Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 333-C-HQ-2006
- Employer
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Charles
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £30,546 - £32,207 per annum inc. Inner HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/09/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 07/10/2025
Employer heading

Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Distribution
NHS AfC: Band 3
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Job overview
The Senior Pharmacy Assistant (SATO) will be the main point of contact for wards and clinics and will be responsible for ensuring all wards and clinics receive their regular supply of medicines within the required timeframe. They will also provide clerical and administrative support to the pharmacy purchasing team, which includes processing orders.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dedicated and friendly individual with an approachable personality and willingness to learn to support our pharmacy team in the local delivery of high quality pharmacy services to patients within Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
You will have a variety of duties within the department, involving the purchasing & supply of medicines to wards and departments within the Trust.
As part of a team you will perform tasks such as ordering via Medecator, issuing stock to on and off site wards and distributing stock.
You will also be involved in the dispensing process which will include producing labels using the computer system Ascribe and dispensing medication for patients.
You will be required to have a NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, or be signed off as competent by a supervising Pharmacist if covered by the Grandparent Clause.
Working for our organisation
The Senior Pharmacy Assistant (SATO) will check all orders assembled by support staff, supervise Pharmacy Assistant (ATO) staff working in the pharmacy stores, and will report to the Deputy Purchasing & Distribution Manager. The postholder is based in the Pharmacy stores and will have either completed the NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, or be signed off as competent by a supervising Pharmacist if covered by the Grandparent Clause. The SATO also provides housekeeping and support duties including helping to manage stock, administrative duties, cleaning and tidying.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Supervising and training the ATOs in stores
- Checking orders assembled by support staff
- Managing the distribution e mail and processing the order requests
- Booking out stocklists for Peripheral Site wards.
- Replenishing the Omnicell’s with weekly orders and carrying out regular audits
- Ensure good stock rotation and carry out monthly checks of expiry dates of all goods. Notify the Purchasing Manager of slow moving lines, and excess stocks.
- Return of excess stock from wards
- Monitoring to follows daily.
- Administrative responsibilities
Person specification
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience of working in a Hospital Pharmacy
- Customer Services
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of working with Omnicell’s
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work to set procedures
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to prioritise routine daily tasks using own initiative
- Good time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to organise own workload
- Ability to supervise and train others
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Ability to communicate routine information effectively using clear written and spoken English
- Demonstrated ability to clearly and accurately complete routine documentation
- Ability to use basic IT including word & e-mail.
- Demonstrated effective customer service skills
- Good knowledge of stock control
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrated Pharmacy ASCribe computer skills
- NVQ customer Services Level 2
- Ability to dispense accurately to set standards
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Reena Bhatt
- Job title
- Purchasing & Distribution Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07821 833647
- Additional information
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