• Job Description

  Req#: C9432-25-0869?language=en&page=250&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Do you have the enthusiasm to beginning a long-term career in the NHS? If so this could be the job you are looking for.

  We are looking for a motivated and responsible individual to join our pharmacy team as a pharmacy assistant based in the dispensary at Ipswich hospital and, become an integral part of our 7 day service.

  You will work with our Dispensary team providing pharmacy services from the Ipswich dispensary and hatch area. Duties will include dispensing for inpatients and outpatients, dispensing controlled drugs, liaising with patients for the home delivery of medication, and following standard procedures. You will also support our ward based team by providing a stock top-up service on designated wards/clinical areas.

  On the job training will be given and departmental competencies will also be undertaken.

  You should have good interpersonal skills with the ability to work calmly in a busy environment. In addition you need to be flexible and be able react positively to change, have an eye for detail and be able to demonstrate good team-working.

  Details about our pharmacy service - https://esneft.pagetiger.com/buqzfou/1

  Main duties of the job

  Undertake study and complete NVQ Level 2 training relevant to post, and complete in-house competencies and training while gaining relevant experience.

  Dispense medication including controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines, cytotoxic medicines and Monitored Dosage System (MDS) to In-patients and Out-patients by receipt of prescriptions from patients, staff or representatives.

  Attend to patients/customers/representatives/carers/hospital staff and other hospital visitors at the reception hatches.

  Collect prescription charges from eligible Out-patients and issue ticket.Issue medication to patients following procedure and referring to Pharmacist if required.

  Record requests on a computerised tracking system, for discharge prescriptions and inpatient charts received in and dispatched from Pharmacy.

  Check that the patient has a valid exemption eg. Pre-payment card/maternity exemption card and ensure/support patients to complete the relevant information on the back of the prescription.

  About us

  We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes

  We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

  We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

  Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

  Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

  We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

  If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

  Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

  Details

  Date posted

  03 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 2

  Salary

  £24,169 a year per annum pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time

  Reference number

  432-HR438-25

  Job locations

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • At least 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above including maths and English (Grade 9 - 4)
  • Willing and able to undertake the L2 Pharmacy Service Assistant course or other relevant course as required/defined by management.

  Desirable

  • Science GCSE (or equivalent qualification)
  • NVQ L2 Certificate in Pharmacy service skills or unit accreditation (or GPHC equivalent qualification)

  Experience

  Essential

  • Working effectively as part of a team or alone under supervision.
  • Working effectively under pressure.
  • Applying theory to practice

  Desirable

  • Moving and Handling
  • Dispensing
  • Stock management
  • Accurate record keeping

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Basic knowledge of stock control/rotation.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • At least 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above including maths and English (Grade 9 - 4)
  • Willing and able to undertake the L2 Pharmacy Service Assistant course or other relevant course as required/defined by management.

  Desirable

  • Science GCSE (or equivalent qualification)
  • NVQ L2 Certificate in Pharmacy service skills or unit accreditation (or GPHC equivalent qualification)

  Experience

  Essential

  • Working effectively as part of a team or alone under supervision.
  • Working effectively under pressure.
  • Applying theory to practice

  Desirable

  • Moving and Handling
  • Dispensing
  • Stock management
  • Accurate record keeping

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Basic knowledge of stock control/rotation.

  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 details

  Employer name

  East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

Notice