Dispensary Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy

Band 3 - Dispensary Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy

Band 3

Main area

Pharmacy Assistant

Grade

Band 3

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time

Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

360-C-11585-A

Department name

West Herts - General Staffing

Site

Watford General Hospital

Town

Watford

Salary

£27,106 - £28,850 pa inc HCA

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

19/08/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are seeking a Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant to join our friendly Pharmacy team at Watford General Hospital.

You will assist, under supervision, with routine duties of a technical nature, including the dispensing and supply of medication to in and outpatients, the receipt, processing, storage and stock control of medicines.

You will respond to enquiries and requests from staff, patients and carers as appropriate.

This post would suit somebody with 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 either successfully achieved the relevant units of pharmacy services skills NVQ level 2 (QCF) or the relevant units of a GPhC accredited training programme of equivalent level to pharmacy service skills NVQ level 2 (QCF).

Main duties of the job

You should have experience of working as a qualified Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant, good communication and organisational skills and experience of using computer systems for dispensing, stock control and word processing.

Please read the job description and person specification for more details and tell us in your application how you meet the essential criteria for this post, as this will be the basis for shortlisting applicants.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.

www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Candidates who have previously applied for this post may reapply after six months from their last application.

The purpose of this post is to assist in the provision of a safe, efficient and comprehensive pharmaceutical service for the patients of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust e.g. dispensing and supply of medicines to wards and departments, reception duties in the dispensary.

*** IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ ***

Please be aware that this position is not eligible for a Certificate of Sponsorship (Work Permit).

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK, we will not be able to offer employment for this role.

Person specification

Education and qualifications:

Essential criteria

NVQ 2 qualification in Pharmacy Services or equivalent.

Desirable criteria

GCSE’s in Maths, English and Science grade C or above (or equivalent qualification).

Knowledge:

Essential criteria

Good stock control practice.

Safe lifting and handling practices.

Dispensing experience Knowledge of confidentiality.

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of hospital environment.

Knowledge of the EMIS system.

Experience:

Essential criteria

Dealing with customers.

Handling stock control duties.

Experience of working in pharmacy.

Desirable criteria

Hospital Pharmacy experience.

Experience of working with a Dispensing Robot.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Job Description (PDF, 657.0KB)

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Jenny Puddle

Job title

Dispensary Manager

Email address

jenny.puddle@nhs.net

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