Senior Pharmacy Support Worker

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated Senior Pharmacy Support Worker to join our Pharmacy team in a permanent role. You will contribute to safe, accurate preparation and timely supply of medicines for patients, while providing day-to-day supervision to Pharmacy Support Workers.

The role emphasises adherence to GMP and quality standards, stock control, and support for service continuity.

Qualifications

• Holds a GPhC Level 2 pharmacy qualification or equivalent experience.
• Supervisory qualification or demonstrable supervision experience.
• Previous pharmacy experience (hospital or community).
• Willing to complete in-house training within 6 months of starting; progression opportunities may require additional qualifications.
• Must be able to work late evenings, bank holidays and weekends per rota.
• Requires lifting and handling up to 15 kg repeatedly; moving pallets 500–600 kg daily using a pallet truck (receipts posts).

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and supply of high-quality medicines, ensuring accurate compounding and packaging per procedures.
• Provide day-to-day supervision and mentor Pharmacy Support Workers, promoting safe practices and GMP standards.
• Manage stock control and inventory, ensuring medicines and consumables are ordered, stored and rotated to minimise waste.

Skills

Pharmacy experience

Aseptic services knowledge

GMP knowledge

Supervisory/training

Attention to detail

Education

GPhC Level 2 Pharmacy qualification

Supervisory qualification

Job description

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

Please note this vacancy is not eligible for 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 our Pharmacy team and play a key role in contributing to the safe, accurate and timely preparation and supply of medicines for patients.

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 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

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience Essential

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

• GCSEs 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
• Other healthcare qualifications