Whittington Health NHS Trust logo

Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant (Weekend)


Location
Salary
£6,731.60 Per Annum (Band 3 equivalent not NHS)
Profession
Pharmacy assistant
Grade
Band 3
Deadline
26 Jul 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
15 Jul 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job overview

PLEASE NOTE THIS JOB DOES NOT FALL UNDER AGENDA FOR CHANGE.

The Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant plays a key role in ensuring efficient and high quality customer experience is maintained. Qualified to NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services (or equivalent) or working towards this qualification.

Duties include: Making sales of OTC and pharmacy only medicines to patients and customers along with associated advice. Stock management including: receipt, storage, date checking and stock house-keeping. Assembly of prescribed items, through to counselling patients on the use of medication.

"MUST HAVE 2 YEARS UK COMMUNITY OR HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE"

Main duties of the job

We’re Hiring – WEEKEND (8 hours per week) Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant

We have a vacancy for this exciting new venture, and are looking to recruit a Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant. Whether dispensing medication, providing pharmacy services, recommending products and making sales, you will be providing personalised solutions to help people lead healthier lives – this is work with real purpose. You would be expected to help develop and drive forward services to meet the needs of our patients, staff and the local community.

Please note that this post does not fall under NHS Agenda for Change as Whittington Pharmacy is a Community Interest Company

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Job Responsibilities

Dispensing

  • Prepare labels using the pharmacy computer system (JAC) and correctly assemble prescriptions, ensuring each item is accurately dispensed and in the correct packaging, according to standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • To make simple dilutions as determined by the pharmacist.
  • Organise the timely supply of out of stock medication to patients.
  • Communicate any delays in supply to the appropriate person. .
  • Counsel patients on the use of their dispensed medications, offering advice and answering any queries they may have. Refer any queries to a pharmacist when appropriate.

Ordering and Stock Management:

  • Receive deliveries from suppliers and manufacturers.
  • Check delivery for accuracy against paperwork.
  • Query discrepancies and damaged stock with supplier/senior staff member.
  • Securely store stock into the allocated areas ensuring rotation of stock.
  • Ensure stock is accurately loaded into the robot.
  • Enter products onto the Pharmacy computer system.
  • Query computer stock level discrepancies with a senior member of staff.
  • File paperwork and keep relevant documentation.
  • Remove expired, unwanted and overstocked drugs and inform a senior member of staff.
  • Empty the returned patient/ or unwanted medication and sort drugs for destruction or recycling whilst following COSHH regulations and SOP.
  • To assist with stock control and the maintenance of reasonable stock levels within the retail environment.
  • Order stock from suppliers and manufacturers in accordance with the ordering procedures and order of delegation/financial instructions.

Customer Service and Communication:

  • Engender a “customer first” culture across the organisation ensuring high standards of professional customer service are delivered at all times within the pharmacy.
  • To respond to telephone and face-to-face queries of a routine pharmaceutical nature from patients or their representatives and to refer queries to the pharmacist when appropriate.
  • Receive prescriptions/orders and process on to the pharmacy prescription tracking system ensuring accurate data entry.
  • Receive prescription fees from outpatients (NHS and private), or complete exemption declaration forms and assist outpatients to determine their prescription charge exemption.
  • To respond to symptoms described by customers by following agreed protocols and using own knowledge and judgement.
  • To select and recommend suitable products and provide advice on their correct use.

Person specification

Functional

Essential

  • Current community or hospital pharmacy experience
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Fluent written and spoken English including good numeracy
  • Strong ability to multi-task, prioritise, plan and organise
  • Experience dispensing in a fast paced environment
  • Experience counselling patients on use of medication

Desirable

  • Strong communication skills - must be able to recognise and overcome barriers to understanding e.g. language, deaf, learning difficulties
  • Keyboard and mouse skills
  • Use of a pharmacy computer system (JAC)
  • Cash handling and till work experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • • NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Services or equivalent, or working towards

Skills and experience

Essential

  • • Current community or hospital pharmacy experience
  • • Strong communication skills - must be able to recognise and overcome barriers to understanding e.g. language, deaf, learning difficulties
  • • Use of a pharmacy computer system
  • • Strong ability to multi-task, prioritise, plan and organise
  • • Fluent written and spoken English including good numeracy
  • • Experience of managing stock discrepancies
  • • Experience of managing patient and prescriber quries

Desirable

  • • Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy
  • • Experience of using Analyst and JAC pharmacy computer system
  • • Experience of working in an automated dispensary environment
  • • Experience of using prescription tracking systems
  • • Efficient at planning and organising

WhatsApp job alerts

Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 3 Pharmacy roles in London

Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.

Sign up for WhatsApp alerts

Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant (Weekend) with Whittington Health NHS Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Pharmacy assistant role. The advertised salary is £6,731.60 Per Annum (Band 3 equivalent not NHS). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 26 Jul 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (15 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.