Senior Pharmacy Support Worker

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Pharmacy Support Worker to join the Medicines Management Team. The role focuses on ward-based dispensing, stock management and ensuring timely delivery of medications to inpatients.

In this busy NHS environment you will support ward staff, handle take-home medicines (TTOs), and contribute to safe medication use and discharge processes while following professional standards.

Qualifications

• Holds a GPhC approved Level 2 pharmacy qualification or equivalent experience.
• Supervisory qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience of supervision.
• Previous pharmacy experience (hospital or community) or supervisory experience.
• Must be able to commit to completing in-house training within 6 months of starting.
• Must be able to work late evenings, bank holidays and weekend shifts per rota.
• Required to lift and handle packages up to 15kg repeatedly and move pallets weighing 500–600kg daily.

Responsibilities

• Dispensing take home medicines (TTOs) at ward level.
• Completing stock top ups for ward areas.
• Ordering medications for patients.
• Assessing patient's own drugs (PODs) for hospital use suitability.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Hospital pharmacy experience

Commitment to training

Education

GPhC approved Level 2 pharmacy qualification or equivalent experience

Supervisory qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience of supervision

Previous pharmacy experience (hospital or community) or supervisory experience

Commitment to completing in-house training within 6 months

Ability to work late evenings, bank holidays and weekends as required by rota

Ability to lift 15kg repeatedly; move pallets weighing 500–600kg daily

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Pharmacy Support Worker to join the Medicines Management Team. Our expanding team of ward-based support staff provides an exceptional medicines management service, ensuring inpatients receive their medications when needed and supporting timely discharge through efficient ward-based dispensing. The team is highly regarded and plays a key role in improving patient care and flow throughout the hospital.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• Dispensing take home medicines (TTOs) at ward level
• Completing stock top ups for ward
• Ordering medications for patients
• Assessing patient's own drugs (PODs) for suitability of use in hospital

Person specification

Trust Values

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Holds a GPhC approved Level 2 pharmacy qualification or equivalent experience
• Supervisory qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience of supervision
• Previous pharmacy experience (hospital or community) or supervisory experience
• Must be able to commit to completing ‘in-house’ training programme within 6 months of starting. Opportunities to progress are available but may require additional qualifications to meet eligibility criteria to undertake additional qualifications
• Must be able to work late evenings, bank holidays and weekend working according to rota requirements
• Required to lift and handle packages, weighing up to 15kg on a repetitive basis. (Reasonable adjustment may be made) Required to move pallets weighing between 500 and 600kg using an unpowered pallet truck daily (Receipts posts only)

Desirable criteria

• GCSE’s or equivalent grades 4 – 9 (A* - C) in English and Maths and additional GCSEs in science-based or other role specific relevant subjects (If qualifications gained outside the UK evidence of equivalent standards must be demonstrated at interview)
• Previous experience in health or social care (if not pharmacy)
• Experience in stock control i.e., receiving, maintaining and / or issuing stock
• Clinical trials or research experience (Clinical trials only)
• Use of till and / or handling money in a work environment (RSH posts only)
• Other healthcare qualifications