Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Outpatient Pharmacy - Medication purchasing Pharmacy assistant

The closing date is 23 June 2025

Job summary

We're Hiring - Full time (40 hours per week) Medication purchasing Pharmacy assistant

We are seeking applicants to join our Outpatient Pharmacy team. Whether purchasing medication, managing Pharmacy stock, navigating mediation supply problems, dispensing medication or providing pharmacy services - you will be providing personalised solutions to help people lead healthier lives - this is work with real purpose.

The Pharmacy medication purchasing assistant plays a key role in ensuring safe and efficient patient care is maintained. Applicants must be qualified to NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services (or equivalent) or working towards this qualification and must have a good working knowledge of medication and Pharmaceutical goods in the UK. This role is perfect for a Pharmacy assistant with excellent Microsoft office skills and at least two years of UK community pharmacy or UK hospital pharmacy experience.

Accuracy, excellent written and verbal communication skills are key to undertaking the role. Applicants will need to use their initiative in resolving problems and be prepared to change priorities to ensure patients receive the right medications in a timely manner.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

  • Processing POM, OTC and Pharmacy stationary orders
  • Liaise with suppliers, Pharmacy colleagues and other hospitals to obtain urgent medication
  • Liaise with Pharmacy stores staff to ensure orders are received accurately and in time
  • Complete regular stock check, stock rotation, date checking and maintenance of the medication robot
  • Review and resolve medication stock shortages by liaising with manufacturers and suppliers as well as the Outpatient Pharmacy clinical colleagues
  • Process medication MHRA alerts, stock returns and claims in a timely manner.
  • Process Pharmacy invoices and credits in a timely manner to ensure good medication account position
  • Participate in the annual stock check day
  • Support the Pharmacy dispensary by assisting with dispensing and healthcare counter cover

About us

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Details

Date posted

12 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£30,888 to £34,257 a year Depend on experience - JOB NOT UNDER AGENDA FOR CHANGE

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3147

Job locations

Whittington Pharmacy CIC - Outpatient Pharmacy

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a vital part of the Outpatient Pharmacy team in procuring medicines and identifying alternatives for items that are on shortage.

You will need to liaise with suppliers and become familiar with using a variety of online catalogues. Full training will be provided.

An accurate eye for detail in checking prices and investigating invoicing discrepancies is needed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a vital part of the Outpatient Pharmacy team in procuring medicines and identifying alternatives for items that are on shortage.

You will need to liaise with suppliers and become familiar with using a variety of online catalogues. Full training will be provided.

An accurate eye for detail in checking prices and investigating invoicing discrepancies is needed.

Person Specification

Work experience

Essential

  • Ability to efficiently learn and navigate new digital software and online platforms
  • Ability to efficiently learn new digital software for processing invoice payments
  • Investigating stock or accounting discrepancies
  • Microsoft office proficiency
  • Strong communication and English language skills
  • Good UK Pharmacy and medication knowledge

Desirable

  • Dispensing Medication and counselling patients

Education

Essential

  • 5 GCSE passes Grade C (4) and above including Mathematics, English and a Science
  • BTEC /NVQ L2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff (or equivalent)

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of working in a pharmacy department
  • Knowledge of procurement and relevant medicines legislation
  • Clear understanding of procurement processes
  • Excellent computer literacy of Microsoft office suite
  • Good command of both written and spoken English Language
  • Clear and concise telephone manner
  • Ability to investigate and resolve ordering and payment queries
  • Good organisational, time management and workload prioritisation skills
  • Good team working and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to make critical decisions in the absence of the Procurement and Stores Manager.
  • Logical problem-solving skills
  • Hardworking and reliable
  • Flexible, enthusiastic approach
  • Able to deal with changing priorities whilst completing planned workload.
  • Ability to work accurately under pressure and able to meet multiple deadlines whilst dealing with stressful situations.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of working in a Pharmacy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of the principles of efficient stock control e.g. stock rotation, expiry dates, minimum stock-levels and re-order levels
  • Awareness of the need for patient confidentiality
  • Experience of working in an environment requiring working with attention to detail and to pre-determined deadlines
  • Experience of using Microsoft office excel, work, outlook
  • Use of a Pharmacy Stock Control System and medicine/medical terminology
  • Experience with CMM (JAC) pharmacy stock control system

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a hospital environment or a community pharmacy
  • Experience working as a pharmacy assistant
  • General procurement principles (e.g. contracts)

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously with minimum required supervision
  • Demonstrates patience, empathy and calm nature in a busy environment
  • Demonstrates reliability and good time keeping
  • A positive can-do attitude and a positive attitude to change
  • Able to cope with moderate physical exertion and heavy lifting of pharmaceutical supplies

Desirable

  • Able to confidently communicate with senior members of staff regarding the need to follow due processes
  • Assertive and quick to respond to urgent issues

Other

Essential

  • Ability to do Late Duty, Weekend Duties + Bank Holidays according to a rota
  • Awareness of Equal Opportunities
  • Good Attendance Record, Good Time Keeping
  • Ability to support with the receipt and checking of deliveries
Person Specification

Work experience

Essential

  • Ability to efficiently learn and navigate new digital software and online platforms
  • Ability to efficiently learn new digital software for processing invoice payments
  • Investigating stock or accounting discrepancies
  • Microsoft office proficiency
  • Strong communication and English language skills
  • Good UK Pharmacy and medication knowledge

Desirable

  • Dispensing Medication and counselling patients

Education

Essential

  • 5 GCSE passes Grade C (4) and above including Mathematics, English and a Science
  • BTEC /NVQ L2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff (or equivalent)

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of working in a pharmacy department
  • Knowledge of procurement and relevant medicines legislation
  • Clear understanding of procurement processes
  • Excellent computer literacy of Microsoft office suite
  • Good command of both written and spoken English Language
  • Clear and concise telephone manner
  • Ability to investigate and resolve ordering and payment queries
  • Good organisational, time management and workload prioritisation skills
  • Good team working and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to make critical decisions in the absence of the Procurement and Stores Manager.
  • Logical problem-solving skills
  • Hardworking and reliable
  • Flexible, enthusiastic approach
  • Able to deal with changing priorities whilst completing planned workload.
  • Ability to work accurately under pressure and able to meet multiple deadlines whilst dealing with stressful situations.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of working in a Pharmacy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of the principles of efficient stock control e.g. stock rotation, expiry dates, minimum stock-levels and re-order levels
  • Awareness of the need for patient confidentiality
  • Experience of working in an environment requiring working with attention to detail and to pre-determined deadlines
  • Experience of using Microsoft office excel, work, outlook
  • Use of a Pharmacy Stock Control System and medicine/medical terminology
  • Experience with CMM (JAC) pharmacy stock control system

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a hospital environment or a community pharmacy
  • Experience working as a pharmacy assistant
  • General procurement principles (e.g. contracts)

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously with minimum required supervision
  • Demonstrates patience, empathy and calm nature in a busy environment
  • Demonstrates reliability and good time keeping
  • A positive can-do attitude and a positive attitude to change
  • Able to cope with moderate physical exertion and heavy lifting of pharmaceutical supplies

Desirable

  • Able to confidently communicate with senior members of staff regarding the need to follow due processes
  • Assertive and quick to respond to urgent issues

Other

Essential

  • Ability to do Late Duty, Weekend Duties + Bank Holidays according to a rota
  • Awareness of Equal Opportunities
  • Good Attendance Record, Good Time Keeping
  • Ability to support with the receipt and checking of deliveries

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Pharmacy CIC - Outpatient Pharmacy

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF


Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Pharmacy CIC - Outpatient Pharmacy

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF


Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Superintendent Pharmacist

Delaram Salehifard

Delaram.salehifard@nhs.net

02072883387

Details

Date posted

12 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£30,888 to £34,257 a year Depend on experience - JOB NOT UNDER AGENDA FOR CHANGE

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3147

Job locations

Whittington Pharmacy CIC - Outpatient Pharmacy

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF


Supporting documents

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