Specialist Pharmacy Assistant - Education & Training
MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free refreshments
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job overview
Specialist Pharmacy Assistant (Education & Training)
Department: PharmacyBand 4: £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Full-time: Hours: 37.5 per week shift pattern with some weekend and bank holiday shifts, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Join our Pharmacy Education and Training Team!
We're excited to have a new opportunity for a Specialist Pharmacy Assistant to join our Pharmacy Education and Training Team. If you're passionate about helping others learn and grow, this could be the perfect role for you!
What we're looking for:
- Someone with prior experience in pharmacy ideally in a hospital setting, with an NVQ level 2 qualification (or equivalent)
- Someone who's flexible, able to work on their own and enjoys being part of a team
- Someone with basic computer skills and the ability to handle pressure while meeting deadlines.
- Someone with good communication skills and a positive professional attitude
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who’s eager to grow in their career within pharmacy and healthcare and make a real impact within the team.
Please bring evidence of your qualifications to the interview (if invited) and include details of them in your application.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 11 April 2025
Main duties of the job- Co-ordinating the training for pharmacy colleagues working in our inpatient dispensary, outpatient dispensary and pharmacy stores.
- Planning and delivering induction training for new pharmacy assistants joining our team, ensuring they have everything they need to succeed in their roles.
- Supporting the ongoing education of all pharmacy staff within your scope.
- To act as lead trainer for inpatient dispensary and pharmacy stores.
- To plan and deliver the induction and ongoing training of new staff working in the inpatient dispensary and pharmacy stores.
- To participate in the delivery of education and training, within your scope of practice, for all pharmacy staff working in the pharmacy department.
Working for our organisation
"We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute"
"This staff group stated that MKUH's top priority is the care of patients and service users." (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Trust responsibilities:
- To be part of the Pharmacy team and work to enable the objectives of the Pharmacy and the Trust to be achieved.
Professional responsibilities:
- To act in a professional manner as is required to ensure safe, effective and timely care for patients and appropriate support for colleagues across the health system, including communication of complex and sensitive information.
Dispensary:
- To undertake the supply of medicines to patients.
- To input prescription information using the Pharmacy Computer system.
Medicines management (where appropriate):
- To undertake medicines management activities in the ward environment, within your scope of practice, to supply the supply of medicines to patients.
Education & training:
- To take a lead role in the day to day training of new staff working the inpatient pharmacy dispensary and pharmacy stores.
Miscellaneous:
- To participate in relevant departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.
Please refer to Job Description for further details
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria- GCSEs at Grade C or above including English & Maths (or equivalent)
- NVQ Level 3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent level of experience e.g. NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services with significant post-qualification experience in hospital pharmacy practice
- Solid knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures
- Train the Trainer qualification (or similar) – must be willing to work towards if not already completed
- Medicines Counter Assistant or Medicines Management Assistant Qualification (or similar)
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant experience working in a pharmacy environment
- Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy environment
- Demonstrable experience of trainer others (formally or informally) within a previous role
- Experience of working with SOPs
- Experience of working with JAC Pharmacy Computer System
- Experience of working with Cerner Electronic Patient Record
Skills
Essential criteria- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Good IT skills (including familiarity with using routine MS applications)
- Ability to work flexibly and prioritise workload
- Methodical and efficient
- Able to work safely and effectively under pressure and/or minimal supervision
- Safety/security awareness
- Customer care skills
Personal and people development
Essential criteria- Proactive attitude to ongoing training, development and assessment
- Responsible, Flexible & Professional in behaviour and appearance
- Courteous in manner
- Able to read and write in the English language to a level where drug names and instructions can be accurately received, recorded and given as part of the roles that are included in the rotations within pharmacy and on the wards
Communication
Essential criteria- Experience of using written and numeric communication skills
Specific requirements
Essential criteria- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.