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Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Job Title: Senior Pharmacy Support Worker
Contract Type: Permanent
Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in aseptic Pharmacy team and play a key role in contributing to the safe, accurate and timely preparation and supply of aseptic medicines for patients.
Working as part of an experienced and supportive aseptic team, you will supervise and support Pharmacy Support Workers and trainees, helping to develop their skills and knowledge while promoting and maintaining Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in all aspects of your work.
You will also contribute to stock management, support the Quality Management System, and participate in the continuous improvement of aseptic services to ensure the highest standards of quality, safety and patient care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In this role, your key responsibilities will include supporting the preparation and supply of high-quality aseptic medicines, ensuring products are prepared, compounded and packaged accurately and in accordance with established procedures and quality standards.
You will provide day-to-day supervision and support to Pharmacy Support Workers, acting as a role model to promote safe working practices and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
The role includes responsibility for stock control and inventory management, ensuring medicines and consumables are ordered, stored and rotated appropriately to maintain service continuity and minimise waste.
What Experience/Skills Are Needed The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- Experience working within a pharmacy environment, with a good understanding of medicines handling and stock management processes.
- Knowledge of, or willingness to develop knowledge of, aseptic services and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
- Experience of supervising, supporting or training colleagues, with the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a team.
- Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to follow procedures accurately while maintaining high standards of quality and patient safety.
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)
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Pharmacy Support Worker with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in University Hospital Southampton. It is listed as a Band 3 Pharmacy assistant role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - 27,476 Per Annum Pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 01 Sep 2026.
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