Pharmacy Support Worker – Acute/Mental Health

About the role

The Pharmacy Support Worker will join the Royal Alexandra Hospital pharmacy team, providing essential support to ensure safe and effective medication supply for acute and mental health patients. You will work closely with pharmacists and nursing staff in a busy ward environment.

Key responsibilities

• Label and dispense medicines screened by a pharmacist for in‑patients and out‑patients.
• Handle controlled‑drug prescriptions, maintaining accurate balances.
• Enter ward requisitions using the pharmacy stock control system.
• Perform stock checks, rotation, and expiry date monitoring.
• Prepare emergency medical retrieval bags for the Scottish Ambulance Service.
• Coordinate ward stock top‑up services and advise on optimal stock levels.
• Identify slow‑moving medicines and implement waste‑reduction measures.

Required profile

• Self‑motivated, enthusiastic and comfortable in a patient‑facing, ward‑based role.
• Minimum education: 3 Standard Grade qualifications (or equivalent) including English and Maths.
• Clear written and spoken English communication skills.
• Basic IT proficiency and ability to follow set procedures.
• Willingness to learn, plan, organise and prioritise tasks independently.
• Desirable: experience in training/supervising staff, stock management, SVQ/NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy qualification, and knowledge of pharmacy legislation.

Required skills

• Use of pharmacy stock control system.
• Basic IT skills.
• Handling and dispensing of medicines, including controlled drugs.

What we offer

• SVQ in Pharmacy Services Group Award (SCQF Level 6) as required by the GPhC.
• Comprehensive on‑the‑job training programme (~18 months) to achieve full proficiency.