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Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
About
The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) is one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in the UK, with a national and international reputation for the excellence of its services and its role in teaching and research.
Find out more about the Trust on their web-site at www.ouh.nhs.uk
Watch how OUH goes about delivering compassionate excellence on the ouhnhs YouTube channel
Contact
- Address
- Oxford Univ Hosps NHS Foundation Trust
- OUHC HR Department,
- 3rd Floor Unipart House Business Centre
- Garsington Road
- Oxford
- Oxfordshire
- OX4 2PG
- Contact Number
- 01865 741186
Pharmacy Assistant
Accepting applications until: 22-Apr-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 22-Apr-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- John Radcliffe Hospital
- Town
- Oxford
- Postcode
- OX3 9DU
- Major / Minor Region
- Oxfordshire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent: Permanant
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday -Friday 9-17:15, weekends, bank holidays and late shifts as per rota.)
Salary
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (Band 3)
Specialty
- Main area
- John Radcliffe Pharmacy
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values
Job overview
Hello!
My name is Alice Smilie, I am the Operational Manager of the John Radcliffe Pharmacy. I am privileged to lead our very hardworking, friendly, and committed Dispensary team in providing a dispensary service, supplying inpatient, outpatient, and discharge medication to Patients of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and proactive pharmacy assistant with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills to join the John Radcliffe dispensary team.
This post would suit a qualified Pharmacy Assistant with either a hospital pharmacy background, or with community pharmacy experience wishing to make a change into the hospital environment, for which appropriate training will be provided. You must have successfully achieved the relevant units of pharmacy services skills NVQ level 2 (QCF) or an equivalent GPhC accredited training programme.
Advert
The Pharmacy assistant role is varied, where you will be required to assist in the smooth running of an assigned area under direction of our Dispensary Co-ordinators and Senior Technicians. You will support the training of pharmacy apprentices, trainee technicians and pharmacists working alongside you.
We are lucky to be supported by ever evolving technology, with electronic prescribing and a robot to support the labelling and dispensing of medications. The successful applicant will be trained in the full use of the robotic system.
You will support both dispensary and stores functions on the John Radcliffe Hospital site, labelling and dispensing discharge prescriptions, in-patient medication, and controlled drug requests, providing a ward and fluid top up service to clinical areas, receipt deliveries and be involved in stock management procedures including expiry date checking and processing drugs returned from inside the hospital.
The successful applicant will also answer the phone to our service users, and cover both staff and out-patient reception, requiring excellent customer service and communication skills.
Working for our organisation
The dispensary team is a friendly and hardworking team of 25 staff ranging from Pharmacy Assistant apprentices, through to band 7 Technicians. Many of our staff progress from this level to become Pharmacy Technicians or take other roles within the wider Pharmacy team, this role is ideal for gaining that experience to progress further in your career.
This is a full-time position 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday, with working hours of 9:00-5:15pm. You will also be required to participate in weekend, bank holiday, early and late duty rotas as per rota.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Dispensary
- To provide daily support to the dispensary workforce.
- To use the pharmacy computer system to produce dispensing labels and to make stock issues, receipt, and transfers.
- To dispense inpatient, outpatient clinical trial and controlled drug prescriptions according to dispensary procedures.
- To assist the Stock Management Team with unpacking deliveries and filling the automated dispensing system.
- To participate in conducting of regular Controlled Drug stock checks alongside a Registered Technician.
- To be responsible for putting away dispensing stock including part packs and maintaining tidy storage areas.
- Maintaining equipment used in the dispensing process.
- To participate in the training and induction of pre-registration students and apprentices.
- To participate in the audit and development of the dispensary service.
- To provide reception cover as per the Dispensary rota, and to answer the telephone and direct queries as appropriate.
12. To Complete any pharmacy returns.
General role
- To provide training, including induction, to pharmacy support staff as required
- To undertake in-house and/or external training appropriate for the role
- To complete reports and audits as requested
- To participate in a programme of work-based training, development, and appraisal.
- To ensure confidentiality is always maintained.
- To maintain a tidy and clean working environment.
- To participate in early and late duties, evening, weekend, and bank holiday working according to the departmental rotas.
- Any other duties as requested by the Lead Pharmacist, Ward Based Technician Manager or Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management.
Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles
Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.
Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers / Work in the UK - GOV.UK
COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.
Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.
Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.
To note: Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.
When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or be able to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.
No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualities
Essential criteria
- NVQ2 in pharmaceutical sciences
- Experienced dispenser
- Experience of stock management
- Able to work as part of a team and independently
- Proven time management skills
- Able to use own initiative appropriately
- Good verbal communication skills
- Willing to travel between sites
- Enthusiastic and responsible attitude
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Adaptable to change
- Respectful towards colleagues and patients
- Willing to work in clinical areas with infectious diseases patients
Desirable criteria
- Previous NHS experience
- Experience of using the local pharmacy computer system
- Experience of hospital pharmacy
- Well organised
- A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
- Experience of a changing work environment
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Alice Smilie
- Job title
- Dispensary Operational Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01865 221502
- Additional information
For further details / informal visits contact:
Rebecca Somerville, Hannah Newton-Oakes Senior Technicians for Dispensary, or Charlotte Woodward Senior Technician for Dispensary Stores and Robotics.
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