Job Description

This post would be suitable for someone who is looking to start their career in Hospital Pharmacy.
We are looking for enthusiastic, flexible and well-motivated individuals to join our existing Pharmacy team.
The successful candidates will rotate between Pharmacy stores and Whiston and St Helens Hospital dispensaries, and participate in our evening, weekend and bank holiday rotas.
Attention to detail is essential, as is an ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment with other members of the Pharmacy team.
Good communication skills and a willingness to learn is important.
Candidates ideally should possess NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Service skills or a GPhC recognised equivalent qualification, However training can be provided. A good standard of education (to GCSE level) would be advantageous.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change
Main duties of the job

• To participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores dispensaries and wards.
• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions.
• To participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics primarily to maintain and control medicines.
• To assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions, using the latest software.
• To prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments.
• To assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock including the maintenance of manual and computerised records.
• To assist in the provision of a ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards on a weekly basis.
• To co-operate with the provision of necessary staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to other sites e.g. St Helens.
• To assist in the preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To participate in stock control of medicines within the pharmacy department under the supervision of the dispensary manager or senior technician.
• Regularly handle or process cash or cheques when dealing with outpatients prescriptions.
• To comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the Pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas.
• To participate in evening and on-call rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.

About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details
Date posted
03 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
24,465 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
20 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
409-7417641
Job locations
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Rd
Prescot
L35 5DR
Job description
Job responsibilities

• To participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores dispensaries and wards.
• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions.
• To participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics primarily to maintain and control medicines.
• To assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions, using the latest software.
• To prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments.
• To assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock including the maintenance of manual and computerised records.
• To assist in the provision of a ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards on a weekly basis.
• To co-operate with the provision of necessary staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to other sites e.g. St Helens.
• To assist in the preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To participate in stock control of medicines within the pharmacy department under the supervision of the dispensary manager or senior technician.
• Regularly handle or process cash or cheques when dealing with outpatients prescriptions.
• To comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the Pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his / her control comply with the Health and Safety at work act, COSHH Regulations, Display Screen Equipment Regulations, Data Protection Act and other appropriate legislation during daily activities.
• To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas.
• To participate in evening and on-call rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.

• To assist with basic counselling of outpatients in accordance with pharmacy procedures and under the supervision of a pharmacist or Pharmacy technician.
• To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
• To liaise with various members of the Pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients.
• To ensure safety of drugs awaiting collection by nursing staff and other responsible persons
• To participate in individual performance review and continuing education programmes in order to maintain and improve standards of service.
• To maintain continuing professional development.

• To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the Pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g. Ordering and stock control.
• To assist in the completion and filing of departmental documents.
• To record any information and assist in the compilation of any data necessary.
• To act as a role model and assist in the training and induction of other members of the technical staff.

• To undertake and achieve the NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills qualification in accordance with GPhC guidance.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To participate in the ATO rota through areas of the stores dispensaries and wards.
• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions.
• To participate in pharmacy services to wards and clinics primarily to maintain and control medicines.
• To assist in booking in and auditing prescriptions, using the latest software.
• To prepare and assemble supplies of medicines for delivery to wards and departments.
• To assist in the receipt, storage and issue of stock including the maintenance of manual and computerised records.
• To assist in the provision of a ward topping up service, supplying stock medication to wards on a weekly basis.
• To co-operate with the provision of necessary staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to other sites e.g. St Helens.
• To assist in the preparation and assembly of resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To participate in stock control of medicines within the pharmacy department under the supervision of the dispensary manager or senior technician.
• Regularly handle or process cash or cheques when dealing with outpatients prescriptions.
• To comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the Pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his / her control comply with the Health and Safety at work act, COSHH Regulations, Display Screen Equipment Regulations, Data Protection Act and other appropriate legislation during daily activities.
• To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas.
• To participate in evening and on-call rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.

• To assist with basic counselling of outpatients in accordance with pharmacy procedures and under the supervision of a pharmacist or Pharmacy technician.
• To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
• To liaise with various members of the Pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients.
• To ensure safety of drugs awaiting collection by nursing staff and other responsible persons
• To participate in individual performance review and continuing education programmes in order to maintain and improve standards of service.
• To maintain continuing professional development.

• To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the Pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g. Ordering and stock control.
• To assist in the completion and filing of departmental documents.
• To record any information and assist in the compilation of any data necessary.
• To act as a role model and assist in the training and induction of other members of the technical staff.

• To undertake and achieve the NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills qualification in accordance with GPhC guidance.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ LEVEL II in Pharmacy Services (hold or work towards)

Other
Essential

• Physical Effort - To sit at VDU, to push, pull and handle deliveries of drugs
• Mental Effort - To concentrate for stock issue and checking

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Computer literate

Desirable

• Dispensing Assistant

Skills
Essential

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Ability to work to a high specification of accuracy
• Ability to understand the importance of confidentiality
• Commitment to Continual Professional Development
• Good time management skills
• Self-motivating and flexible

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ LEVEL II in Pharmacy Services (hold or work towards)

Other
Essential

• Physical Effort - To sit at VDU, to push, pull and handle deliveries of drugs
• Mental Effort - To concentrate for stock issue and checking

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Computer literate

Desirable

• Dispensing Assistant

Skills
Essential

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Ability to work to a high specification of accuracy
• Ability to understand the importance of confidentiality
• Commitment to Continual Professional Development
• Good time management skills
• Self-motivating and flexible

Skills Required