Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Purchasing & Distribution

Job summary
"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.

About us
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.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person-centred care we're proud of.

We're committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing - and yes, we even have a pool!

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.

Job 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

Person Specification
Essential

• 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

• Hospital Pharmacy Experience
• Experience of supervising other Pharmacy Assistants and Students
• Experience of following authorised procedures and reviewing SOPs

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).