Pharmacy Support Worker Higher level - Pharmacy Distribution Centre

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

27 days annual leave

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Pharmacy Services is seeking a Pharmacy Support Worker Higher Level to provide essential administrative support within the Homecare Medicines Team. Based at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre, you will help ensure timely home deliveries and maintain accurate records, under supervision and in collaboration with Pharmacy Technicians and colleagues.

The role emphasises patient-centred care, accuracy, and adherence to SOPs and financial instructions, with a

Qualifications

• Basic numeracy and literacy demonstrated by 3 Standard Grade qualifications or equivalent.
• Good IT skills and practical knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
• Willingness to work towards SVQ qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Assist in supplying medicines to patients' homes via the Homecare Service.
• Process Homecare prescriptions and create purchase orders.
• Maintain patient homecare records and respond to queries by email/phone.
• Receive goods into the department and update the stock system.

Skills

Attention to detail

IT skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

3 Standard Grade English & Maths

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Pharmacy Support Worker Higher Level to join the growing Pharmacy Homecare Medicines Team within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Pharmacy Services. Based within the Pharmacy Distribution Centre (PDC) purchasing office, you will provide efficient and effective administrative support to the Homecare Medicines Service, helping to ensure patients receive timely supplies of medication at home. Although the role is not patient-facing, it is focused on delivering patient-centred care.

You will work alongside Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Support Workers Higher Level, Purchasing Officers and other multidisciplinary professionals across NHSGGC and beyond. The PDC is a modern, high-volume facility responsible for the procurement and distribution of medicines and vaccines across hospitals, clinics and community pharmacies throughout the region, including Argyll & Bute in NHS Highland.

The PDC also acts as the central administration point for NHSGGC pharmacy homecare medicines and operates across three key areas: Unit F Warehouse, Unit F Office Team, including Purchasing and Homecare teams, and Unit C Vaccine Holding Centre. The warehouse uses automated robotic systems to support the safe and efficient distribution of medicines.

This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for a or a NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is unable to provide candidates or employees with a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS).

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern

• This is a permanent
• You will be working 36 hours per week
• The post is based within the Pharmacy Distribution Centre (PDC), Unit F Office Team, Purchasing/Homecare Office.
• You will work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 08:0016:00, on a 4/7 whole-week working pattern, and will participate in Public Holiday working.
• Only in-person interviews will be available due to a basic numeracy and accuracy test being undertaken as part of the interview process

Key Responsibilities

You will assist in the supply of medicines to patients' homes through the Homecare Service, working collaboratively within the team both under supervision and autonomously while adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and NHSGGC Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs). You will process Homecare prescriptions using the pharmacy stock management system to create purchase orders, maintain patient homecare records, investigate and resolve financial queries and discrepancies, and respond to queries from clinical teams, homecare providers and other stakeholders by email, telephone or face to face. You will receive goods into the department, update the stock management system and comply with SOPs, Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD).

You will prioritise your workload to meet departmental needs, participate in the training and supervision of new staff, manage the Homecare generic email inbox, assist with updating procedures and filing systems, and participate in local and national meetings with Homecare stakeholders. You will also undertake any other duties required to support the needs of the department.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• General level of education with basic numeracy and literacy skills, demonstrated by 3 Standard Grade qualifications or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.
• Good IT skills and practical knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
• Commitment to working towards relevant SVQ qualifications.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing training and professional development.
• Experience of training staff.
• Experience of supervising staff.
• Experience of working within a healthcare or similar environment.
• Experience of stock management.
• Demonstrable accuracy and attention to detail.
• Keen eye for detail and commitment to quality and safety standards.
• Ability to work effectively under supervision and autonomously while following established procedures.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to organise daily tasks using own initiative and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing service requirements.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a demanding environment.
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in a comprehensive induction and training programme.
• Ability to use computer systems and equipment following appropriate training.
• Comprehensive training and professional development will be provided to the successful candidate.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Interested?

For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact

Sharon Thompson
Pharmacy Technician Higher Level Homecare
Telephone: [phone]

Email

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process:

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip:

Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as various, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

For application portal or log-in issues, please contact the in the first instance.