Job Description

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

NHS