About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 Pharmacy Assistants to join our friendly clinical trials pharmacy team at Royal Gwent Hospital (RGH) Pharmacy department.
We are looking for a conscientious and adaptable individuals with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. To be eligible you must be enthusiastic, self-motivated, hardworking and have a good standard of general education. Computer literacy, accuracy and attention to detail are essential.
The pharmacy provides a high-quality medicines service supplying medication to a variety of patients, wards/departments, the majority of which is processed by our automated robot dispensing system. The role will involve dispensing and distribution of pharmaceuticals, restocking and optimisation of pharmacy robotic storage and supporting the wider pharmacy team in providing a medicines management service.
We would encourage an informal visit. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, we would love to hear from you and receive your application!
This post is Fixed Term/Secondment until December 2028 due to the needs of the service.
If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.
Main duties of the job
- To carry out the accurate dispensing and distribution of pharmaceuticals to patients, wards, departments, hospitals and clinics served by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB).
- To assist in the delivery of a near patient medicines management service to inpatients admitted to wards on ABUHB hospital sites.
- To carry out the accurate distribution of stock pharmaceuticals, receipt of new stock into the department, the preparation of pharmaceuticals and the accurate supply of basic non pharmaceutical information to clients.
- To use the pharmacy and other computer systems in order to carry out all tasks in an accurate and efficient manner.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.
We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.
Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Research is an increasingly important component of pharmacy practice and is recognised as one of the four pillars of the profession. Its significance is reflected in a number of key strategic documents, including Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales, the Independent Review of Clinical Pharmacy Services in Hospitals, and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) Strategy for Wales 2024-2029. As research activity continues to expand across NHS Wales, there is growing recognition of the vital contribution that pharmacy teams make to the safe and effective delivery of clinical research.
Clinical trials represent a crucial aspect of healthcare research, contributing to the development of new medicines and treatments while improving outcomes for patients. The Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team plays a key role in supporting the safe, effective, and compliant management of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) used within research studies. Operating within a highly regulated environment, the team ensures that clinical trial medicines are received, stored, prepared, dispensed, accounted for, and destroyed in accordance with study protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and all applicable regulatory requirements.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) is home to a fully integrated Clinical Research Facility, offering comprehensive support for research delivery. The facility includes dedicated governance, finance and contracts teams, an on-site pathology laboratory, outpatient clinic and ward facilities, a research fellow programme, and a dedicated Clinical Trials Pharmacy service.
The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering high-quality clinical research across ABUHB, supporting studies from feasibility and set-up through to completion and close-down. Working alongside the pharmacy team, research nurses, principal investigators, and industry sponsors, post holders will contribute to the delivery of innovative research that has a direct impact on patient care.
Clinical trials pharmacy offers a unique and rewarding career pathway, combining patient-centred pharmacy practice with research, governance, quality assurance, and service development. This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and experience in clinical research, Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) management, regulatory compliance, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
ABUHB is committed to supporting professional development and encourages staff to broaden their skills through structured training, participation in audits and quality improvement initiatives, attendance at study meetings and monitoring visits, and involvement in the development of trial documentation, procedures, and services.
This role provides valuable experience within a specialist pharmacy service and an opportunity to gain knowledge of clinical research processes, offering a strong foundation for future career progression.
Key Responsibilities
Provide administrative and operational support to the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Service.
Maintain clinical trial files, records, and study documentation in line with departmental procedures.
Support the management of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs), including receipt, storage, stock monitoring, returns, expiry date checks, and authorised destruction activities.
Undertake dispensing activities for clinical trials in line with approved procedures and competency requirements.
Monitor and record storage temperatures, escalating any deviations to appropriate pharmacy staff.
Support the management of shared clinical trials communications, including email accounts, calendars, and task management systems.
Assist with study set-up activities, monitoring visits, audits, and inspections, ensuring documentation is available and actions are completed.
Collect and collate information to support financial reporting and service activity monitoring.
Maintain clinical trials information resources, including electronic filing systems, SharePoint pages, newsletters, and information boards.
Undertake routine filing, record management, and quality assurance checks to ensure audit readiness.
Contribute to the effective, safe, and compliant delivery of the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Service and undertake any other duties appropriate to the role.
Joining the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team at ABUHB offers a unique opportunity to play a direct role in advancing healthcare through research. Whether beginning a career in clinical trials or seeking to develop specialist expertise, post holders will be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to innovation, excellence, and the delivery of research that improves outcomes for patients across Wales.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Working experience in Pharmacy
Desirable
- Recent experience in job providing a service/supply function
Skills
Essential
- Organisational abilities
- Able to undertake simple arithmetical calculations without a calculator
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Computer literate
Desirable
- Ability to speak Welsh
- Basic knowledge of the functions of the NHS
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of Secondary Education
- Vocational/NVQ level 3 or equivalent training to the General Pharmaceutical Council's requirements or willing to undertake
Desirable
- GCSE at C grade or above in Maths, English and science or equivalent qualifications
- Current knowledge of hospital pharmacy practice
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Address
Royal Gwent Hospital
Cardiff Road
Newport
NP20 2UB
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://abuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)