NHS Lothian
255476 R1 - Pharmacy Support Worker - (Cha/Cap30)
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NHS Scotland Commitment
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
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Pharmacy Support Worker Higher Level
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service
St John’s Hospital (Area Pharmacy Store)
Band 3 | 1.0 WTE | 36 Hours
£29,103 - £31,409
(including public holiday commitment)
Are you ready to take the next step in your healthcare career? Would you like to join a supportive team where you can develop advanced skills and contribute to the smooth operation of vital pharmacy services?
About The Role
If you have a passion for learning, teamwork, and improving patient care, this role offers an exciting opportunity to make a difference. As a Pharmacy Support Worker (Higher Level), you will play a key role in the Area Pharmacy Store based at St John’s Hospital, a renowned teaching hospital with a reputation for excellence. In this role, you will:
- Support the Area Pharmacy Stores with duties including goods receipt, preparation and supply of vaccines to vaccination service across NHS Lothian. This includes maintenance of the Cold Chain for the storage of vaccines.
- Support the training and development of the Pharmacy Support Worker team, ensuring high standards of service delivery.
- Collaborate with senior pharmacy technicians on service improvement initiatives to optimize the efficiency of vaccine supply throughout NHS Lothian.
We operate a shift system within Area Pharmacy Store with working hours between 6.35am and 6pm Monday - Friday
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Comprehensive training and support will be provided to help you succeed in this role and meet its exciting ambitions.
Why Join Us?
Role
When you join NHS Lothian’s Pharmacy & Medicines Service, you’re joining a team that values professional growth, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s why this role could be perfect for you:
- Career progression: Gain advanced skills through structured training and expand your scope of practice.
- Supportive environment: Work with a friendly, professional team that is committed to helping you succeed.
- Impactful work: Contribute to the efficient supply of medicines, directly supporting vaccination services
About You
Essential qualifications:
- National 4 (or equivalent) English, Mathematics and a Science (Biology or Chemistry). Educated to SCQF Level 6, with the willingness to complete an in-house competency-based Group Award accredited by Edinburgh College within 12 months of starting.
Relevant experience:
- Relevant experience in a pharmacy environment either in hospital, retail or wholesale is essential
- A passion for learning and development, with a professional attitude and commitment to providing exceptional patient care.
- Personal values aligned with NHS Lothian’s core values: quality, teamwork, care, compassion, dignity, respect, openness, honesty, and responsibility.
This role involves regular manual handling and requires the ability to lift and move stock safely. You will also be required to work in cold-room conditions (28°C) for parts of your shift. Full training and protective clothing are provided.
If you’re enthusiastic, organised, and ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
About NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian is Scotland’s second-largest health system, serving a population of 900,000 across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian. Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is committed to delivering person-centred, clinically led care, ensuring patients benefit fully from their medicines. At the Western General Hospital, you’ll join a team dedicated to excellence in patient care and professional development.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. If you’d like to learn more about this exciting role, the team you’ll be joining, or the opportunities available, we encourage you to get in touch with the hiring manager. This is a great chance to have an informal discussion, ask questions, and explore how this role aligns with your career goals. The service will also consider flexible working where it can be accommodated.
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For Further Information Please Contact The Following
Laura McKain
Area Pharmacy Store Manager
01506 522 233
Laura.mckain@nhs.scot
Or
Jennifer Ireland, Senior Pharmacy Technician
01506 522 027
Jennifer.ireland@nhs.scot
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In line with the current UK Immigration Rules, this post does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Certificate of Sponsorship to support a Skilled Worker Visa or a Health & Care Worker Visa. Overseas nationals should review alternative immigration options before applying for this role. Further information: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Apply to visit, work, study, settle or seek asylum in the UK
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
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