Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Senior Pharmacy Assistant Distribution

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

Due to retirement, we have the opportunity to offer this dynamic role to support the Pharmacy and wider Trust.

Main duties of the job

To be the Lead Assistant for Countywide Stock Distribution service at the Alexandra Hospital providing an efficient and timely ward stock medicines supply services that includes minimizing waste through overstocking and stock issues as a result of stock outs and issues with external suppliers.To co-ordinate work flow within the Distribution in conjunction with the Deputy Stock Distribution Manager.To undertake a range of administration support duties and be responsible for producing all delegated reports and suggest and implement improvements to ensure targets are met.To be a key member of the operational team, induct, train and supervise staff and function as the Lead assistant contact for Stock distribution.To act as a role model for pharmacy assistants in all areas of work, supporting colleagues and liaising professionally with all members of the departmental management team to provide the best possible care for the patient.To participate and plan the staff cover for the ward top up service.To deputise and provide cover for other Pharmacy Assistant Team Leads in their absence. To maintain dispensing competency if not part of day-to-day role.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year AFC payscale

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9365-25-0796

Job locations

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Job description

Job responsibilities

To be the Lead Assistant for Countywide Stock Distribution service at the Alexandra Hospital providing an efficient and timely ward stock medicines supply services that includes minimizing waste through overstocking and stock issues as a result of stock outs and issues with external suppliers.To co-ordinate work flow within the Distribution in conjunction with the Deputy Stock Distribution Manager.To undertake a range of administration support duties and be responsible for producing all delegated reports and suggest and implement improvements to ensure targets are met.To be a key member of the operational team, induct, train and supervise staff and function as the Lead assistant contact for Stock distribution.To act as a role model for pharmacy assistants in all areas of work, supporting colleagues and liaising professionally with all members of the departmental management team to provide the best possible care for the patient.To participate and plan the staff cover for the ward top up service.To deputise and provide cover for other Pharmacy Assistant Team Leads in their absence. To maintain dispensing competency if not part of day-to-day role.

Please see uploaded Job Description

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be the Lead Assistant for Countywide Stock Distribution service at the Alexandra Hospital providing an efficient and timely ward stock medicines supply services that includes minimizing waste through overstocking and stock issues as a result of stock outs and issues with external suppliers.To co-ordinate work flow within the Distribution in conjunction with the Deputy Stock Distribution Manager.To undertake a range of administration support duties and be responsible for producing all delegated reports and suggest and implement improvements to ensure targets are met.To be a key member of the operational team, induct, train and supervise staff and function as the Lead assistant contact for Stock distribution.To act as a role model for pharmacy assistants in all areas of work, supporting colleagues and liaising professionally with all members of the departmental management team to provide the best possible care for the patient.To participate and plan the staff cover for the ward top up service.To deputise and provide cover for other Pharmacy Assistant Team Leads in their absence. To maintain dispensing competency if not part of day-to-day role.

Please see uploaded Job Description

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Recent hospital proven experience of successfully delivering technical pharmacy services as a Pharmacy Assistant or equivalent

Desirable

  • Experience of distribution of medicines to wards/departments utilising Pharmacy computer software.
  • Experience of delivering ward drug top ups.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge and skills for dealing with a range of routine and non-routine activities, work allocation, problem solving for a team and area of work, answering queries and progress chasing.
  • Numeracy and ordering skills to be able to order, issue and maintain the stock of medicines to ensure sufficient stock is available for issue whilst minimising stock holding and waste due to expiry.
  • Standard keyboard skills for using the Pharmacy Computer System, and other software, to produce for example, departmental work rotas
  • correspondence and labels for medicines.
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office and have knowledge of Word, Excel, etc.
  • Ability to use the internet, intranet and online information resources.
  • Able to carry out verbal and written instructions accurately.
  • Able to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and written and have the ability to record details accurately and neatly.
  • Skilled at dealing with a range of routine and non-routine activities, answering queries, progress chasing, and task related problem solving both face to face and over the telephone.
  • Problem solving skills for solving order related problems.

Desirable

  • Dispensing medicines where accuracy is of the utmost importance.
  • Topping up and Issuing medicine stock where accuracy is of the utmost importance.
  • Computer skills for using the Pharmacy Computer System for: topping up, booking out and issuing medicines in pharmacy.
  • Knowledge of medicines and pharmacy policies including naming, handling and storage practices
  • Up to date knowledge of Knowledge of Health and
  • Safety at Work including COSHH and Manual Handling as it applies to technical pharmacy operations.
  • Knowledge of quality assurance

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy technical services or has completed the national Dispensing Assistants course.
  • .

Desirable

  • NPA counter assistant course

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Able to meet deadlines, prioritise tasks and manage time effectively within a busy working environment whilst producing work to the required standard.
  • Able to train, lead and motivate a team of staff.
  • Have the ability to remain calm under pressure.
  • Have the ability to deal with multiple queries and with changes in priority of workload.
  • Able to use initiative but understand the limits of responsibility.
  • Able to work effectively in a team whilst working as a role model for colleagues.
  • Able to empathise with patients, carers, visitors and staff.
  • Willing to be trained and to learn and, must be prepared to attend training courses appropriate for the post.
  • Able to work flexibly when needed depending on the service requirements
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Recent hospital proven experience of successfully delivering technical pharmacy services as a Pharmacy Assistant or equivalent

Desirable

  • Experience of distribution of medicines to wards/departments utilising Pharmacy computer software.
  • Experience of delivering ward drug top ups.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge and skills for dealing with a range of routine and non-routine activities, work allocation, problem solving for a team and area of work, answering queries and progress chasing.
  • Numeracy and ordering skills to be able to order, issue and maintain the stock of medicines to ensure sufficient stock is available for issue whilst minimising stock holding and waste due to expiry.
  • Standard keyboard skills for using the Pharmacy Computer System, and other software, to produce for example, departmental work rotas
  • correspondence and labels for medicines.
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office and have knowledge of Word, Excel, etc.
  • Ability to use the internet, intranet and online information resources.
  • Able to carry out verbal and written instructions accurately.
  • Able to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and written and have the ability to record details accurately and neatly.
  • Skilled at dealing with a range of routine and non-routine activities, answering queries, progress chasing, and task related problem solving both face to face and over the telephone.
  • Problem solving skills for solving order related problems.

Desirable

  • Dispensing medicines where accuracy is of the utmost importance.
  • Topping up and Issuing medicine stock where accuracy is of the utmost importance.
  • Computer skills for using the Pharmacy Computer System for: topping up, booking out and issuing medicines in pharmacy.
  • Knowledge of medicines and pharmacy policies including naming, handling and storage practices
  • Up to date knowledge of Knowledge of Health and
  • Safety at Work including COSHH and Manual Handling as it applies to technical pharmacy operations.
  • Knowledge of quality assurance

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy technical services or has completed the national Dispensing Assistants course.
  • .

Desirable

  • NPA counter assistant course

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Able to meet deadlines, prioritise tasks and manage time effectively within a busy working environment whilst producing work to the required standard.
  • Able to train, lead and motivate a team of staff.
  • Have the ability to remain calm under pressure.
  • Have the ability to deal with multiple queries and with changes in priority of workload.
  • Able to use initiative but understand the limits of responsibility.
  • Able to work effectively in a team whilst working as a role model for colleagues.
  • Able to empathise with patients, carers, visitors and staff.
  • Willing to be trained and to learn and, must be prepared to attend training courses appropriate for the post.
  • Able to work flexibly when needed depending on the service requirements

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

LISA DALY

lisa.daly4@nhs.net

01527512086

Details

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year AFC payscale

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9365-25-0796

Job locations

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Supporting documents

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