Pharmacy Assistant in Sunderland SR5 – Immediate Start & Flexible Shifts
Staffing Service is urgently recruiting for a reliable and experienced Pharmacy Assistant for a client in Sunderland SR5. This is an immediate temporary-to-permanent opportunity offering competitive pay, weekly payments, and a supportive work environment.
Pharmacy Assistant Job Description
We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Pharmacy Assistant to join a well-established pharmacy in the heart of Sunderland SR5. Our client is a trusted community healthcare provider, and they need a reliable individual to support their qualified pharmacists and technicians. This is a hands-on role where you will be the friendly face of the pharmacy, directly assisting customers and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the dispensary.
As a leading partner for UK staffing solutions, Staffing Service connects skilled candidates like you with reputable employers who value quality and professionalism. We understand the specific demands of pharmacy work and use effective candidate screening strategies to ensure a perfect match for both the candidate and the client. This role offers a fantastic foot-in-the-door for those seeking a long-term career in the pharmaceutical or wider healthcare sector.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
- Customer Service & Counter Duties: Greeting customers, accepting prescription requests, handling over-the-counter sales, and providing excellent frontline service in a confidential and empathetic manner.
- Dispensary Support: Assisting the pharmacist with the accurate assembly and labelling of prescribed medicines under strict supervision, maintaining impeccable stock control, and managing the repeat prescription system.
- Stock Management: Receiving, unpacking, and checking pharmaceutical deliveries, ensuring all stock is stored correctly, and rotating stock to meet expiry date requirements. This mirrors the organisational skills needed in warehouse roles in Enfield but within a clinical setting.
- Administrative Tasks: Maintaining patient records on the pharmacy's computer system, processing NHS paperwork, handling telephone enquiries, and managing the appointment diary for services like flu vaccinations.
- Health & Safety Compliance: Adhering to all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), maintaining a clean and tidy work environment, and ensuring full compliance with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) guidelines and data protection laws.
Essential Requirements & Skills
- Proven Experience: Previous experience as a Pharmacy Assistant, Retail Assistant, or in a similar customer-facing role within a healthcare or regulated environment is highly desirable.
- Numeracy & Attention to Detail: Excellent numerical skills for handling cash, calculating dosages, and checking stock. A meticulous eye for detail is non-negotiable to ensure patient safety.
- Communication & Confidentiality: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain information clearly and sensitively. A strict adherence to patient confidentiality (GDPR) is paramount.
- Reliability & Teamwork: Punctuality, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a close-knit pharmacy team under pressure.
Why Register with Staffing Service in Sunderland?
As a trusted employment agency serving Sunderland SR5 and the wider North East, we are more than just a job board. We are your career partner. Our local consultants have in-depth knowledge of the pharmacy and healthcare sector, meaning we can match you with roles that suit your skills and career aspirations. When you join our candidate pool, you gain access to exclusive opportunities.
- Weekly Pay & Guaranteed Holiday Pay: Get paid accurately and on time, every week, with no delays.
- Immediate Starts & Flexible Shifts: We specialise in urgent placements, similar to our immediate start roles in Meadowhall, but within the healthcare sector.
- Dedicated Consultant Support: A single point of contact who will guide you through registration, interviews, and your placement.
- Career Progression: From temporary Pharmacy Assistant roles to potential permanent positions, we help you build a sustainable career.
Salary, Pay & Benefits
We offer a competitive hourly rate for this Pharmacy Assistant position, which is paid weekly. The exact rate is dependent on your previous relevant experience and qualifications. In addition to your pay, you will benefit from:
Financial & Practical Benefits
- Weekly pay via PAYE (no umbrella company complications)
- Accrued holiday pay from your first shift
- Potential for overtime during busy periods
- Free, fast-track registration and compliance process
Career & Support Benefits
- Exposure to a professional healthcare environment
- Opportunity for a temp-to-perm contract
- Support and advice from a specialist healthcare recruiter
- Access to other local roles if you seek variety
How to Apply for This Role
The application process is straightforward and designed to get you started quickly. We are conducting immediate interviews for suitable candidates.
- Click 'Apply Now': Use the button below to submit a quick application and register your interest with our Sunderland team.
- Speak to a Consultant: A member of our healthcare recruitment team will call you to discuss your experience, this specific Pharmacy Assistant in Sunderland SR5 role, and answer any questions.
- Fast-Track Registration: We'll guide you through our simple online compliance process, which you can complete from your phone or computer.
- Interview & Start: We'll arrange a quick interview with the client pharmacy. Upon success, you can often start within 24-48 hours.
If you are interested email your cv and info to [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
While an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services is advantageous, many of our clients value proven experience and the right attitude just as highly. This role is an excellent opportunity to gain that experience. For those looking to formalise their skills, we can often provide advice on relevant courses. Our approach to finding the right fit goes beyond just qualifications, utilising insights from our guide to hiring the best employees to assess potential.
This particular role in Sunderland SR5 typically involves standard pharmacy hours, which may include early starts, late finishes, and weekend rotations. We also have other flexible shift patterns available across different sectors. For example, if you're open to different types of immediate work, you can explore warehouse roles in Dartford or Food Production Operative in Birmingham B26, which offer varied shift times.
This is an immediate start vacancy. For candidates who have all their necessary documentation (Right to Work, ID, etc.) ready, the process from application to first shift can be as quick as 48 hours. We pride ourselves on rapid placement, much like our service for urgent roles in other fields, such as Fire Marshal jobs.
Absolutely. Many of our temporary pharmacy placements have the potential to become permanent positions for the right candidate. Furthermore, experience as a Pharmacy Assistant is the foundational step towards roles such as Pharmacy Technician (which requires further training) or management positions within retail pharmacy. We support career growth and can advise on pathways, just as we do for those in skilled trades.
Not Quite Right? Explore Other Immediate Roles
We have hundreds of urgent vacancies across the UK. Whether you're looking for a Labourer in Birmingham B4, a Food Production Operative in Aberdeen AB10, or roles in retail, warehouse, or driving, we can help.
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Agency Details
Staffing Service
Sunderland SR5 & North East Region
Specialists in healthcare, industrial, logistics, and commercial recruitment.
Get in Touch
Phone: +44 20 7123 9330
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://staffingservice.co.uk
For employers looking to hire, visit our Post a Job page for efficient recruitment solutions.
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