Advanced Level Specialist Pharmacy Assistant - Logistics

Job overview

We are excited to offer this position to a motivated individual that has a  keen eye for detail and good customer service skills.

You will supervise teams effectively distributing medicines and fluids to internal and external units on time.

You will be flexible within varied aspects of the Job description to work with the extensive team to offer support, guidance and training. 

You will assist the Senior Pharmacy Technician with day to day operations within Central Pharmacy.

Main duties of the job

You will assist the Senior Pharmacy Technician – CPSD Team Leaderin managing the day to day operations of Pharmacy Stores & Distribution (S&D) in the Trust, to provide a safe, accurate and efficient service to all internal and external users.

You will support the Senior Pharmacy Assistants in all areas where required and offering guidance on handling complex service delivery problems. 

You will assist the Senior Pharmacy Technician – CPSD Team Leader by  actively working towards maintaining key performance targets and monitor quality of service provided.

To co-ordinate appropriate top-up duties for a range of service users. Rota management.

Following training and with relevant experience assess and review Goods In Queries to assess if this stock would be accepted or returned to the supplier taking into account clinical need and cost pressure of alternate medication sent.

Supervision of Robot distribution workflow to include re-filling and maintenance of robot stock, picking of automated stock and processes.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please be aware that the salary threshold required for a certificate of sponsorship to be granted is above the starting point of the Agenda for Change band for this role. Therefore those that are new to the NHS may not reach the minimum salary threshold required to obtain a certificate of sponsorship. 

For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 5th August 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 17th August 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Evidence of good general level of education required with proven ability to successfully undertake complex training.

NVQ2 Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Diploma level qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable criteria

NVQ2 Customer Services or Warehousing and Distribution

ITQ level 2 or above (or equivalent).

Experience

Essential criteria

Pharmacy work experience in a Hospital Stores & Distribution

Use of Pharmacy Stock Control Systems.

Data entry experience.

Experience in working in a customer focused environment.

Experience working in collaboration with multidisciplinary staff to deliver service improvement.

Experience of problem solving, development of practical solutions and implementation of change

Work experience of NHS hospital pharmacy stores and goods-in

Staff supervision/ training

Liasing with staff regarding stock shortages/dealing with ward needs for patients

Experience of dealing with external and internal staff, managing workload of a team

Advanced use of Pharmacy Stock Control Systems.

Team leadership skills

Training and/or supervising other team members

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in a customer focused environment.

Team leadership.

Staff management.

know

Essential criteria

Demonstrable understanding of stock control best practice and processes.

Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.

Sound knowledge of pharmacy Stores & Distribution procedures.

Knowledge of Pharmacy Supply Chain and materials management good practice.

Excellent understanding of people management

Excellent understanding of stock control.

Knowledge of Ascribe

Knowledge of Audit & quality control processes

Knowledge of the Trust including awareness of priorities.

Knowledge of Good Distribution Practice

Desirable criteria

Evidence of continuing professional development

Skills

Essential criteria

Good verbal communication

Good written communication

Good interpersonal skills

Exceptional organisation and investigative skills.

Excellent attention to detail

Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills when dealing with and providing support to colleagues and service users.

Communicates with key groups. Stakeholders: Frequently – Pharmacy staff, multidisciplinary team. Sometimes – Cross sector, patients, carers, general public, pharmaceutical industry (may be barriers to understanding)

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Rob Clark

Job title

Senior Pharmacy Technician - CPSD Team Leader

Email address

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Telephone number

View phone number on careers.cuh.nhs.uk