Job vacancy: Buyer, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, Warwick

Job summary

Main area: Procurement
Grade: Band 3
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 203-C481

Employer: South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Warwick Hospital
Town: Warwick
Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 Per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 17/02/2025 08:00

Buyer

Band 3

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.

Car Parking

The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Undertake purchasing activity associated with the placing of orders, scheduling of requirements, obtaining & evaluating low value quotations in accordance with the Trust’s Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.

Ensure all appropriate documentation (e.g. PAQ forms, Single Action Waiver forms, quotations etc.) are completed.

Responsible for the procurement of products and services in selected areas on behalf wards and departments, liaising with internal managers, dealing with price increase requests, resolving issues with suppliers.

Liaise with company representatives as appropriate to discuss product, price, delivery and other related issues.

Investigate and evaluate new and existing sources of supply for products and services, making sure to liaise with appropriate members of the department, Clinical Procurement Specialist / Procurement Managers, where appropriate

Ensure value for money is achieved throughout the procurement process utilising all existing resources & tools, such as Spend Comparison Service (benchmarking system) and Procurement Dashboard (analytics system).

Contribute to the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) by developing and maintaining a sound knowledge of procurement product areas including an awareness of market trends and best buys, recording all savings achieved.

Process requisitions on the Trust’s electronic purchase order system and the NHS Supply Chain system, ensuring delivery schedules and urgent requirements are met.

Contribute to the implementation and operation of the Trust’s electronic purchase order system and NHS Supply Chain system.

Support ward & department staff in the operation of the Trust’s electronic purchase order system and NHS Supply Chain system

Undertake any other tasks as required by the Head of Section – Buying Team, in accordance with the grade and nature of the post as required.

Promote good relationships with all user departments, suppliers and contractors.

To be aware of the correct ethics of transacting public business and display a high standard of conduct at all times.

Implement departmental & Trust policies, making comments, suggestions and contribute in the continual development and improvement to the services provided by the Procurement Department.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Good level of basic Education (GCSE level) with good standard of English and Maths.
CIPS (Foundation level only) or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential criteria

2yrs experience in NHS Purchasing or similar environment.

Skills

Essential criteria

Knowledge of Departmental procedures
Good written and communication skills.
Computer literacy, including Word, Excel, etc.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

Accuracy
Responsive to requests from departments
Good team player

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don’t want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).

Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.

We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.

Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it’s a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.

The Trust is part of a ‘Foundation Group’ through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.