Job Description

Job summary



Job title



Rotational Pharmacy Assistant



Band



3



Division



Clinical Support Division



Responsible to



Section/Team Leader



Accountable to



Principal Technician, Procurement and Distribution



Type of contract



Permanent



Hours per week



37.5



Location



West Middlesex University Hospital



Pharmacy Assistants may work in all sectors of the hospital pharmacy, invariably on rotation according to the needs of the pharmacy service. Duties include technical tasks according to relevant NVQ accreditation as well as housekeeping and other non-technical activities.



Pharmacy Assistants work under the direction of section/team leaders or pharmacists in accordance with all written procedures.



Pharmacy Assistants support other pharmacy staff in provision of pharmacy services and assist with limited training of relevant staff. Some sections of this job description may be more relevant than others for some individuals.



Pharmacy Assistants must complete an NVQ2 in pharmacy services (if not already held) within a specified timescale. This is a rotational role in stores and distribution and will include dispensary training to allow the successful candidate to complete logs and validations for weekend working.



Key responsibilities

Senior Stores assistant duties To manage stock control and be a super user for the Rowa Training rotational assistants and other grades of staffing Participate in rotational duties including dispensing medication in the Inpatient

dispensary

Ensuring the efficient running of stores according to workload

Please note:

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.



Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.



Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.



We continually invest in our facilities, including a 30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an 80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.



We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.



We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.



If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation.



Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.



Roles and responsibilities

1. STORES AND DISTRIBUTION

Print off or fill stock requisitions for other pharmacy locations or

wards/clinical areas of the hospital/outside units.

To be able to prioritise, organise and plan daily workload to meet service

requirements and acting as team lead to ensure work is completed on the

distribution and good receipt areas equitably

Participate in the topping up of stock drugs to wards and other clinical areas

against a predefined stock list.

Providing feedback to ward pharmacist / MMT staff on ward stock including

areas of overstock or increased need.

Issue stock items to wards/clinical areas via the pharmacy computer system. Perform repetitive lifting of pharmaceutical products and transport boxes

according to Health & Safety principles.

Unpack, check, count, handle, book in and put away deliveries received

into the pharmacy store in an accurate manner.

Match deliveries received against paperwork and query any discrepancies

(with the supplier or pharmacy procurement staff where relevant).

Assist with stock control including expiry date checking on a regular basis Daily stock checks completed - and discrepancies are investigated, stock

rotation and returns accurately.

Empty returned ward boxes and return stock (via the pharmacy computer

system) or dispose of unsuitable pharmaceuticals where relevant and

according to procedure.

Ensure all pharmaceutical products are stored securely and meet safe

custody requirements.

Assist in monitoring of all aspects of stores where necessary (including

cold store temperatures).

File all records appropriately and according to procedure. To assist and maintain procedures and contribute to the development of the

service

Escalate any medicines shortage issues on the wards or in stores, to the

appropriate person.

Monitor and investigate discrepancies. Maintain major incident box stock including expiries and change to contents when

instructed

Senior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Jan 2025 Page 15

General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA For medical gas cylinders perform a physical count and report this to the

purchasing office for the 2 medical gas cylinder stores on site

2. DISPENSARY

Ensure dispensary areas are kept clean and tidy and shelves/other relevant areas

are cleaned according to the department schedule.

Ensure dispensary areas are sufficiently stocked with all sundries (leaflets, cards,

bottles, bags).

Filing prescriptions and other paperwork and archiving as required. Undertake labelling and dispensing duties according to procedure. Perform all necessary logging in of inpatient and discharge prescriptions and

record logging out times for relevant parts of the dispensing process using Patient

Tracker System.

Assist in ensuring dispensary workload is managed in order, or according to priority

using the Patient Tracker System.

Hand out and dispense prescriptions where necessary according to procedure. Answer the telephone promptly and courteously, referring relevant calls efficiently

where necessary.

To have a working knowledge of all relevant pharmacy systems: JAC, TMS (Patient

Tracking System) and Cerner.

Dispense in the Inpatient Dispensary. General housekeeping and troubleshooting of ROWA Carry out monitoring and recording of dispensary fridge and ambient temperatures Stock control management including putting stock away received from stores,

rotating stock/checking expiries where relevant and performing stock control

counts.

Sort, count, compile and, where relevant, dispose of unsuitable medication returns.

Senior Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Jan 2025 Page 16

3. OTHER

Participation in weekend/Bank Holiday and other department rotas in accordance

with the needs of the service.

Participation in annual appraisals/PDP and performance review initiatives of the

Trust.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training and relevant updates in accordance

with Trust requirements.

Participation in other training initiatives to meet individual and departmental

requirements relevant to the post and the pharmacy service.

Complies with all other departmental and Trust policies. Undertakes any other duties required by the section/team leaders, principal

pharmacists or the Chief Pharmacist

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the

service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and

his/her manager.

All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.

You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge

level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of

staff