Pharmacy Distribution and Stores Supervisor

North Bristol NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Bristol is seeking an experienced supervisor for the Pharmacy Distribution and Stores team. This role involves overseeing staff, managing the distribution of pharmaceutical products, and ensuring compliance with Good Distribution Practice. The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience in a supervisory capacity within healthcare. This position offers an opportunity to make an impact while supporting a vital service in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in supervisory roles within healthcare settings is highly desirable.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and collaborate with multiple teams.
• Understanding of Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and compliance regulations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff within Distribution and Stores to ensure high service quality.
• Manage day-to-day pharmaceutical product distribution to wards.
• Assist in setting up and maintaining ward stock lists.

Skills

Problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Team supervision

Job description

Overview

Pharmacy Distribution and Stores are a growing team within the Pharmacy Supply Services family!

The ideal candidate will be able to work well independently and take initiative to solve problems proactively within the realms of the role. This includes escalating when appropriate and working efficiently with both the Distribution and the Stores teams. This role is based in the Distribution operational aspects, but there will be requirements to help support the supervision of the Stores team and cross-cover when necessary.

The primary aspect of the role is to supervise the team and act as the point of escalation for issues, whilst supporting the Inventory Manager and the Distribution Lead in ensuring the operational aspects of the service are fulfilled. This will also include completing HR duties such as appraisals and sickness procedures, and completing operational service demands such as stock list reviews, supporting wider projects and leading on training within the team. For this reason, strong communication skills are required alongside the need to adapt at short notice to different priorities, and there will be the need to work closely with other supervisors to ensure efficient running of the teams.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff within Distribution and Stores, including Senior Assistants, Assistants and Student Technicians, to ensure that a high‑quality service is provided.
• Assist managing the day‑to‑day issue of pharmaceutical products to wards/hospital units, whilst also helping to ensure that all activity undertaken is compliant with Good Distribution Practice.
• Ensure that the ward stock "top‑up" service operates smoothly, consistently, accurately and delivered in a timely manner.
• Assist the Distribution and Ward Stock Services Lead with setting up new ward stock lists and maintaining and updating current ward stock lists using stock list reviews.
• Deal with a variety of queries from all areas including those regarding errors, shortages of stock items, stock discrepancies and fridge temperatures.
• Manage and review the "Stock to Follow" report, and assist with compliance of Pharmacy/site stock checks alongside overseeing other Stores based processes such as goods receipt, investigating stock discrepancies, and ensuring smooth operations with appropriate escalation.
• Assist in the returned medication process and check returned medication.
• Keep all current Standard Operating Procedures up to date for Pharmacy Distribution, and ensure that new procedures are written (raised) and implemented where required.
• Assist the Distribution and Ward Stock Services Lead in other HR processes, including appraisals.

Key Requirements

The successful candidate will need to act as a positive role model for the team, be a positive and motivated supervisor with good problem‑solving skills and the ability to communicate well within the team and with external professionals. The candidate must have an open mind to change and the development of the distribution and stores' services, including the supply of medication to non‑NBT entities under our Wholesale Dealing Authorisation‑ WDA (h) and in line with the requirements of Good Distribution Practice (GDP). Additionally the individual must use their initiative to problem‑solve and complete the most urgent tasks, with an awareness of when to refer to the Distribution and Ward Stock Services Lead and the Distribution and Ward Stock Services Deputy Manager.

About the Employer

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award‑winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialties. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti‑discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel [phone].

North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT's workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre‑employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.