Working Full time : 37.5 hours per week
Are you an experienced dispenser seeking new challenges in hospital pharmacy or a pharmacy assistant who has completed NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent?
We are seeking a flexible, conscientious, reliable and motivated individual with a positive attitude to join our pharmacy team. The ability to work under pressure is essential.
Based in the Dispensary at the Countess of Chester Hospital you will work as a member of our pharmacy team in the delivery of an efficient pharmacy service to all service users. You must be able work under pressure and communicate effectively in a number of situations with a variety of people including patients, pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals. Duties will include reception cover, ordering and receipt of pharmaceutical orders, pre-packing and over-labelling of medication, replenishing and overseeing the supply of cardiac arrest boxes, storage and disposal of patients own medication, ward returns and participation in the dispensing rota.
Inclusion in weekend working & Bank Holiday rota paid as extra
To carry out accurately and efficiently the dispensing of prescriptions, including unlicensed and named-patient medication, oral cytotoxic, controlled drugs and Patient’s own medication
in accordance with the agreed safe systems of work practice; This includes drug’s strength, formulation, pack size, expiry date and quantity, in line with departmental procedures.
To prepare blister packs for designated patients
To extemporaneously dispense medicines in accordance with COSHH regulations and standard operating procedures.
Be aware of department dispensing Key Performance Indicators, work towards achieving them and reporting breaches.
To input and maintain accurate computer and register records for controlled drugs,
unlicensed drugs and named-patient medication according to departmental procedures.
The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies whcih is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
