Vacancy –
Medicine Counter Assistant
Hours of work: 28.50 hours per week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Closing date: 11/09/25
Interview date:
Main Purpose of Job
Job Summary
To assist the Superintendent Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager in the service provision of the pharmaceutical services, maintaining a high standard of service in accordance with legislation and recognised good practice.
Responsible for keeping the work and shop floor area safe, clean and tidy with suitable supplies of relevant sundry items. Ensuring all relevant local checks and housekeeping are done in accordance with SOPs and rostered tasks.
Receiving prescriptions within the pharmacy, ensuring their receipt is recorded following procedures and all financial transactions are conducted properly including prescription fees, checking exemptions and all documentation is completed appropriately.
To work on the front counter providing advice and excellent service to patients and customers using the Pharmacy.
After relevant training providing counselling to patients on how to take medications and ensuring the correct sale using the 2WHAMM safety protocol
Responsible for good stock control, including ordering of stock, receipting deliveries, dealing with the relevant paperwork, stock rotation, checking expiry dates, putting stock on shelves and security of stock. Stock up the prescription collection machine, as and when necessary, to ensure this continues to run effectively.
Communicating effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with members of the pharmacy team, practice staff and patients to ensure a seamless medicines management process.
Complete start and end of day duties including cashing up and banking of takings, filing paperwork and ordering of OTC sales.
Use all relevant technology associated with the role appropriately after training.
Provide reception duties including answering the telephone where necessary.
Complete other duties requested by Superintendent Pharmacist or Pharmacy Manager that support the effective running of the Pharmacy.
Why work for us?
Based in the Suffolk village of Woolpit, the Health Centre aims to provide:
the type of care that we would expect for ourselves and our own families.
We provide services to over 16,000 patients who live in a practice area of 75 square miles of rural West Suffolk, straddling the A14, between Thurston in the west, and Haughley in the east.
We pride ourselves on the high standards of our care we are holders of the Royal College of General Practitioners Practice Accreditation Award, a quality mark held by only 19 practices in the UK.
Our 7 GP partners and 5 non-partner GPs lead a multidisciplinary team of nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists and midwives all of whom are based in our purpose-built premises.
Benefits of working for Woolpit Health Centre include:
- Attractive rates of pay with annual pay review (not agenda for change)
- Regular one-to-ones to aid good communication
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Voluntary overtime when available
- Plenty of training opportunities
- Membership of the NHS contributory pension scheme
The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefits scheme
Life insurance
Family benefits including an adult dependents pension and children’s pension
Ill health benefits
20% employer contribution
- Free uniform
- Option of NHS discount and Blue Light Card for retail/dining/holidays etc
Key Responsibilities
- Assist customers at the counter with their medication needs
- Handle prescription orders accurately and efficiently
- Provide information on medication usage and potential side effects
- Maintain cleanliness and organisation of the counter area
- Handle cash transactions and process payments
This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake
such other duties from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility of the grade.
This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder.
Health Clearance
Health clearance is required for this appointment. Applicants must complete a medical questionnaire, return it to the Occupational Department and, if required, undergo a medical examination before appointment.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
A Disclosure and Barring Service check and disclosure will be required before appointment
for all posts with access to children or vulnerable adults or where the post holder has access to patient information.
Confidentiality
You are required to maintain confidentiality of any information concerning patients which you have access to or may be given during your work, in accordance with current policy on confidentiality at the GP Practice sites you work at.
Security
It is the responsibility of all employees to work within the security policies and procedures of the practices they work at to protect the patients, staff and visitors. This duty applies to the specific work area of the individual and the practice in general.
Data Protection
This post has a confidential aspect. If you are required to obtain, process and/or use information held on a computer or word processor you should do 'It in a fair and lawful way’. You should hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose and ought to disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed. Breaches of confidence in relation to data will result in disciplinary action which may involve dismissal.
Equal Opportunities
Equality of opportunity is an integral part of Woolpit Health Centre’s recruitment and selection process and recruiting managers must ensure that they comply fully with Woolpit Health Centre’s Equality & Diversity Policy. Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age,
disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Woolpit Health Centre as an employer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm and expects all employees to share this commitment. If the post is one that involves access to children and vulnerable adults during the course of their normal duties, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
All clinical staff have a responsibility to understand the principles of the Mental Capacity
Act (DH, 2005) to ensure people who are 16 and over are empowered to make decisions for themselves. It is the responsibility of clinical staff to assess capacity within their particular remit of care provision; to identify, act and support those who lack capacity to make specific decisions.
Person Specification
Job Title: Pharmacy Counter Assistant
As the attached job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of this post, so the person specification lists the requirements necessary to perform the job. Candidates will be assessed according to the extent to which they meet the specification. It is therefore important that applicants pay close attention to all aspects of the person specification when deciding if their skills, experience and knowledge match these requirements.
Person specification – Pharmacy Medicine Counter Assistant
Qualifications
Essential
Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
GCSE Mathematics and English (C or above)
Desirable
Medicine Counter Assistant Qualification
Appropriate pharmacy or retail experience.
Relevant qualifications in pharmacy
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Experience of working with GP clinical information and systems such as EMIS, SystmOne,
Recent and relevant experience of primary care
Evidence of being able to cope with change and a fast paced working environment
Knowledge of working with GP clinical systems such as EMIS
Knowledge of confidentiality in the workplace/information governance
Understanding of the NHS/Primary Care Services in pharmacy
Skills
Essential
Able to work as part of a team or independently
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to analyse and interpret information
Methodically and accurate approach to work with attention to detail
Excellent time management skills, capable of prioritising and managing competing demands and workloads
Able to work under pressure
Good problem-solving skills
Ability to follow policies and procedures
Desirable
Able to establish, maintain and develop effective communications across the Practice and with external organisations
Personal qualities
Essential
Polite and confident
Flexible and cooperative
Motivated
Forward thinker
Ability to work under pressure
Desirable
Commitment to continuing professional development of self and others
A flexible and adaptable approach to maintain the consistent delivery of high-quality services
Flexibility in working hours
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Additional hours:
- Saturdays on a rota
- Flexibility to work extra sessions for holiday and sickness as required
Please submit a CV with your application
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
