Job Summary
The Pharmacy Department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital are excited to be recruiting a Specialist Assistant as a key role in our distribution area of the department. This is an exciting development opportunity for the right person who must have completed their NVQ level 2 and have either completed or on going final checking accuracy qualification.
Main duties of the job
Supermarket Top Up Activities
Provide a top up service to designated wards and departments, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to ensure that good stock control is maintained at all times. This will include the checking of expiry dates of ward stock, ensuring that wards and departments have a sufficient stock of medicines
Communicate with the appropriate person regarding supply problems.
During stock checks highlight stock discrepancies according to standard operating procedures
To assemble and release orders in a timely and accurate manner using the ARX Pharmacy Robot system
participate in regular stock checks and expiry checks within the pharmacy supply areas
prioritise work according to the demands of the service
cover the duties of other Assistant Technical Officers at the discretion of the line manager/supervisor
Update and change ward stock lists and be involved in any in house ward moves where appropriate
Dispensary and Controlled drugs
To dispense for in-patients, out-patients and patient discharge
To ensure accuracy of work during all stages of the dispensing process.
To ensure records and controls are correctly maintained using the pharmacy computer system and paper records and by following the Pharmacy Archive procedure
To perform reception duties including dealing with patient and NHS staff enquiries either face to face or by telephone.
To perform all activities in accordance with training and departmental standard operating procedures
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 2 or equivalent in pharmacy services
- Good general education
- GCSE Grade 4 (C) or above in Maths and English
- Final checking qualification
Desirable
- GCSE Grade 4 or above in Science
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in a pharmacy environment as a dispenser
- Experience in hospital pharmacy as a dispenser
- Significant experience gained from on-the-job training to NVQ3 equivalent
- Experience of supervising others.
- Experience of giving constructive feedback to all levels of healthcare staff in a supportive manner.
- Experience of working in a clinical area, including patient facing duties in the dispensary
Desirable
- Experience of stock control processes within a pharmacy.
- Experience of organising, undertaking training and assessment of pharmacy support workers and pharmacy trainees.
- Experience of writing standard operating procedures.
- Experience of setting up new service and/or implementing process change
- Experience of undertaking project and/or audit work
Practical and intellectual skill
Essential
- Able to demonstrate good levels of accuracy in all areas of work
- Able to follow and understand procedures in line with legal and regulatory requirements for individual pharmaceuticals.
- Good knowledge of legal requirements for dispensing and supply of medicines, including controlled drugs
- Articulate and numerate with excellent attention to detail
- Good verbal and written communication skills to enable effective communications with patients, their carers / relatives, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals
- Able to work with PCs, including IT systems and pharmacy robotic systems where relevant
Desirable
- Experience of using Personal Protective Equipment.
- Understanding of medical and nursing practice, record keeping and terminology
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 21 September 2025
