Job summary This role is the first step into Pharmacy, which now offers progression and opens doors for new and exciting opportunities. Are you interested in a varied role which has ensuring patients experience the best pharmaceutical care at its heart? We are looking for an enthusiastic Pharmacy Assistant to work as a key part of the pharmacy team both within our modern automated, dispensary area and at ward level to support patients and nursing staff in using and looking after medicines. This role involves activities related to stock distribution and medicine management, goods in and stock control, within the Pharmacy Department and to wards and departments of the Trust and other locations as appropriate. The Pharmacy Assistant role is a varied role centred around medicines distribution. You will be receiving in stock, using barcode technology, replenishing the automated dispensing robot, preparing ward boxes and restocking ward medicine supplies. The L&D Pharmacy is a 7 day service, flexible working will be considered. Main duties of the job To receive medicines into stock from wholesalers, suppliers and manufacturers, separating CDs, unlicensed, IV fluids and cold storage products To participate in the ward and department top up service, ordering and maintaining stock for wards/departments/theatre and clinic areas against agreed stock lists To remove waste medicines to the Pharmacy 'disposal area' and dispose of safely in line with departmental procedures To operate the Automated Dispensing Robot to supply Pharmaceutical stock via ward box picking and to load newly received stock into it To stock shelves in the Pharmacy department ensuring that stock is kept in the correct place, used in rotation and kept tidy About us Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology. Our Values We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job. Date posted 16 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 2 Salary £24,169 to £25,674 a year £22,383 to 24,336 Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 418-DTO1388-KA-B Job locations Luton and Dunstable Hospital Lewsey Road Luton LU4 0DZ Job description Job responsibilities STORES To work within Standard Operating procedures for the Store and Distribution area To receive medicines into stock from wholesalers and manufacturers, separating CDs, unlicensed, IV fluids and cold storage products To issue stock on the pharmacy computer system against a written or electronic orders To stock shelves in the Pharmacy department ensuring that stock is kept in the correct place, used in rotation and kept tidy To carry out regular stock checks of medicines stored within the Pharmacy under the supervision of senior staff Monitor temperatures of areas that hold Pharmaceutical stock and raise any deviations with the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician Maintain the general tidiness and cleanliness of the department DISTRUBUTION To assist in the delivery of an efficient distribution service to Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust and other commissioned services To operate the Automated Dispensing Robot to supply Pharmaceutical stock via ward box picking and to load newly received stock into it To participate in the ward and department top up service, ordering and maintaining stock for wards/departments/theatre and clinic areas against agreed stock lists Monitoring temperatures in the ward and departmental areas, raising concerns to the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician To deal with any queries or problems concerning ward stocks and pharmacy stocks as and when they arise. To liaise with ward Pharmacists and ward Technicians so that they are aware of stock problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued. OTHER To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust as they relate To take part in the weekend working rota To support the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician with service development Progression to Band 3: It is expected that the Band 2 post holder will achieve the relevant competencies within the training programme to proceed to Band 3 within 18 24 months. To assist the Principal Technician in the investigation and resolution of stock level discrepancies Support the procurement team with drug shortages when stock is held at ward level To update and maintain ward and department stock list with support from the Principal Technician and ward Pharmacist To dispense liquid nitrogen to wards and departments on completion of training and competency logs To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH guidelines and department procedures To complete the Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) and/or Level 2 Certificate in Pharmaceutical Science. Assist with the induction training of new staff To support the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician with the implementation of new processes for service development. Job description Job responsibilities STORES To work within Standard Operating procedures for the Store and Distribution area To receive medicines into stock from wholesalers and manufacturers, separating CDs, unlicensed, IV fluids and cold storage products To issue stock on the pharmacy computer system against a written or electronic orders To stock shelves in the Pharmacy department ensuring that stock is kept in the correct place, used in rotation and kept tidy To carry out regular stock checks of medicines stored within the Pharmacy under the supervision of senior staff Monitor temperatures of areas that hold Pharmaceutical stock and raise any deviations with the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician Maintain the general tidiness and cleanliness of the department DISTRUBUTION To assist in the delivery of an efficient distribution service to Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust and other commissioned services To operate the Automated Dispensing Robot to supply Pharmaceutical stock via ward box picking and to load newly received stock into it To participate in the ward and department top up service, ordering and maintaining stock for wards/departments/theatre and clinic areas against agreed stock lists Monitoring temperatures in the ward and departmental areas, raising concerns to the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician To deal with any queries or problems concerning ward stocks and pharmacy stocks as and when they arise. To liaise with ward Pharmacists and ward Technicians so that they are aware of stock problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued. OTHER To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust as they relate To take part in the weekend working rota To support the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician with service development Progression to Band 3: It is expected that the Band 2 post holder will achieve the relevant competencies within the training programme to proceed to Band 3 within 18 24 months. To assist the Principal Technician in the investigation and resolution of stock level discrepancies Support the procurement team with drug shortages when stock is held at ward level To update and maintain ward and department stock list with support from the Principal Technician and ward Pharmacist To dispense liquid nitrogen to wards and departments on completion of training and competency logs To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH guidelines and department procedures To complete the Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) and/or Level 2 Certificate in Pharmaceutical Science. Assist with the induction training of new staff To support the Principal Stores and Distribution Technician with the implementation of new processes for service development. Person Specification Skills Essential Good verbal and written communication skills Able to work with minimum supervision; self-reliant Motivated and enthusiastic Able to cope with an occasional requirement for physical effort and lifting of objects (5kg or under) Accurate at inputting data Desirable Pharmacy experience Empathetic communication skills Knowledge Essential Ability to organise own day to day work tasks Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times Desirable Knowledge of the NHS and or experience of working in a hospital environment Awareness of medicine names Experience Essential Customer orientated services Experience of working with computer programmes including basic Microsoft Office packages Experience of working within a team Desirable Experience of working in a warehouse/ stock managed environment Experience of working in a pharmacy environment Qualifications Essential Evidence of good level of education to include GCSE grade C in Mathematics and English or equivalent NVQ Level 2 in Dispensary Stock Management or willing to undertake Person Specification Skills Essential Good verbal and written communication skills Able to work with minimum supervision; self-reliant Motivated and enthusiastic Able to cope with an occasional requirement for physical effort and lifting of objects (5kg or under) Accurate at inputting data Desirable Pharmacy experience Empathetic communication skills Knowledge Essential Ability to organise own day to day work tasks Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times Desirable Knowledge of the NHS and or experience of working in a hospital environment Awareness of medicine names Experience Essential Customer orientated services Experience of working with computer programmes including basic Microsoft Office packages Experience of working within a team Desirable Experience of working in a warehouse/ stock managed environment Experience of working in a pharmacy environment Qualifications Essential Evidence of good level of education to include GCSE grade C in Mathematics and English or equivalent NVQ Level 2 in Dispensary Stock Management or willing to undertake 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Luton and Dunstable Hospital Lewsey Road Luton LU4 0DZ Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)