Medicines Management Assistant
Company: Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Job ID: C9265-26-0704

Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Medicines Management team at Northampton General Hospital as a Medicines Management Assistant. Over the last 3 years, we have significantly expanded our Medicines Management team as part of our Dedicated Ward Pharmacy service, and we are now looking for a new Medicines Management Assistant to join our team. We are a constantly evolving service and are always striving for better care for our patients.

The role involves working closely with the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists and ward staff. Duties of the role include, transferring patients own medicines, on ward dispensing in our satellite Pharmacies, ensuring wards have their required stock of medications and enabling the re-use of medicines.

If you are looking for a new challenge in a busy, fast paced environment ensuring that patients are at the forefront of all you do, then this role may be what you are looking for. Candidates must have the ability to work independently as well as part of a larger team and be able to manage their time efficiently. You must have excellent communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Main duties of the job
The role involves working as a Medicines Management Assistant within a multidisciplinary team on the wards at Northampton General Hospital. This role is ward based and involves transferring patients' medication between wards, dispensing in Pharmacy and at ward level, supporting the wards and the Clinical team with medicines management.

Working closely with the ward staff, the Pharmacy Clinical, Distribution and Dispensary teams, ensuring all required medication is available on the wards for the patients during their stay and also at discharge.

Job responsibilities
Stock management

• Managing stock medicines within allocated wards and satellite pharmacies, maintaining agreed stock levels and avoiding overstocking.
• Carrying out expiry date checks, stock rotation and stock replenishment.
• Maintaining tidy medicine storage areas to support safe and efficient use by ward staff.
• Monitoring medicine usage and stock levels to minimise waste.
• Liaising with senior pharmacy staff, Distribution and Procurement teams regarding stock issues and orders.
• Maintaining accurate pharmacy stock control records and systems.

Automated Cabinets (when required)

• Replenishing stock correctly and maintaining accurate stock levels.
• Performing routine cycle counts and removing excess stock.
• Assisting with cabinet cleanliness and organisation.
• Supporting ward staff in the use of automated medicine cabinets and escalating issues when required.
• Reporting cabinet issues, stock changes and additions/removals to the Omnicell Administrator.
• Undertaking regular expiry date checks and replacing expired stock.

Supporting the Clinical/Medicines Management Team and wards

• Assessing and returning suitable medicines for re-use in line with procedures.
• Collecting and delivering medicines to wards, clinics and theatres as required.
• Resolving routine queries and referring complex issues to senior staff.
• Reporting storage deviations and unsafe medicines practices through Trust reporting systems.
• Checking patient medicines in lockers and transferring medication where appropriate.
• Completing ward, trolley, treatment room and fridge checks in line with Trust requirements.
• Managing medicines no longer required on wards and arranging transfers where necessary.
• Monitoring and auditing pre-pack medication use.
• Participating in audits and supporting patient discharge by ensuring medicines are available.

Assisting in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients

• Accurately dispensing medicines following pharmacist validation.
• Supplying controlled drugs and maintaining appropriate records.
• Liaising with pharmacy teams to ensure medicines are ordered and supplied promptly.
• Supporting medicines reconciliation and the supply of medicines for inpatient use.
• Escalating medicine supply issues to the appropriate Pharmacist or Medicines Management Technician.

Other Duties

• Assisting with staff training, induction and mentoring of new or rotational staff.
• Collecting and submitting data to support reporting and performance monitoring.
• Planning daily workload and supporting colleagues where required.
• Communicating effectively with colleagues and service users.
• Maintaining a clean, safe and efficient working environment for the handling of medicines.
• Ensuring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) remain up to date and identifying areas for improvement.

Person Specification
Skills (Essential)

• Evidence of accuracy.
• Effective communicator and strong listening skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure from wards/departments regarding medicines.
• Evidence of working as part of a team and supporting others.
• Able to work independently.
• Ability to prioritise workload and be organised.
• Attention to detail/strong level of concentration.

Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Evidence of good IT skills.
• Essential: Ability to effectively deal with customers/patients in person or by telephone, and be able to handle difficult conversations.
• Desirable: Working in a hospital or community Pharmacy.
• Desirable: Knowledge of medicines and their importance.
• Desirable: Ward work experience.

Education, Training and Qualifications

• Essential: Four GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above to include English and Maths.
• Desirable: GCSE Double Science award essential if candidate wants to progress to Pre-registration Technician.
• Desirable: NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent in depth experience.

Employer details
Employer name: Northampton General Hospital
Address: University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, Northampton, NN1 5BD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Contact
For questions about the job, contact Tammy Archer at tammy.archer@nhs.net or 01604544534.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. The closing date is 21 October 2026. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment.