University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Senior Pharmacy Support Worker

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Job summary

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

The successful applicant will be organising microbiological monitoring samples, tracking them during incubation, reading and interpreting the results, entering results into our computer database, and reporting summarised results to the services.

As a senior pharmacy support worker, you will also have responsibility for stock management and staff rotas ensuring that all the required tasks are covered by a competent member of the team.

The Quality Assurance lab supports our 5 pharmacy manufacturing services, preparing specialist sterile medicines for some of the most complex patients in the hospital, each with dedicated clean room facilities. The services together employ around 60 staff and produce 150,000 doses per year.

If you're practically minded, organised and with an eye for detail, enjoy taking responsibility for your own work and being part of a team, this post is ideally suited for you.

All Pharmacy Support Workers take part in the Saturday morning, Bank Holiday and extended hours rotas. Part time working will be considered.

About us

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing 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.

At UHS we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We're committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum (PA) Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

188-CLN160925

Job locations

Adanac Trade Park

Adanac Drive

Southampton

SO16 0AS


Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful applicant will be organising microbiological monitoring samples, tracking them during incubation, reading and interpreting the results, entering results into our computer database, and reporting summarised results to the services.

As a senior pharmacy support worker, you will also have responsibility for stock management and staff rotas ensuring that all the required tasks are covered by a competent member of the team.

The Quality Assurance lab supports our 5 pharmacy manufacturing services, preparing specialist sterile medicines for some of the most complex patients in the hospital, each with dedicated clean room facilities. The services together employ around 60 staff and produce 150,000 doses per year.

If youre practically minded, organised and with an eye for detail, enjoy taking responsibility for your own work and being part of a team, this post is ideally suited for you.

All Pharmacy Support Workers take part in the Saturday morning, Bank Holiday and extended hours rotas. Part time working will be considered.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful applicant will be organising microbiological monitoring samples, tracking them during incubation, reading and interpreting the results, entering results into our computer database, and reporting summarised results to the services.

As a senior pharmacy support worker, you will also have responsibility for stock management and staff rotas ensuring that all the required tasks are covered by a competent member of the team.

The Quality Assurance lab supports our 5 pharmacy manufacturing services, preparing specialist sterile medicines for some of the most complex patients in the hospital, each with dedicated clean room facilities. The services together employ around 60 staff and produce 150,000 doses per year.

If youre practically minded, organised and with an eye for detail, enjoy taking responsibility for your own work and being part of a team, this post is ideally suited for you.

All Pharmacy Support Workers take part in the Saturday morning, Bank Holiday and extended hours rotas. Part time working will be considered.

Person Specification

Trust Values

Essential

  • Patient First
  • Always Improving
  • Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential

  • 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

  • Other healthcare qualifications
  • GCSEs in science-based or other role specific relevant subjects
  • 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)
Person Specification

Trust Values

Essential

  • Patient First
  • Always Improving
  • Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential

  • 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

  • Other healthcare qualifications
  • GCSEs in science-based or other role specific relevant subjects
  • 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)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Address

Adanac Trade Park

Adanac Drive

Southampton

SO16 0AS


Employer's website

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Address

Adanac Trade Park

Adanac Drive

Southampton

SO16 0AS


Employer's website

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Pharmacy QC Lab Manager

Rebecca Ballard

Rebecca.Ballard@uhs.nhs.uk

02381206198

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum (PA) Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

188-CLN160925

Job locations

Adanac Trade Park

Adanac Drive

Southampton

SO16 0AS


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)