharmacy Department, Cheltenham General Hospital Sandford Road Cheltenham GL53 7AN Job description Job responsibilities Job purpose Cancer Services duties: Interpreting and dispensing of prescriptions for oral chemotherapy, dose banding syringes and support drugs for oncology patients. Maintain adequate stock levels of drugs in the cancer services pharmacy and report any drug supply problems to the Lead Cancer Services Pharmacy Technician. Liaise with manufacturing and dispensary regarding supplies of drugs for patients. Assist the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in cancer services with general admin duties e.g. finding missing notes/prescriptions, printing patient lists from Trakcare, retrieving patients from the waiting area. Assist with relevant queries from nursing staff in clinic. Handing out of medication to outpatients where appropriate according to SOP. Processing prescriptions for Homecare delivery. Dispensing: Interpreting and dispensing of prescriptions (inpatients, outpatients and discharge) according to set rota. Dispensing one-stop medication. Dispensing of controlled drugs including entering controlled drug registers, checking the balances and reporting any discrepancies to the Lead Pharmacy Technician. Dispensing into compliance aid packs. Liaising with ward staff when there are drug supply problems. Dispensing of medicines for clinical trials - completing records as per the trial protocol. Reception duties: Receiving prescriptions from the general public at the outpatient hatch. Requesting payment for prescriptions where necessary and processing financial transactions. Answering the staff hatch and dealing with requests and queries. Manning the pharmacy helpdesk and answering telephone queries from staff and patients. Referring complex queries to the appropriate member of staff. Handing out of medication to outpatients where appropriate according to SOP. Other duties: To cover ward top-ups as requested by dispensary manager/deputy dispensary manager Housekeeping and stock security/ control duties. Help manage return of unwanted medicines from wards & departments, assessing stock for reuse and credit as appropriate and destroying medicines that are unsuitable for use. Informing pharmacists/medicines management pharmacy technicians of stock unavailability. To undertake any other duties as deemed fit by the GHNHSFT management. Occasional handling of potentially hazardous substances (e.g. cytotoxic medication) in accordance with standard operating procedures and COSHH regulations. Lifting and moving light packages. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required NVQ 2 in pharmacy services (necessary from January 05) or equivalent, or be willing to work towards this. Basic IT skills to be able to use the pharmacy computer system. Basic numeracy and literacy Will be required to complete in-house dispensing accuracy assessment Required to have full training in patient administration computer system (EMIS) To be able to work as part of a team or alone. To have appropriate dispensing experience. Communication and working relationships Communicate with and provide appropriate advice to Nurses and other health care professionals regarding medication issues within the post holders experience. Communication with Patients and Carers regarding medication issues. Communication daily with other members of the pharmacy team. An annual appraisal (development conversation) is implemented for all staff with their line manager. Safe Systems of Work Accountable for own professional actions and activities, guided by legislation, national and local policies, procedures and protocols. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring a safe working practice and environment through legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH regulations, along with local policies and procedures including manual handling Regular use of VDUs for extended periods Standing and walking are required for the majority of the day Exposure to occasional verbal aggression from outpatients Participation in Weekend Working rota The post holder may be part of the weekend, late night and bank holiday working rota covering the acute trust pharmacy. Improving quality and developing practice Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient record, email, and other systems where appropriate Maintain regular use of emails to keep abreast of information disseminated in the Trust Undertake all mandatory training Job description Job responsibilities Job purpose Cancer Services duties: Interpreting and dispensing of prescriptions for oral chemotherapy, dose banding syringes and support drugs for oncology patients. Maintain adequate stock levels of drugs in the cancer services pharmacy and report any drug supply problems to the Lead Cancer Services Pharmacy Technician. Liaise with manufacturing and dispensary regarding supplies of drugs for patients. Assist the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in cancer services with general admin duties e.g. finding missing notes/prescriptions, printing patient lists from Trakcare, retrieving patients from the waiting area. Assist with relevant queries from nursing staff in clinic. Handing out of medication to outpatients where appropriate according to SOP. Processing prescriptions for Homecare delivery. Dispensing: Interpreting and dispensing of prescriptions (inpatients, outpatients and discharge) according to set rota. Dispensing one-stop medication. Dispensing of controlled drugs including entering controlled drug registers, checking the balances and reporting any discrepancies to the Lead Pharmacy Technician. Dispensing into compliance aid packs. Liaising with ward staff when there are drug supply problems. Dispensing of medicines for clinical trials - completing records as per the trial protocol. Reception duties: Receiving prescriptions from the general public at the outpatient hatch. Requesting payment for prescriptions where necessary and processing financial transactions. Answering the staff hatch and dealing with requests and queries. Manning the pharmacy helpdesk and answering telephone queries from staff and patients. Referring complex queries to the appropriate member of staff. Handing out of medication to outpatients where appropriate according to SOP. Other duties: To cover ward top-ups as requested by dispensary manager/deputy dispensary manager Housekeeping and stock security/ control duties. Help manage return of unwanted medicines from wards & departments, assessing stock for reuse and credit as appropriate and destroying medicines that are unsuitable for use. Informing pharmacists/medicines management pharmacy technicians of stock unavailability. To undertake any other duties as deemed fit by the GHNHSFT management. Occasional handling of potentially hazardous substances (e.g. cytotoxic medication) in accordance with standard operating procedures and COSHH regulations. Lifting and moving light packages. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required NVQ 2 in pharmacy services (necessary from January 05) or equivalent, or be willing to work towards this. Basic IT skills to be able to use the pharmacy computer system. Basic numeracy and literacy Will be required to complete in-house dispensing accuracy assessment Required to have full training in patient administration computer system (EMIS) To be able to work as part of a team or alone. To have appropriate dispensing experience. Communication and working relationships Communicate with and provide appropriate advice to Nurses and other health care professionals regarding medication issues within the post holders experience. Communication with Patients and Carers regarding medication issues. Communication daily with other members of the pharmacy team. An annual appraisal (development conversation) is implemented for all staff with their line manager. Safe Systems of Work Accountable for own professional actions and activities, guided by legislation, national and local policies, procedures and protocols. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring a safe working practice and environment through legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH regulations, along with local policies and procedures including manual handling Regular use of VDUs for extended periods Standing and walking are required for the majority of the day Exposure to occasional verbal aggression from outpatients Participation in Weekend Working rota The post holder may be part of the weekend, late night and bank holiday working rota covering the acute trust pharmacy. Improving quality and developing practice Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient record, email, and other systems where appropriate Maintain regular use of emails to keep abreast of information disseminated in the Trust Undertake all mandatory training Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent Desirable NHS hospital pharmacy experience or working within a ward, clinic or nursing home Skills Essential Be proficient in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook Self-motivated and able to use initiative & prioritise workload as well as work in a team Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent Desirable NHS hospital pharmacy experience or working within a ward, clinic or nursing home Skills Essential Be proficient in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook Self-motivated and able to use initiative & prioritise workload as well as work in a team Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Pharmacy Department, Cheltenham General Hospital Sandford Road Cheltenham GL53 7AN Employer's website https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)