Band 2

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the largest community healthcare provider in Sussex.

• Over 8,400 full time, part time and bank staff members
• Medical, nursing and therapeutic care provided to over 10,000 children and adults a day
• July 2018 Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features
• Flexible working patterns offered across all services
• Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
• Accredited Level 3 Disability Confident Leader

SCFT is an inclusive employer that promotes equality and challenges discrimination, and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. Applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, disabled candidates and LGBT+ candidates are particularly encouraged, to ensure the Trust's workforce reflects the diverse communities it serves.

Job overview

We are looking for a reliable and conscientious person, with an aptitude for thoroughness and accuracy, to fill the role of a Pharmacy Assistant.

Main duties of the job

The main duties are to support the Pharmacy Dispensary and wards at Crawley Hospital and include:

• General distribution activities, including ward-based top up of medicines
• Support and administrative duties, including helping to manage medicines stock
• Dispensing medicines
• Assisting with purchasing of medicines and with the receipt of medicine deliveries

Working for our organisation

The successful candidate will be a valued member of a friendly and supportive Pharmacy team and will be based at the pharmacy dispensary in Crawley Hospital. They must have five GCSEs (pass level C/4 or above or equivalent, including Maths and English) and knowledge or experience to NVQ2 or equivalent level. The opportunity to train as a Pharmacy Technician may be available for suitable candidates.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Good communication and organisational skills are important, along with the ability to work both on your own initiative as well as part of a team. Working in our team is a great opportunity to learn new skills and to gain well-rounded experience in Pharmacy.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification as well.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Educated to secondary school standard.
• 5 GCSEs (pass level C or above or equivalent including Maths and English).
• Working towards NVQ 2 or equivalent experience.

Desirable criteria

• Dispensing Assistant Course (NVQ Level 2 Equivalent) accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Experience
Desirable criteria

• One year's experience as a pharmacy assistant (or pharmacy related work) or the ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of pharmacy knowledge and procedures.
• Previous experience working in a community, hospital or clinical commissioning group medicines management team.
• Working in an inpatient environment including wards with direct patient contact either within an acute trust, community or similar setting.
• Safe and secure handling of medicines processes
• Working with NHS pharmacy procurement, distribution (including cold chain), safe storage and transportation of medicines processes.
• Multi-disciplinary working.
• Data collection.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria

• Able to cope with medicine names.
• Good organisation and prioritisation skills
• Good written skills.
• Good verbal communication skills - face to face and via a telephone.
• Able to work to protocols, procedures and guidelines.
• Able to keep accurate records.
• Able to resolve simple problems.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Computer skills. This includes keyboard skills and the ability to use IT software, e.g. Internet, Intranet, Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook).
• Reliable, enthusiastic and self-motivated.
• Good time management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Willing to undertake some routine/repetitive work.
• Able to work within teams, good interpersonal abilities.
• Adaptable to change and ability to support change issues.
• Good numeracy skills.
• Ability to work alone or under supervision.
• Honest and trustworthy.
• Uses initiative, but recognises personal limitations, able to identify when advice needs to be sought.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of medicines management and relevant legislation and policies.
• Knowledge of safe and secure handling of medicines processes.
• Knowledge of stores/stock keeping processes.
• Experience of working with ward top-up or Patients' Own Drugs Schemes.
• An understanding of information management and technology in the management of pharmaceutical services. Other requirements

Other requirements
Essential criteria

• Flexible approach.
• Able to concentrate on tasks for an extended period.
• Able to cope with interruptions when busy.
• Able to working to deadlines i.e. transport, bedded units requiring medication.
• Ability to work on multi-sites and to travel between multi-sites using own mode of transport.

Desirable criteria

• Able to lifting / carrying pharmaceutical goods.

This post may close earlier than the published closing date if sufficient applications are received.

Correspondence relating to this vacancy will be conducted electronically. If you have not heard from us within two weeks please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please ensure that you check your emails, including your junk folder, on a regular basis. References will be requested electronically as well; please ensure you provide correct contact details for referees.

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

• Band 2 Pharmacy Assistant ( PDF , 728.5 KB )
• Pharmacy Assistant PS ( PDF , 182.1 KB )
• Staff Benefits Brochure ( PDF , 484.5 KB )