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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-7203289
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacy Procurement & Distribution Lead

NHS AfC: Band 7

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

The opportunity has arisen for an exceptional Pharmacy Technician to join the Pharmacy Department in the role of Procurement, Stores & Distribution Manager / Deputy Responsible Person. Do you have what it takes to join the excellent management team in a busy modern NHS Hospital? Are you a registered Pharmacy Technician able to think on your feet, and work in a dynamic and flexible way?

We are looking for a Pharmacy Technician with in-depth NHS hospital Pharmacy experience to manage the Procurement, Stores and Distribution service. This is an essential service and you will ensure the efficient and effective procurement and distribution of medicines.

If you wish to discuss this post further or to arrange a visit please contact Rachel Longar, Pharmacy Operations Manager on 01793 605023 or via email [email protected]

Main duties of the job

You will manage, organise and monitor the purchasing, supply, management & invoicing of medicines as well as staff within this service. You will have delegated duties to undertake the day to day WDA licensed activities ensuring that the service and facilities are compliant with all aspects of Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01), and all other relevant medicines regulations and quality standards. To manage related training provision to all operational staff within the facility.  To act as an operational lead in all aspects of regulatory audit.

As well as this you will work in the Dispensary each week as an Accredited Checking Technician and provide senior leadership support in the absence of the Pharmacy Operations Manager.

You should have excellent leadership skills with evidence of being an effective team player, and you will have excellent communication & interpersonal skills both verbal and written, to pass on complex information. You will be self-motivated and driven to progress service provision, with the ability to motivate the team.

The Pharmacy Department at the Great Western Hospital is at the heart of the Trust’s programme to move forward and transform itself, using technology and new ways of working, to put Medicines Optimisation at the heart of our services.  Our department has two robotic storage and dispensing systems, full inpatient electronic prescribing and medicines administration and an onsite Boots Outpatient Dispensary.

Working for our organisation

Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To manage and control the Pharmacy Stores and Distribution operations including receipting goods, safe custody and security, correct storage, rotation of stock, issues, returns to suppliers and regular 
stock checks.

2. Preparing work rota’s and ensuring that adequate numbers of appropriate staff are available to the  Stores department, organising extra help if required.

3. Overseeing the medicines ordering process to ensure that the trust does not run out of any essential  items & ensuring orders are placed with the contracted or most cost effective suppliers.

4. To manage and control ward stock issues and stock lists, taking into account safe custody and security, correct storage, rotation of stock and issues.

5. To monitor the service in line with the quality strategy and, as a result, re-assess and if necessary alter the systems of work. 

6. To ensure that the appropriate credits are obtained for items returned to suppliers, wrongly invoiced and where contractors fail to meet their contractual obligations. This may require the use of negotiation  or influencing skills to achieve the required outcome.

7. To initiate and to maintain computerised records for stock items in accordance with Trust policy.

8. Ensure that the JAC Pharmacy computer system drug files are up to date, have the appropriate purchasing and other general information.

9. Act as super user for the Pharmacy Robots, dealing with any errors and training staff in its use. Contacting our supplier’s helpdesk to resolve problems and ensure that routine maintenance is undertaken. This may require the dissemination of complex information or the overcoming of barriers to understanding.

10. To maintain a system for the identification of expiry dates and the prompt exchange, disposal or return  for credit for items nearing their expiry date.

11. Ensure that there are adequate and up to date written training manuals for all areas to assist staff in  following the correct operating procedures. Ensure an induction programme is in place for all new staff  to follow.

12. Ensure the safe disposal of medicines on behalf of the department.

13. To assist the with Drug Recalls in the removal of defective and potentially harmful medicinal products following Drug Recalls and to ensure that such items are segregated ready for return or disposal.

14. To keep the Operations Manager, Director of Pharmacy and other senior pharmacy staff informed about  major stock availability problems and to notify these officers promptly of significant delays or shortages, and where appropriate arrange alternative sources of supply. Liaise with the medicines information  service regarding alternative products and inform medical staff of alternatives. 

15. To keep the to-follows list of out of stock medication up to date, ensuring that suitable alternatives are purchased. This will require the comparison of a range of options to ensure the most appropriate purchases are made.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services and a BTEC in Pharmaceutical science plus additional qualifications or experience to post-graduate diploma level.
  • Current registration as Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
  • NVQ assessor to A1 standard or equivalent, or able to work towards and willing to undertake training which will be completed within 12 months
  • Accredited Checking Technician qualification or be eligible and willing to work towards accreditation which will be completed within 12 months
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ Level 3 in Management or equivalent knowledge and experience in Pharmacy management role
  • Procurement qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • In-depth broad post-qualification hospital Pharmacy Technician experience including the supervision or management of staff
  • Good and broad understanding of current hospital pharmacy practice in order to advise other staff
  • Good understanding of formulary / medicines management issues and the implications for services
  • Good knowledge of therapeutic drug use in clinical situations gained by ongoing education and CPD
  • Good understanding of legal requirements, procedures, protocols governing clinical trials
  • Good understanding of the procedures, protocols and legal requirements governing the issue of nonlicensed medicin
  • Good knowledge of the legal requirements (Law and Ethics) for dispensing and supplying medicines, including CDs
Desirable criteria
  • Working knowledge of Trust and departmental policies
  • Recent hospital pharmacy experience
  • Recruitment and selection experience
  • Experience of organising and managing in busy and potentially stressful environments
  • Experience of leading teams and staff management
  • Knowledge and clear understanding of Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01), and other relevant regulations, guidance and quality standards

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rachel Longar
Job title
Pharmacy Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 605023
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