County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy Assistant The closing date is 02 July 2025
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one ofthe largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population ofaround 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a trackrecord of success.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacyassistant to join the CDDFT Pharmacy Team and participate in the provision of acomprehensive pharmaceutical service.
We have a post based at the University Hospital of NorthDurham primarily with an emphasis on the technical aspects of dispensing andsupply of medicines with elements of the technical aspects of goods receipt,storage and distribution of medicines
All posts have a responsibility for ward anddepartment top up supply and there may be a necessity to cross cover betweenareas after appropriate training
Main duties of the job The post holder will be responsible for delivering a highquality dispensing and supply service
The post holder will undertake a range of activitiesincluding dispensing, stock control, purchase and storage of medicines andparticipate in the ward stock top up service to allocated wards ensuring thatthe requirements of the ward are met at all times
The post holder will rotate through thedispensary and pharmacy stores areas, where appropriate.
About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities The post-holder must ensure that all duties are performedfollowing SOPs and include:
Prescription process/issue and receipt
undertake reception duties including the receipt,validation and prioritisation of prescriptions and the issuing of prescriptionsto wards/departments or other health care professionals
check the exemption status of the patient on receipt of anout-patient prescription and where appropriate, calculate the prescriptioncharge due and ensure that documentation is completed and passed to finance forpayment according to Trust SFIs
enter the patients details on the prescription trackingdatabase, where applicable
take responsibility for the dispensing and issue of allprescriptions within their knowledge and skills including oral cytotoxicregimes, clinical trials, in-patient and out-patient prescriptions using thepharmacy computer system, ensuring that accurate documentation and records aremaintained to comply with legal requirements
develop their own robust self-checking technique to ensureaccurate dispensing and calculation of doses are carried out prior to passingfor a final check to ensure the accuracy of temporary stock items supplieddirectly to wards and departments
ensure the accuracy of temporary non stock items supplieddirectly to wards and departments
Controlled Drugs
Dispense controlled drug prescriptions and stock orders
ensure accurate entries are recorded in controlled drugregisters to maintain stock control and legal requirements
ensure the receipt, storage, safe and secure handling andsupply of controlled drugs
Emergency Drug Cupboard/ Boxes
Monitor issues from the out of hours Emergency DrugCupboard daily and ensure stock is replaced
check expiry dates once a month and ensure stock isordered in advance to maintain availability
inform the lead Technician of any discrepancies
assist in the assembly and issue of emergency boxes,ensuring accurate records are maintained
Ward Supply
provide an individual stock replenishment service(top-up) to designated wards and departments to ensure that good stockcontrol is maintained at all times. This will include the checking of expirydates of ward stock and ensuring that wards and departments have a sufficientstock of medicines
liaise with the pharmacy team to ensure that stock levelsare set at the correct level
accurately assemble ward top-up orders and book out wardsupplies using the pharmacy computer system
process returned stock from wards and departments
communicate with the appropriate person regarding anysupply problems.
Stock Control
Ensure that dispensing areas are adequately stocked
order out of stock medication process to follow items
ensure the receipt, storage, safe and secure handling andsupply of pharmaceutical products is undertaken
ensure that any problems upon receipt of goods areforwarded promptly to the procurement team to enable any discrepancies aredealt with in a timely manner (including return to suppliers, damaged and shortdated stock)
ensure that all nutritional products are booked out andsupplied to requesting wards on a daily basis
ensure that all working practices comply with GoodDistribution Practice (GDP)
ensure that all goods received are accurately booked ontothe pharmacy computer system and put away appropriately
assemble the ward top up orders and book out wardsupplies using the pharmacy computer system
maintain the intravenous fluid storage area ensuring goodstock rotation is carried out
ensure that all ambient and refrigerated temperatures arerecorded on a daily basis in all areas within pharmacy and to ensure logs aredownloaded weekly
handle and dispose of waste or expired medicines correctly
participate in regular stock checks and expiry checkswithin the department
ensure stock is rotated correctly whilst puttingdispensary stock away
check expiry dates on a regular basis. Book out expiredstock from the computer system and highlight items that are close to theirexpiry date
ensure stock is booked out to the correct patient,consultant and ward to aid accurate financialreporting through the pharmacy computer system and that stock levels arecorrect and sufficient
highlight stock discrepancies to the Lead Pharmacy Technician
The Pharmacy Department is also looking forstaff who would be interested in joining the Trust bank to work with us on anadhoc basis. If you would like to be considered for bank work please contact ususing the details above
Person Specification Special Skills & Knowledge Good computer and keyboard skills Organised, methodical and accurate approach to tasks and able to demonstrate this approach in a busy environment
Excellent skills for dealing with people
Good time keeping and ability to work under pressure. Good oral and written communication skills Evidence of personal development
Basic understanding of stock control.
Demonstrate an interest in learning about drugs and their uses and hospital pharmacy work
Experience Experience of dealing with the public
Experience of working in a team
Working knowledge of live pharmacy stock control systems (including robotic systems)
Previous experience of working in a dispensing environment in either a hospital or retail setting or of working in a hospital pharmacy store
Qualifications GCSE English and Maths (Grade C and above) (or equivalent)
Commitment to CPD
Accredited Level 2 Qualification in Pharmacy Services, or equivalent experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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