Job summary
Looking for a rewarding role where every day makes a difference? We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and proactive Senior Pharmacy Support Assistant to join our pharmacy team. Working alongside pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support workers, you will help ensure patients receive the right medicines at the right time while contributing to the smooth running of our pharmacy services.

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a permanent Senior Pharmacy Support Assistant to come and join our pharmacy team based at St Ann's Hospital in Poole. You will need to have previous experience working in a pharmacy environment and ideally hold the nationally recognised NVQ 2 in pharmacy services.

The pharmacy team at St Ann's Hospital is part of the wider Dorset Healthcare pharmacy service that supports the whole of Dorset for mental health, community hospitals and specialist services.

The post is 30 hours per week. The post holder may be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Main duties of the job
You will be based at St Ann's Hospital mainly working within the pharmacy dispensary, as the Senior Pharmacy Support Assistant. Ensuring the smooth running of the dispensary workflow including dispensing and supply of medication, to in-patient and out-patient services provided by Dorset Healthcare.

Support the department with house keeping duties. Performing ward top-up duties, this requires visiting in-patient wards, currently only St Ann's but this maybe expanded to the wider Trust.

Supporting other trainees within pharmacy when confident to do so. As part of the Trusts induction programme you will be expected to take part in breakaway training.

For full details please read the Job description and person specification.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £20,608 to £21,980 a year p.a.
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 152-S105.26
Closing date: 28 October 2026

Person Specification
Essential

• NVQ 2 /3 in pharmacy services / Pharmacy Experience
• GCSE Mathematics and English Language, or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department or community pharmacy sector
• Dispensing experience
• Experience of stock control systems
• Experience of supervising staff
• Good communicator
• Methodical systematic worker
• Team Player
• Accurate, good attention to detail
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively

Desirable

• Recognised, current Medicines Optimisation Accreditation to Foundation Level (supply and assessment of medication)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

For questions about the job, contact Dispensary Manager Tracy Sandford, tracy.sandford@nhs.net, 07587668519.