NATIONAL PROCUREMENT

WAREHOUSE OPERATOR x 5(Day Shift & Night Shift)

Location: NDC, Larkhall

Band 3 – Salary Scale: £16,110 - £19,077 (plus shift allowance)

This is a challenging opportunity to assist the harnessing of the buying power of more than £1.5 billion spent each year across the NHS in Scotland. National Procurement, the Procurement Centre of Expertise for Health, works in collaboration with Health Boards to ensure the highest level of patient care through the provision of a wide range of goods and services via a series of best value National Contracts and Distribution Services.

The National Procurement (NP) National Distribution facility operates over 3 shift patterns; therefore, the successful applicant may work a rotating Day Shift (06.00 -14.00) and (14.00 – 22.00) or a permanent Night Shift (22.00 – 06.00)

The NP Distribution Centre operates within a 150,000 Sq Ft warehouse, in all aspects of Good’s In, Pick and Dispatch the successful candidate will have experience of working within a similar warehouse management role, with demonstrable experience, ideally gained working in a FMCG warehouse role.

Your role will be to ensure that all operational standards are achieved as directed in accordance with the processes and procedures operated by National Logistics. Pick items of stock from the pallet racking, shelf or other predetermined area within the warehouse using the available picking methodology i.e. Radio Frequency terminals to productivity targets.Use the warehouse management system to assist in the location and retrieval of products.

Ensure stock control routines are conduced when prompted and count stock on system request.Receive goods into the warehouse following the necessary procedures, completing the relevant documentation to the required standards, and resolve queries and problems, liaising with the necessary departments where appropriate. Quality check assembled loads and consolidate orders to ensure the most productive use of NHSS equipment and resources

You will also ensure compliance with NHSS Logistics health, safety and security procedures and adhere to risk assessments and the development of safe systems of work.

Our benefits package includes final salary pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.

For an informal discussion about this post, please telephone Shift Manager on duty, National Procurement on 01698 794400.

For an application pack please complete the online application form on the SHOW website Ref G24484.
Further information on NSS is available from:
Closing date for completed applications 12 noon on the 12th August 2014
Please note that only those applicants called for an interview will be contacted. If you have not received a response within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

NHS National Services Scotland is the common name of the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service.

NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer.

Candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND

PERSON SPECIFICATION

POST: Warehouse Operator

GRADE: AFF Band 3

PERSON
SPECIFICATION / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
JOB EXPERIENCE /
  • Experience of working in a warehouse environment – at least 1 year
  • Operate manual handling equipment e.g. pallet trolleys, carrying and laying down products
/

Experience of working in a similar FMCG role – preferably with RDT scanners for pick operation.

HOURS OF WORK

/
  • Rotating Day Shifts (06.00 - 14.00 & 14.00 – 22.)
  • Fixed Night Shift (22.00 – 06.00)
/
  • Total flexibility
  • Ability to work weekends

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE /
  • Numerical skills
  • Communication skills
  • General H&S awareness

PERSONAL QUALITIES /
  • Good motivational skills
  • Able to work on own initiative and independently, while enthusing and motivating team
  • Ability to calmly work under pressure and cope with unpredictability
/
  • Flexible
  • Self-starter, uses own initiative
  • Ability to multi-task while remaining unstressed
  • Willing to develop and quick learner
  • Strong understanding of all warehouse functions – Goods-In/Pick/Stock moves etc. and understanding of their linkages

GENERAL /
  • Ability to work additional hours and weekend work on occasions
  • Evidence of outside interests
/
  • Driving licence
  • Knowledge of NHS

JOB DESCRIPTION – WAREHOUSE OPERATIVE

1.JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Warehouse Operative
Responsible to: Warehouse Supervisor
Department: Warehouse
No of Job Holders:
Last Update:

2. JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of the warehouse operative role is to goods receipt, put away, pick, pack and ship in-scope products within the National Distribution Centre (NDC). To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of medical, surgical and janitorial products to all the in-scope Scottish Health Boards.
3. DIMENSIONS
National Procurement is NHS Scotland's Procurement Centre of Expertise.We provide goods, services, technology solutions and procurementadvice to NHS Scotland's 14 regional Health Boards and 8 Special Health Boards. Together with colleagues across NHS Scotland, we strive towards procurement best practice and delivery of new innovative ways of working that ensures significant financial and service efficiencies.
Our Mission Statement
To ensure that we achieve our agreed objectives and targets by integrating with our partner organisations through a process of continuous improvement and employee-led innovation.
Vision
To be recognised as a best-in-class procurement Centre of Expertise providing specialist supply chain services to NHS Scotland which directly support the Health and Wellbeing of the people of Scotland.
Purpose
To deliver best value supply chain services which enable and support improvements in the health and well being of all the people of Scotland.
Values
National Procurement is a division of National Services Scotland. As a member of the NSS community wedemonstrate the following NSS organisational values:
  • Committed to each other
  • Integrity
  • Customer Focus
  • Openness
  • Respect and Care
  • Excel and Improve
Key Objectives for 2009-2010
£8m of savings delivered from National Contracts
£9.7m benefits released from our logistics service
OTIF (On Time In Full) performance of 98%
Achieve PCA (Procurement Capability Assessments) Superior Performance for 75% of NHSS in scope spend
50% of invoices to be received electronically
2% efficiency savings against agreed budgets
NHS Scotland spends over £1.5bn a year on the provision of a wide range of goods and services. By working collaboratively we can generate significant benefits and efficiencies from reinvestment back into frontline patient care. We have had tremendous success since the beginning of our activity and are on track to achieve cumulative benefits of £100m by March 2010.
These opportunities will be realised by applying best practice strategic sourcing; working more effectively with stakeholders to ensure robust demand management as well as a number of key suppliers to obtain best value products with best in class service.

4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

  • To work as part of a team that consists of over 200 operations staff and management. To work over a 3 shift 24/5 operation within a 150,000 Sq Ft warehouse operation utilising manual handing equipment (MHE) such as forklift trucks and Low Level Order Picker (LLOP).
  • The post holder has both direct and indirect contact with hauliers/suppliers in the processing of orders and book-ins.
  • To undertake warehouse operation task’s as directed by team leaders and supervisors.
  • To ensure that products are picked correctly and accurately based on the instructions relayed via radio data terminals (RDT’s)
  • Scheduling unloading of supplier’s vehicles and ensuring unloading of pallets is carried out on systematic basis.
  • Goods receipt of supplier deliveries, ensuring supplier delivery notes corresponds with NDC pre-advice delivery schedule paperwork.
  • Ensure the timely despatch of cages and pallets to health board customers
  • Pick, pack, quality check, load, and despatch customer orders as per communicated daily schedules
  • To provide a comprehensive warehouse service to Operations, working closely with team leaders, supervisors and shift managers
  • Contribute and provide appropriate support as an integral part of the Warehouse Operation’s team.

6. KEY RESULT AREAS

The post Holder must be responsible and use initiative for all tasks that are undertook including:

  • Using the Red Prairie warehouse management system (WMS) and Radio Data Terminals (RDT) to pick, pack items of stock for Hospitals throughout Scotland.
  • The provision of regular information from the WMS to ensure that stock levels are replenished and picked to agreed levels and timescales.
  • The use of MHE (FLT, LLOP’s) to manoeuvre stock around the warehouse and to load and unload supplier’s vehicles.
  • To ensure that general good housekeeping practises are regularly maintained and monitored for compliance. To ensure that Health & Safety, Risk Assessments, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Safe Systems of Work and Accident/Near Miss reporting regulations and procedures are complied with at all times.
  • To report immediately to the Team Leaders/Supervisors any issues or problems, which may affect the Warehouse, function on its performance.
  • Conducting stock check procedures when directed by the system.
  • Ensure work equipment is checked prior to use with any defects being reported to the Warehouse management team. Carry out pre-shift checks before the use of all Mechanical Handling Equipment.
  • Undertake comprehensive training in the use of cardboard and polythene bailers; the use of a tote wash machine, the use of multiple types of MHE, the use of powered battery changing machine, the use of PC’s and RDT and the use of scissor lifts.
  • Ensure the safety of the vehicle delivery loads is maintained through communication and checks are completed with our Ceva contracted transport department.
  • To ensure accuracy and integrity of stock received at Goods-In, performing quality checks and using stock knowledge to correct any stock receipt anomalies; preparing stock safely for put-away to bulk; operating fork lift equipment to accurately place stock (upwards of 10 metres high) within the bulk racking, using RDT’s to determine the location; using forklifts to position stock within the picking areas as instructed by the RDT; using initiative to relocate stock when required; picking stock with high levels of accuracy (while under time pressure) and applying knowledge of units of issue and other customer ordering specifics; checking the quality and accuracy of stock at the loading bay; physical loading stock onto vehicles ensuring safe loading of pallets/cages, and ensuring correct paperwork is despatched with the relevant orders.
The post-holder is required to gain or have a comprehensive understanding of all areas of work within the warehouse and work unaided using their own initiative, reporting problems and updates to team leaders when work is completed.
These services allow smooth running of warehouse ensuring that customer orders are expedited in a fast and efficient manner that problems are dealt with quickly and information is disseminated to relevant departments in a timely fashion.

