Job Description

Are you keen to work in a busy department supplying medicines for use by paramedics across the North East and improve medicines governance and patient care?
We are looking for an enthusiastic hard-working Dispensing Assistant to support the operational and technical aspects of medicines management at North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dispensing assistant with an accredited checking qualification who has an interest in expanding your knowledge medicines management within an ambulance service.
You must be proficient in IT including Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams.
Previous experience of management of stock control is essential
You have good communication skills and are able to work well under pressure and prioritise and manage your time effectively whilst working to high demands of an emergency service.
Please be aware that the role is predominantly on site working at our Medicines Packing Unit in Newburn but there will be some elements of travel to ambulance stations across the whole of the North East region from Berwick to Teesside and across Weardale. A Trust vehicle will be provided for this part of the role.
We are a small friendly medicines team, for further information please contact:
Fay Ord (Medicines Manager) email:fay.ord@neas.nhs.uk
About us
We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.
Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!
Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.
We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.
We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.
Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective and responsive care for all".
We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.
From 01/04/25 If your role needs a DBS you'll be subject to salary deduction totaling 49.50, spread over first and second pay.
Details
Date posted
05 January 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
24,937 to 26,598 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
340-MMDA-01-26
Job locations
Trust Headquarters Bernicia House
Newburn Riverside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a detailed description of the main duties & responsibilities associated with the role please refer to the Job description Job description
Job responsibilities
For a detailed description of the main duties & responsibilities associated with the role please refer to the Job description
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service (or pharmacy specific equivalent qualification) with post qualification experience
• Accuracy Checking qualification
• 5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English (Grade C or above)
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (including Excel)

Desirable

• Experience of working in an ambulance service

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of national and local priorities
• Interest in expanding knowledge and self- development
• Understanding of an electronic medicines stock control and management system
• Knowledge and understanding of the medicines management process at NEAS
• An understanding of ambulance drug pouches
• Be able to support and interpret complex stock control and production Information
• Be able to influence and implement change in team
• Ability to plan and organise own workload to meet conflicting priorities and targets.
• Good communications and interpersonal skills dealing with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with staff
• Be able to influence clinical and operational staff
• Be able to use presentation aids

Experience
Essential

• Previous employment or experience in pharmacy or medicines management role.
• Experience and knowledge of the legislation and good governance practice and how this applies to medicines.
• Stock control and ordering experience
• Track record of successful team working

Desirable

• Experience in working within an Ambulance Trust within the medicines department.
• Experience and understanding of all areas of hospital pharmacy
• Knowledge of ward based medicines management
• Experience of using risk management reporting systems

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Be flexible in responding to the demands of the service
• Proven ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• High degree of personal integrity
• Enthusiastic, cheerful and self-motivated.
• Professional in appearance.
• Willingness to progress
• Prioritise workload and ability to deliver high quality work to deadline with a good attention to detail.
• Good negotiation and motivational skills.
• Good planning and time management skills. Good analytical and judgmental skills.
• Attention to detail.

Driving Requirements
Essential

• Full UK Driving License with ability to travel across the full trust ambulance stations

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service (or pharmacy specific equivalent qualification) with post qualification experience
• Accuracy Checking qualification
• 5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English (Grade C or above)
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (including Excel)

Desirable

• Experience of working in an ambulance service

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of national and local priorities
• Interest in expanding knowledge and self- development
• Understanding of an electronic medicines stock control and management system
• Knowledge and understanding of the medicines management process at NEAS
• An understanding of ambulance drug pouches
• Be able to support and interpret complex stock control and production Information
• Be able to influence and implement change in team
• Ability to plan and organise own workload to meet conflicting priorities and targets.
• Good communications and interpersonal skills dealing with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with staff
• Be able to influence clinical and operational staff
• Be able to use presentation aids

Experience
Essential

• Previous employment or experience in pharmacy or medicines management role.
• Experience and knowledge of the legislation and good governance practice and how this applies to medicines.
• Stock control and ordering experience
• Track record of successful team working

Desirable

• Experience in working within an Ambulance Trust within the medicines department.
• Experience and understanding of all areas of hospital pharmacy
• Knowledge of ward based medicines management
• Experience of using risk management reporting systems

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Be flexible in responding to the demands of the service
• Proven ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• High degree of personal integrity
• Enthusiastic, cheerful and self-motivated.
• Professional in appearance.
• Willingness to progress
• Prioritise workload and ability to deliver high quality work to deadline with a good attention to detail.
• Good negotiation and motivational skills.
• Good planning and time management skills. Good analytical and judgmental skills.
• Attention to detail.

Driving Requirements
Essential

• Full UK Driving License with ability to travel across the full trust ambulance stations

Skills Required