Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Purchasing & Distribution
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Job Overview
"This post is only open to internal applicants."
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join the Pharmacy Purchasing & Distribution team at the Royal United Hospitals Bath.
This varied role is essential in supporting the safe and efficient supply of medicines across the Trust and to external customers. The postholder will be involved in medicines purchasing, stock control, distribution services, management of returned medicines, emergency box preparation, and ward stock top-up services. Working closely with Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will help ensure medicines are available when and where they are needed, whilst supporting good stock management and reducing waste.
Main Duties of the Job
The Successful Candidate Will
- Assist with the purchasing of medicines and monitor outstanding orders with suppliers.
- Support the day-to-day running of pharmacy distribution services, ensuring workload is prioritised and completed within required timescales.
- Assist in the supervision and training of pharmacy support staff within the purchasing and distribution team.
- Manage returned medicines processes, ensuring appropriate reuse, stock control and waste reduction.
- Support the management, assembly, checking and distribution of emergency medicines boxes and kits.
- Undertake ward stock top-up services, including stock level monitoring and expiry date checking.
- Contribute to stock management activities, including the management of slow-moving and expiring medicines.
- Maintain accurate records using pharmacy computer systems and assist with audits and quality assurance activities.
- Work in accordance with Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures, Good Distribution Practice (GDP) requirements and Trust policies.
- Participate in weekend and bank holiday pharmacy operations services on a rotational basis.
Working for our Organisation
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17,600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.
We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.
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Discover what it’s like to live and work in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn how we’re building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Purchasing and Procurement
- Place routine and urgent orders for medicines using pharmacy purchasing systems.
- Monitor outstanding orders and liaise with suppliers regarding delivery schedules and product availability.
- Investigate medicine shortages and support the sourcing of alternative products.
- Process off-contract claims where appropriate and maintain accurate purchasing records.
Distribution and Stores
- Assist in the supervision and co-ordination of daily distribution activities.
- Support junior members of staff and provide training where required.
- Ensure medicines and pharmaceutical products are accurately received, stored, picked and distributed.
- Support wholesale distribution activities in accordance with Good Distribution Practice requirements.
- Undertake ward stock top-up services within designated clinical areas.
- Monitor ward stock levels, expiry dates and stock availability.
- Liaise with ward staff, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to resolve stock-related issues and improve stock management.
Returned Medicines and Stock Control
- Process returned medicines promptly and accurately in accordance with departmental procedures.
- Assess returned medicines for suitability for reuse.
- Manage stock returns through pharmacy stock management systems and automated storage solutions.
- Assist in identifying and managing slow-moving or expiring stock to minimise waste and financial loss.
Emergency Medicines Services
- Support the preparation, checking, maintenance and supply of emergency medicines boxes and kits.
- Maintain accurate records of emergency box contents, locations and expiry dates.
- Ensure emergency boxes are supplied and tracked in accordance with departmental procedures and relevant legislation.
General Responsibilities
- Communicate effectively with pharmacy, nursing and medical colleagues.
- Maintain a safe, clean and organised working environment.
- Comply with all Trust policies, pharmacy procedures and health and safety requirements.
- Participate in weekend, bank holiday and other operational services as required.
- Undertake manual handling activities, including the movement and delivery of medicines throughout the hospital site.
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Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- NVQ/apprenticeship level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent qualification (or willing to complete within 12 months of starting in role)
- GCSE in English and Maths or equivalent qualification.
- Experience of organising own daily work activities and duties with minimal direct supervision but confident in escalating to a senior when required
- Experience of accurate data entry onto computer systems and awareness of pharmacy record keeping requirements
- Experience of using Microsoft office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
Desirable Criteria
- Hospital Pharmacy Experience
- Experience of supervising other Pharmacy Assistants and Students
- Experience of following authorised procedures and reviewing SOPs
Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa e.g. those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying: Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK
Applicant Requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application Numbers
This vacancy may close early if we receive a high number of applications. We strongly encourage you to complete and submit your application in good time to ensure it can be considered.
Documents to Download
- Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Purchasing & Distribution JD & PS (PDF, 278.2KB)
- Join the RUH (PDF, 1.3MB)
Further Details / Informal Visits Contact
- Name: Spencer Hunt
- Job Title: Lead Pharmacy Technician - Purchasing
- Email Address: spencer.hunt@nhs.net
- Telephone Number: 01225 824606
Additional Information
Mitchell Chilton
Lead Pharmacy Technician - Operations
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