Job overview

There has never been a better time to join the Trust's Pharmacy team as a  Senior Pharmacy Assistant. We have been working on transforming  our ways of working by introducing a repacking service which will play a vital role in ensuring our front line crews are ready and able to respond to emergency situations by preparing our equipment to high standards.

This has been working well in the sites we have introduced stocked medicine bags to so far. However the Trust has made a decision to move away from Medicine bags and at the end of 2025 we piloted a new design of stocked modular based pouch system. This went ready well in the pilot sites, we have reviewed all the data and feedback made some changes and have place a large order to role this system out across the Trust . This will improve the flow of medicines ready for use, reduce checking and restocking times.

Alongside this we have just signed a contract to introduce an electronic inventory management system for better visibility and tracking of medicines. 

This role will be key to supporting the Pharmacy team through this change, making suggestions for improvements and making the Trust vision work. 

The role of the Senior Pharmacy Assistant is also a gateway to the organisation with opportunities to develop you career with us either within the Pharmacy team or the wider Trust in both patient-facing and a variety of support roles.

Main duties of the job

Senior Pharmacy Assistants supervise a team responsible for repacking drugs bags and pouches in a prescribed and controlled way that ensures each bag or pouch is ready to be used by our clinicians to treat patients. The role is a key operational support function which ensures patient safety whilst supporting Operations in meeting its targets.

Main duties include:

• Daily supervision of the Pharmacy team;
• Analysis of a range of complex discrepancies and identification of solutions;
• Ordering, receiving and storing medicines;
• Effective stock rotation;
• Picking & packing of orders to fill drugs bags or pouches;
• Carrying out checking and other quality control processes;
• Supporting the returns and disposal processes;
• Making suggestions for improvements;
• Follow the Trust’s medicines Policies and Standard Operational Procedures

This is the start of a new initiative where we are seeking to develop our service and are looking for committed people 

Working for our organisation

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.

We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.

We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.