Chemotherapy Medicines Assistant

We have an exciting secondment opportunity to join our Cancer Services Pharmacy team as a Chemotherapy Medicines Assistant.

The Chemotherapy Medicine Assistant role was introduced 2016. Since then this new and innovative role has progressed and developed and our Ward Medicine Assistants are recognized as a vital part of the nursing and clinical pharmacy teams assisting in the safe supply of medications and facilitating in the discharge of patients. We now have established Ward Medicine Assistant roles at North Tyneside General Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital, Hexham General Hospital and at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital. They provide a vital link between our Pharmacy Production Unit, verification pharmacists and our clinical oncology nursing teams; providing support to ensure the safe and timely supply of chemotherapy and supportive medication to our patients.

This post is ideal for qualified pharmacy dispensing assistants who are looking for patient facing roles where development is encouraged. The role provides an excellent gateway to career development in both nursing, allied health professional careers and pharmacy, for example we have recently supported some ward medicines assistants to undertake an apprenticeship and train to be pharmacy technicians.

Chemotherapy Ward Medicines Assistants provide an essential link between our pharmacy production unit, verification pharmacists and clinical oncology nursing teams. Providing support to ensure the safe and timely supply of chemotherapy and supportive medication to our patients.

Our Pharmacy team supports three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We are one of the best performing NHS organisations in England. Our organisation supports its staff to develop and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients. We are passionate about staff development and encourage staff to innovate and work to the top of their licence within our supportive learning environment.

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.

GCSE Grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services supported by appropriate underpinning knowledge training e.g. that provided by NPA, Buttercups or other accredited in-house programmes or a recognised pharmacy dispensing qualification (Boots, NPA) and relevant training /experience. Please note that training posts are not available for this role

Ability to maintain a disciplined approach to work

Must be able to demonstrate the English language proficiency level required for this post

Good written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work as a member of the team

To participate in a weekend pharmacy service and relevant bank holiday arrangements