Purchasing Assistant

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Preston; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust seeks a Purchasing Assistant to support the One Lancashire and South Cumbria procurement team. The role focuses on processing non-stock requisitions, ensuring accuracy and adherence to Standing Financial Instructions.

You will influence product selection, maintain contracts, and act as the primary contact for Trust departments and external contacts with regular site work at Preston or Lancaster.

Qualifications

• IT literacies and experience with standard office software.
• Experience in procurement or purchasing support roles.
• Familiarity with NHS procurement processes and SFI guidance.

Responsibilities

• Process non-stock requisitions with high accuracy in line with SFI's.
• Be the initial day-to-day contact for purchasing queries from Trust departments and external contacts.
• Influence customers to use standardised, cost-effective products.
• Maintain and support stock returns and contracts administration.
• Assist in developing reporting tools to track usage and savings.

Skills

IT literacy

Call Centre/Customer Service

Office Administration

Purchase or Sales Order Processing

Workload planning

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

Analytical skills

Friendly attitude

Team player

Education

CIPS Foundation or equivalent

GCSE Maths & English

Tools

NHS Logistics online

Advanced

Integra

GHX

Job description

The One Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Procurement team are seeking applications for a Purchasing Assistant. To ensure that an effective and efficient procurement service is provided to end users within all Trusts within One LSC. To process non-stock requisitions in line with the Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFI's). To ensure that price queries are kept to a minimum and resolved efficiently. To update departmental reporting tools to provide key performance indicators and commercial information to ensure that usage trends are quickly spotted. To assist in the development, implementation, review and maintenance of a specific range of contracts. Assist with the achievement of departmental service and savings targets. To act as an ambassador for the department, influence end users' choice of products and ensure all queries and complaints are dealt with in a professional and positive way. We are based across two office locations, Preston and Lancaster, and the successful applicant will be expected to work from one of the offices on a regular basis. Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate a commitment to on-site working. Main duties of the job To process non-stock requisitions, with a high level of accuracy, in line with the Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFI's). Seek to influence customers to use standardised products and cost effective approaches by proactively monitoring and making suggestions. Research alternative products and help to identify products for purchase rationalisation. To act as the initial day to day contact point for all purchasing queries raised by Trust departments and external contacts either verbally, via e-mail or telephone. To keep price queries to a minimum and resolve any issues promptly and efficiently via liaison with Trust departments, Finance and External contacts. To act as the initial day to day contact point for queries raised by Third Party provider with regard to Maintenance renewals. To act as the initial day to day contact point for all Trust departments with regard to non-stock orders, stock queries. Resolved via liaison with Materials Management and NHS Supply Chain. To act as the initial day to day contact point for all Trust departments with regard to the processing of orders, quotes and queries for Capital Equipment, Charitable Funds, Printing. To act as the central contact point for product returns and administer the stock returns process on behalf of the Trust. Where circumstances dictate, to action MDA Alerts via checking of historical purchases and assisting Departments across the Trust.

• Evidence of IT literacy
• Call Centre/Customer Service
• Office Administration
• Purchase or Sales Order Processing
• Ability to plan/manage workload in busy environment
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel & Access
• Good Analytical Skills
• Friendly/Positive/Confident Attitude
• Team Player

Desirable criteria

• CIPS Foundation or Other Procurement Qualification or equivalent business course
• Procurement Dept Experience
• Working knowledge of NHS Logistics online
• Working knowledge of Advanced, Integra, GHX systems
• Working knowledge of other Purchase Order/Inventory Software, GCSE Mathematics & English

Working for our organisation Created in November 2024 the One LSC Procurement team provides strategic procurement, commercial, logistics and supply chain services to the Trust Partners - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system. One LSC stands for 'One Lancashire and South Cumbria' and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership. The Trusts that make up One LSC are: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust · Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust · Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts. The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve.

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust. It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit. We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable you to apply for this post.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
• Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost for an Enhanced DBS, is £45.90 and for a Basic & Standard, this is £24.90 this cost includes a £4.90 admin fee.
• Please note: a young person must be in part-time education or training until they're 18. If you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks If the role you've applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.