Pharmacy Procurement and Homecare - Senior Assistant Technical Officer

We are seeking applicants to join our fantastic Pharmacy Procurement and Homecare team. Applicants should have excellent Microsoft Office skills, experience in a finance or accounting role with AAT/CIMA/CIPS qualification or NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services. Training can be provided for those who are able to undertake the relevant units of the NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services. 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. We are a small but supportive team and looking for someone who enjoys routine but works well as a team to meet changing priorities. Job shares and those seeking flexible working arrangements are also welcome.

Main duties of the job:

• Processing orders on the pharmacy stock control system and transmitting them to suppliers via EDI or email.
• Processing invoices for payment and resolving any discrepancies.
• Maintaining up to date and accurate computer files.
• Liaising with suppliers and other hospitals to obtain urgent medication.
• Planning and organising own workload to meet routine and unexpected deadlines including identification of alternative suppliers to resolve supply problems.

About us:

The Whittington Health is an Integrated Care Organisation that provides safe, personal, coordinated care, high quality community and hospital services to the populations of Haringey and Islington and aims to help local people live longer and healthier lives for the community we serve. The Whittington Hospital is the acute hospital of Whittington Health situated in Northeast London a few minutes' walk from Archway Tube Station and Upper Holloway Overground station. The Whittington Hospital is one of the first Integrated Care Organizations in London providing a seamless transition from Hospital to Community Care. Our innovative Pharmacy Department is a great place to work and has previously undergone extensive and exciting developments as part of this new organisation.

Job responsibilities:

• You will be a vital part of the procurement and homecare team to support clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians 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.
• An accurate eye for detail in checking prices and investigating invoicing discrepancies is needed.
• A calm and methodical approach is essential to cope with multiple tasks and prioritise workload.

Person Specification:

Work experience:

• Essential: Ability to navigate around online platforms, processing payments using digital systems, investigating stock or accounting discrepancies, processing orders using digital platforms.
• Desirable: Competently using pharmacy stock control or procurement computer system, reconciling statements, dispensing using a pharmacy stock control system.

Qualifications:

• 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).
• Desirable: CIPS level 3, ACCT level 2, Formal IM&T qualification (e.g. ECDL) or equivalent experience.

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 frequent interruptions, stressful situations, or 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 hospital.

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, Word, Outlook, use of a Pharmacy Stock Control System and medicine/medical terminology, general procurement principles (e.g. contracts).
• Desirable: Experience of working in a large multidisciplinary team, experience of working in a hospital environment or a community pharmacy, experience working as a pharmacy assistant, awareness of the dangers associated with handling potentially hazardous products such as flammable liquids and cytotoxics, experience with CMM (JAC) pharmacy stock control system, experience of EDI systems.

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.

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.