Bank Pathology Store Personnel

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust seeks a dedicated individual for stock control and distribution within the Pathology department. The role involves ensuring stock accuracy and availability for diagnostic services. You will be responsible for monitoring inventory levels and maintaining compliance with health and safety standards, engaging with various healthcare staff and suppliers. Candidates should possess GCSEs in English and Maths, and relevant experience in logistics or warehousing is desirable.

Qualifications

• Essential criteria includes GCSE in English and Maths.
• Previous experience in stores, warehousing, or logistics is necessary.
• Fit to undertake physical duties including lifting and bending.

Responsibilities

• Provide stock control and distribution service in the Pathology department.
• Monitor stock levels and assist in stock checks and stocktaking.
• Communicate clearly with internal staff and external suppliers.

Skills

Communication

Analytical Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

GCSE English and Maths

Tools

Inventory Management Systems

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

JOB SUMMARY - About the Role

To provide an efficient and effective stock control and distribution service within the Pathology department, supporting diagnostic services across all Trust sites. This includes the receipt, storage, rotation, and issue of stock items, ensuring availability of essential materials to laboratory and clinical staff, maintaining stock accuracy, and ensuring compliance with health and safety and infection control standards

Main duties of the job

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Communication

• Communicate clearly and courteously with internal staff (laboratory, clinical, and procurement teams) and external suppliers.
• Respond to stock and delivery queries in person, by phone or email.
• Escalate supply issues and discrepancies to the Supervisor/Manger promptly.

1. Analytical and Planning

• Monitor stock levels using inventory management systems.
• Assist in routine stock checks and stocktaking procedures.
• Alert supervisor of potential stock shortages or excess.
• Prepare and supply stock to area of the Hospital and GP surgeries as required.
• Adhere to Health and Safety requirements and advice whilst carrying out your role, with particular attention to lifting and carrying and mainiting a tidy and safe workspace.
• Deliver stock to areas within the Hospital.
• Complete store request orders within the desired turnaround time.
• Unload large deliveries safely into storage aread. These larger deliveries may arrive on pallets and involve extended periods of moving and lifting stock.
• Exercie judgement and provide general advice when dealing with enquiries - analyse problems, seek advice where necessary to resolve problems.
• To make up blood cultures packs for hospital use.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Communication

• Communicate clearly and courteously with internal staff (laboratory, clinical, and procurement teams) and external suppliers.
• Respond to stock and delivery queries in person, by phone or email.
• Escalate supply issues and discrepancies to the Supervisor/Manger promptly.

1. Analytical and Planning

• Monitor stock levels using inventory management systems.
• Assist in routine stock checks and stocktaking procedures.
• Alert supervisor of potential stock shortages or excess.
• Prepare and supply stock to area of the Hospital and GP surgeries as required.
• Adhere to Health and Safety requirements and advice whilst carrying out your role, with particular attention to lifting and carrying and mainiting a tidy and safe workspace.
• Deliver stock to areas within the Hospital.
• Complete store request orders within the desired turnaround time.
• Unload large deliveries safely into storage aread. These larger deliveries may arrive on pallets and involve extended periods of moving and lifting stock.
• Exercie judgement and provide general advice when dealing with enquiries - analyse problems, seek advice where necessary to resolve problems.
• To make up blood cultures packs for hospital use.

1. Clinical Duties

• Incidental patient contact when delivering stock to ward locations.

1. Policy and Service Development

• Follow Trust and departmental SOPs, including those related to stock control, infection control, and manual handling.
• Suggest improvements to current procedures where applicable.

1. Financial and Physical Resources

• Responsible for careful use and secure storage of stock items and supplies.
• Ensure correct rotation of stock and disposal of expired items. Assist in processing goods received and returned.
• Be responsible for the receipt of deliveries from suppliers.

1. Staff Management

• Participate in training new staff in store-related duties when required.

1. Information Resources

• Use inventory and procurement systems (e.g., NHS Supply Chain portals or bespoke inventory software).
• Maintain accurate records of stock levels, deliveries, and discrepancies

1. Effort, Skills and Working

Physical Skills

Use of pallets, trolleys, and manual handling equipment. Competent use of computer systems for stock management and reporting. Competent in Microsoft outlook and basic computer skills.

Physical Effort

Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting (moderate loads).

Mental Effort

Frequent need for concentration when checking deliveries and stock records. Occasional interruptions due to urgent supply requests or delivery issues.

Emotional Effort

Minimal emotional effort required. Role is busy and requires organisational skills.

Working Conditions

Working within multiple storerooms with occasional time within clincal areas of the department.

This job profile is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder.

The post holder will be expected to perform any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by management, within scope of the role.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Key Relationships:

- Pathology laboratory staff
- Procurement and Finance teams
- Stores Supervisor / Operational Managers
- Clinical staff from wards/department

- Suppliers and couriers

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSE English and Maths

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Previous experience in stores, warehousing, or logistics

Desirable criteria

• Experience in NHS or Pathology Stores

Physical Requirements

Essential criteria

• Fit to undertake Physical Duties including lifting and bending

Desirable criteria

• Manual Handling Training

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

• Bank Pathology Stores (PDF, 792.5KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
• Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
• Medical Payscales 2/2025 (PDF, 187.5KB)
• Applicant MS Teams Checklist (PDF, 560.5KB)
• Trust marketing brochure (PDF, 2.1MB)