Senior Pharmacy Support Worker

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT

Southampton

On-site

GBP 24,000 - 29,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

NHS discounts

35 days holiday pro rata

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton is offering a permanent Senior Pharmacy Support Worker position within the aseptic pharmacy team. You will supervise Pharmacy Support Workers, ensure safe preparation and timely supply of aseptic medicines, and promote GMP compliance.

The role involves stock control, contributing to the Quality Management System, and supporting continuous improvement while providing leadership to the team.

Qualifications

Experience in a pharmacy environment with medicines handling and stock management.
Knowledge of aseptic services and GMP requirements.
Experience supervising or training colleagues with teamwork.
Strong attention to detail and patient safety.

Responsibilities

Support preparation and supply of aseptic medicines to patients.
Provide day-to-day supervision of Pharmacy Support Workers.
Assist with stock control, ordering and inventory management.
Contribute to Quality Management System and continuous service improvements.

Skills

Aseptic pharmacy operations

Supervisory / leadership experience

Medicines handling & stock management

Attention to GMP standards

Education

GCSEs English & Maths

NVQ 2 in Pharmacy or equivalent

Supervisory qualification or equivalent

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.

Job Title: Senior Pharmacy Support Worker

Contract Type: Permanent

Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in aseptic Pharmacy team and play a key role in contributing to the safe, accurate and timely preparation and supply of aseptic medicines for patients.

Working as part of an experienced and supportive aseptic team, you will supervise and support Pharmacy Support Workers and trainees, helping to develop their skills and knowledge while promoting and maintaining Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in all aspects of your work.

You will also contribute to stock management, support the Quality Management System, and participate in the continuous improvement of aseptic services to ensure the highest standards of quality, safety and patient care.

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

In this role, your key responsibilities will include supporting the preparation and supply of high-quality aseptic medicines, ensuring products are prepared, compounded and packaged accurately and in accordance with established procedures and quality standards.

You will provide day‑to‑day supervision and support to Pharmacy Support Workers, acting as a role model to promote safe working practices and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

The role includes responsibility for stock control and inventory management, ensuring medicines and consumables are ordered, stored and rotated appropriately to maintain service continuity and minimise waste.

What Experience/Skills Are Needed

Experience working within a pharmacy environment, with a good understanding of medicines handling and stock management processes.
Knowledge of, or willingness to develop knowledge of, aseptic services and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
Experience of supervising, supporting or training colleagues, with the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a team.
Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to follow procedures accurately while maintaining high standards of quality and patient safety.

Person Specification

Trust Values

Patient First
Always Improving
Working Together

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

2 GCSE’s or equivalent grades A* - C or 4-9 in English and Maths (If qualifications gained outside the UK evidence of equivalent standards must be demonstrated at interview)
NVQ 2 in Pharmacy or other Level 2 approved GPhC qualification for pharmacy support staff
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
Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post (if necessary with reasonable adjustments with respect to the Equality Act/Disability Discrimination Act).
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