What are the responsibilities and job description for the Clerical Officer - Homecare Procurement Office position at Freeman Hospital?
Employer heading
Clerical Officer - Homecare Procurement Office
Band 2
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust currently has approximately 8000 patients receiving their medication via Homecare services across 30 therapies. The Pharmacy Homecare department has an important role in ensuring that these patients’ Homecare prescriptions and associated invoices are processed effectively. An exciting opportunity has arisen for two enthusiastic and well-motivated Clerical Officers to join the Pharmacy Homecare Team. You will provide support in order to maintain a high level Trust-wide Pharmacy Homecare Service.
You will be required to communicate with professionals both internal and external to the Trust via telephone, e-mail, MS Teams and face-to-face. You will be processing Homecare prescriptions, which involves raising a purchase order and paying invoices using the pharmacy computer program, requiring a high level of accuracy and concentration. Other regular tasks include investigating prescription and invoice queries, filing and archiving.
Main duties of the job
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Person specification
KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Paul Blackwell Job title Homecare Procurement Manager Email address p.blackwell@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 9330314 Additional information
Lucy Hedley
Senior Lead Procurement Pharmacist
0191 93 30314
Clerical Officer - Homecare Procurement Office
Band 2
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust currently has approximately 8000 patients receiving their medication via Homecare services across 30 therapies. The Pharmacy Homecare department has an important role in ensuring that these patients’ Homecare prescriptions and associated invoices are processed effectively. An exciting opportunity has arisen for two enthusiastic and well-motivated Clerical Officers to join the Pharmacy Homecare Team. You will provide support in order to maintain a high level Trust-wide Pharmacy Homecare Service.
You will be required to communicate with professionals both internal and external to the Trust via telephone, e-mail, MS Teams and face-to-face. You will be processing Homecare prescriptions, which involves raising a purchase order and paying invoices using the pharmacy computer program, requiring a high level of accuracy and concentration. Other regular tasks include investigating prescription and invoice queries, filing and archiving.
- Interview Date: 8 August 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
- Provide a main point of contact for NHS staff and occasionally patients and direct as appropriate to a senior member of staff if necessary.
- To provide appropriate information requested by service users by phone and/or email.
- To handle confidential information regarding patients and record, store and interpret it as required according to Trust protocols.
- To maintain excellent working relationships between clinical teams, pharmacists and the Homecare Team as directed by the Homecare Manager.
- To complete and prepare documentation accurately and legibly in compliance with Trust and legal requirements and to facilitate audit investigations.
- Participate in staff meetings.
- To identify basic prescription admin related problems (missing patient info, delivery frequency discrepancies) and refer to a senior member of staff or pharmacist if necessary.
- To work according to a job plan agreed with the Homecare Manager and within the Homecare Medicines Policy.
- Interprets Homecare prescriptions to determine the total quantity required for the duration of that script and raise a purchase order for that quantity.
- To record and interpret data relating to Homecare key performance indicators where necessary.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
- Freeman Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
- Cramlington Manor Walks
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- To carry out all necessary procedures relating to the purchasing, receipt, charging and invoicing of all commercial home delivery of medicines and associated sundries on a daily basis for the Trust.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Person specification
KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate recent knowledge of office procedures e.g. invoicing, filing and appropriate use of computer systems
- Knowledge of all purchasing procedures covering the ordering, receipt, invoicing and sales of medicinal products
- Awareness of use of computer systems used to carry out purchasing
Essential criteria
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Demonstration of being a team player and of working alone
- Ability to work under pressure
- Demonstrate keyboard skills including ability to carry word processing and production of spreadsheets and databases
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate experience in working within areas of confidentiality
- Demonstrate experience in setting up meetings and maintaining diaries
- Previous experience in the NHS
Essential criteria
- Microsoft Word word-processing/typewriting (RSA II level or equivalent qualification / experience)
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
- Job Description (PDF, 261.6KB)
- Person Specification (PDF, 20.6KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Paul Blackwell Job title Homecare Procurement Manager Email address p.blackwell@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 9330314 Additional information
Lucy Hedley
Senior Lead Procurement Pharmacist
0191 93 30314
