Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Bank: 6 weeks
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 195-25-PSWB-REN
- Employer
- South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Pharmacy Department, LPU
- Town
- Southampton
- Closing
- 29/12/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Pharmacy Support Worker - Bank
NHS AfC: Band 3
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Job overview
Perform a variety of pharmacy support duties, some of which may be patient-facing. These include procurement, stock management, dispensing and/or preparation of medicines, packing and distribution and waste management of medicines within the Trust. The post holder will consistently work in an accurate, effective and efficient manner to support the provision of high-quality service to patients, Trust staff and stations.
Main duties of the job
- Receive, process and distribute medicines, including Controlled Drugs (CDs) within the Trust
- Support the Trust compliance to legislative and governance requirements pertaining to medicines including CDs, clinical trials and unlicenced medicines
- Maintain receipts and records of medicines procured in accordance with the MHRA regulatory framework
- Inspect deliveries for damage or discrepancies and escalate for reimbursement where required
- Perform other medicines-related duties including packing and labelling supplies in accordance with the Trust licence(s)
- Rotate stock and coordinate the disposal of surpluses or out-of-date medicines
- Maintain accurate inventory control
- Deliver medicines to designated areas within the Trust via driving
Working for our organisation
Benefits we offer:
- Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
- Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
- Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
- Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
- Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
- NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
- Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).
Corporate Induction
It’s really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).
All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire), Bicester (Oxfordshire) or Whiteley (Hampshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.
*Please note – depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To comply with departmental policies and procedures at all times
- To receive deliveries ensuring that the driver delivery documentation is checked as correct before accepting the delivery
- Use correct procedures and equipment to manage deliveries that are heavy in weight as per Trust policies
- To unpack deliveries and record receipt of the goods in accordance with standard procedures, confirming detailed information contained within invoices, including all batch numbers and expiry dates
- Accurately input data into the stock system
- Identify unlicenced products and quarantine appropriately to await authorisation for use
- Identify medicines no longer fit for purpose and where authorised dispose according to Trust policy
- Issue accurately, against requisition requests, medicines to stations and other Trust units
- Deliver medicines to stations and other Trust units
- Issue bulky products, including fluids to stations and other Trust units. This involves lifting and handling of boxes up to 10kg in weight on a daily basis
- Carry out physical stock counts of medicines as required
- Ensure accurate records of expiry dates are maintained and participate in checks at designated times
- Package and distribute medicines, including vaccines, with cold chain storage requirements
- To package for transport and arrange dispatch of items for return to suppliers
- To complete other tasks with respect to the procurement, packing and distribution of medicines as directed by the Pharmacy Operations Manager
- To assist with tracking activities and maintaining appropriate records for audit trail
- To communicate effectively and liaise with other staff, internally and externally to answer non-clinical queries relating to medicines management
Clinical Education
- To train less experienced staff
- To participate in the training of new staff in all professions
- To support the delivery of medicines-related training for all groups of staff within the Trust
- To complete all statutory and mandatory training and any training deemed appropriate by the Medicines Manager, Lead Pharmacist or Head of Pharmacy
- To complete any training deemed necessary by the pharmacy regulator in respect to Pharmacy Support Workers
- To participate in a system of performance appraisal
- Have completed or be willing to undertake a Pharmacy Support Staff qualification equivalent to units of the Level 2 NVQ in Pharmacy Services
Clinical Audit and Research
- To participate in departmental audits
- To regularly contribute to relevant practice research or audit projects, and to cooperate in presenting the results of such work, as appropriate
- To participate in other research and audit programmes in the department as required
- To adhere to active clinical trial protocols and support the management of investigation medicinal products during a trial period
Leadership and Corporate Governance
- Promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all members of the workforce to meet required performance standards
- Support high standards of employment practice
- Promote the vision, values and goals of the organisation
Organisational Profile
- Ensure that the Trust's management processes are open and transparent, and which encourage the confidence of staff, the public and other agencies
- Promote a positive organisation image
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 4 GSCEs including Math and English grade C or above
- Obtained or willingness to work towards NVQ 2 in pharmacy services/pharmacy services assistant or Pharmacy Manufacturing course
- Valid UK driving license
Desirable criteria
- Obtained or willingness to work towards a Certificate in Medicines Management for Ambulance Trusts
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Gawn
- Job title
- Specialist Pharmacy Technician: Operations
- Email address
- [email protected]
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