Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Are you interested in a varied role which has ensuring that 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 in our satellite dispensary's. This role involves activities related to dispensing prescriptions for patients in the main dispensary and satellite units and stock control, within the Pharmacy Department., To provide medicine dispensing services in the main dispensary and satellite dispensary units.
To supervise the activity of trainee Pharmacy Assistants and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
To take part in the late dispensary, weekend and bank holiday shift system., 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., To issue stock from the pharmacy to wards and departments
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 Pharmacy Technicians so that they are aware of problems which may lead to temporary alternatives being issued
To receive prescriptions and other requests into the Main Dispensary and Dispensary Satellites according to the agreed procedures and deal with straightforward problems
To interpret prescriptions and where necessary, contact a pharmacy technician or pharmacist to clarify prescriptions
To undertake dispensing tasks under supervision including use of the pharmacy computer system for labelling and assessment of patient's own drugs (PODs) and previously dispensed ward-TTAs for appropriateness for use at discharge
To check and restock the emergency drug cupboard
To answer the telephone and resolve problems
To replenish dispensing sundries such as bottles and cartons and order stock
To be responsible for ordering and maintaining stock of additional labels
To be responsible for ordering stock and maintaining display of leaflets for outpatient waiting area
To ensure the distribution/dispensing area is maintained in a tidy
To perform environmental monitoring of the stores areas, e.g. temperature monitoring
To be responsible for the destruction of drug waste in accordance with COSHH principles and Trust waste disposal procedures including completion of necessary paperwork.
To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as they relate to the delivery of services
To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust
To train other staff members and volunteers as outlined in their training schedule. This will include Dispensary Assistants, Junior Technicians, and Pre-Registration Pharmacists and Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
To maintain safe systems of work in accordance with relevant medicines legislation and with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To cover duties of any other stores assistant or senior stores assistant duties as and when required.
To pack and check emergency trays.
To participate in departmental audit programmes
To participate in the weekend, bank holiday and late dispensary rota
To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacist.

If you are interested in this post you will need previous experience of working in either a hospital or community pharmacy and have a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent.
You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles and delivering an excellent patient experience.
The L&D Pharmacy is a 7 day service and some late night, weekend and bank holiday shifts will be required.

Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
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. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.