About this role
Job summary
The Pharmacy Department at South West Yorkshire Partnership are seeking to recruit a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to support our procurement and dispensing service based at Fieldhead Hospital. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring we procure, supply and distribute medicines safely, effectively and efficiently within the organisation.
We are looking for a highly motivated, committed, and dedicated individual who is a strong team player with excellent time management, interpersonal, and organisational skills. You must be able to work well under pressure, have strong attention to detail and be an excellent communicator.
As a department our key focus areas for development are aimed at our medicines optimisation and sustainability agenda, including near patient dispensing, supporting transfer of care, and ensuring service users receive their medication safely and efficiently.
The postholder will be at the forefront of supporting us to achieve these priorities and our commitment to sustainability through procurement and dispensary service provision.
In return you will be working within a friendly and supportive team. We will support your development through a comprehensive induction, on the job training, training frameworks, and ongoing development specific to your area of responsibility.
As a flexible employer encouraging work/life balance, we will also consider part-time and flexible working opportunities for all positions.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will support the lead pharmacy technician for dispensary and procurement in the provision of an efficient dispensing, procurement and distribution service following relevant SOPs.
Other key result areas include:
Dispensing a wide range of prescription types methodically, accurately and efficiently.
Supporting the ordering, receiving and invoicing of pharmacy stock.
Ensure that stock is maintained in line with manufacturers guidance, including temperature monitoring, good stock rotation and expiry date checking.
Provide a stock top up service to inpatient units.
Support the training and development of all staff members with regards to dispensary related activities.
Support the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Dispensary and Procurement through leading and co-ordinating dispensary workflow.
Ensure service users receive information regarding their medicines.
Reception duties such as answering the hatch and receiving and triaging phone-calls within the dispensary.
We Welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, mental health problem or other care needs.
If this sounds like the role for you and you would like any further information about the role, please contact Stewart Watson [email protected] or Natalie Tipple [email protected] to arrange an informal discussion or visit.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
To assist the Technical services manager in the provision of an efficient dispensing/stores & distribution service following SOPs. Responsibility includes the day to day management and supervision to our pharmacy assistant team.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
1. The post holder will be responsible for the day to day running of the pharmacy
assistant team, planning own tasks and those of the team as outlined in department policies/SOPs or by Lead Technician.
2. The post holder will ensure that routine information is communicated to the team, department or other stakeholders when relevant.
3. The post holder will be expected to provide leadership for the ATO team, looking at innovative new ways of working and embracing new technology.
4. The post holder will be responsible for the recording of ATO staff sickness and ensuring cover of the rostered tasks for the individual as per department policy/SOP. You will be expected to interview all return to work absences, reporting any concerns/issues to line manager.
5. The post holder will be involved in other management duties as expected including helping with recruitment and carrying out appraisals of ATO team as per department policy/SOP and in conjunction with Technical Services Manager.
6. Responsible for organising the staff and ensuring rotad tasks are covered as per department policy/SOP
7. The post holder will be expected to assist in carrying out the day to day duties of an ATO, covering other sections of the department, whenrequired, and help cover basic and augmented ATO tasks during their absence. Visiting the wards on all sites and carrying out ward stock checks and controls will be also expected.
8. The post holder will be involved in data entry including inputting ward requests and ensuring stock is supplied in a timely manner.
9. The post holder will be the named lead on the Pharmacy computer software for stores functions, looking in to day to day house-keeping and answering queries, communicating with the company when necessary.
10. The post holder will take partin the dispensary rota maintaining dispensary competencies..
11. The post holder will be involved in sorting, counting, checking, distribution and booking back stock through computer system (including destruction of unwanted medicines). You will be expected to be able to deal with emergency stock issues or similar problems.
12. The post holder will be expected to answer the telephone and deal with queries regarding work in progress and communicating with relevant members of staff offering additional advice as required.
13. Assist in keeping shelves clean and tidy, expiry date checks. The post holder will be involved in stock control and rotation.
14. The post holder will be expected to comment on department policies/SOPS which will affect the role/team
15. Be involved in carrying out surveys, audits as necessary for own work including customer satisfaction surveys and top up surveys or as identified by Technical Services Manager.
16. The post holder will be involved in helping the Technical Services Manager deliver and manage Health and Safety requirements for the department carrying out risk assessments, manual handling and other mandatory training.
17. The post holder will look to investigate and report back to Technical Services Manager any identified risks.
18. You will be expected to receive visitors to the department and stock deliveries if necessary.
19. Assist with the training of new and present staff to ensure skills are up to date
20. Responsible for daily temperature monitoring using current processes
21. Any other reasonable duties, including participation in training, to fully develop the post.
The postholder will take part in the Weekend and Bank Holiday rota for the department.
For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements (salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable to sponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.
We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.
Person Specification
Training Essential
Information Governance. Hospital dispensing and stock control.
Special Knowledge & Skills Essential
Accurate, numerate. Ability to prioritise work. keyboard skills and computers. Ability to train other staff. Operation of production equipment.
Qualifications Essential
Minimum 3 GCSEs. NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, Buttercups or equivalent grandparenting. Level 3 qualification in pharmacy or equivalent experience.
Physical Attributes Essential
Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience Essential
Demonstrable experience as Pharmacy Assistant. Experience of stock ordering and distribution SOPs. Dispensing in busy environment. Organising workload. Supervising or mentoring staff.
Desirable
Knowledge of Pharmacy software and IT skills. Use/knowledge of Mobile technology.
Personal Attributes Essential
Team player. Methodical. Flexible. A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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.
Employer details Employer name South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)