7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

  • PC
  • Photocopier
  • Counterbalance Forklift
  • Reach Forklift
  • Scissor Lift
  • Cardboard Bailer
  • Polythene Bailer
  • Spirolator & Conveyer Belt
  • Safety Gates
  • Battery Charger
  • Tote Wash Machine
  • Floor Sweeper
  • Floor Washer
  • Telephone
  • Printers
  • Laminator
  • Remote Data Terminals for order picking/booking in etc
  • Low Level Order Pickers for stock moving/order picking
  • Two way radio’s

7b. SYSTEMS
Computer Systems Include:
  • Software packages-Microsoft office software, Microsoft outlook (e-mail) Business objects ( database reporting tools )
  • NDC Warehouse Management System: Red Prairie
  • RDT: Radio Data Terminals

8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

Initial workplan for the team comes directly from the customers via the WMS, which is then prioritised by Supervisors/Team Leaders.
Many decisions have to be made by the postholder on a rolling basis dealing with issues such as Urgent orders, Shortage orders, replenishment prioritisation, and booking in prioritisation, etc.
The Warehouse Management Team on a daily basis reviews work with internal audits being carried out.
The post-holder is expected to develop and maintain new systems e.g. involvement with Document Management Systems / KPI’s and ways of working to assist best practice and ensure smooth running of the warehouse.
Review of performance and appraisal by Supervisors and Team Leaders in line with KSF.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
  • Duties are assigned and monitored by the Warehouse Management Team and will vary according to workload.
  • Contributes to the continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the service provided.
  • The post holder must always be aware that they are part of a team and is therefore required to co-operate with others in the immediate work area to obtain maximum effect and output.
  • The ability to work using own initiative and manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
  • To participate as a team member to ensure continued provision of high quality, cost effective services that operate within designated timescales to meet a demand led service
  • Demonstrate good communication skills with work colleagues and management within the warehouse to ensure maximum output.
  • Accuracy in dealing with stock control, orders, deliveries, goods receipts to deliver a competent level of service and provide confidence to our customers.
  • Ensuring employee perspective compliance in relation to Health and Safety and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and Fire Safety policies thus creating and maintaining a safe working environment.

10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

  • Ensuring accurate stock replenishment is achieved and that stock is therefore maintained at optimal levels.
  • Ensuring that delivery schedules/timescales of goods/services/equipment are being adequately met
  • Ensuring the correct use of the Warehouse Management System.
  • This is a role demanding full attention, the ability to stay focused and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, ensuring accuracy at all times, is imperative.

11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
INTERNAL
  • Warehouse Management / Supervisors / Team Leaders
  • Customer Services
  • Warehouse Admin
  • Materials Management
  • I.T. Department
  • HR Department
  • Inventory / Stock Control
EXTERNAL
  • Suppliers
  • Hauliers
  • Contractors CEVA (NHS Contracted Drivers)

12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  • Manual Handling in relation to all aspects of Warehouse and Distribution activity
  • Sitting and working at computer workstations for prolonged period of times.
  • Operating the use of MHE such as Forklift Truck and Low Level Order Pickers.
  • Repetitive lifting of stock of up to 20kg
MENTAL DEMANDS
  • Ensuring performance levels are met to meet the demands of the business.
  • Concentration levels when operating all (MHE) and using RDT is essential.
  • The unique unit of issue demands a lot of concentration.
  • Booking in of new stock from mixed pallet requires a lot of concentration and attention for detail.
EMOTIONAL DEMANDS
  • Working as team recognising needs of the team members.
  • Needs of the business dictate additional effort to achieve deadlines?
  • May experience difficult situations, which should be referred to a higher level.
  • Ability to work with irate external suppliers while maintaining procedures and timescales.
EVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
  • Staff exposed to outside elements in goods yard.
  • Exposure to dust levels.
  • High noise levels.

13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

  • A minimum of 1 year’s warehouse experience (with 3 years being desirable) in a Fast Moving Consumable Goods (FMCG) warehouse.
  • Training on MHE Forklift truck RTITB assessor training – external 5 days or internally certificated.
  • Low Level Order Picker (LLOP): trained by an RTITB instructor.
  • Manual handling skills and awareness.
  • Working knowledge of warehouse operations.
  • Good RDT keyboard skills.
  • Good level of numeric/literacy and practical skills
  • Good communication skills required.
  • Ability to remain calm whilst working under pressure.
  • Policies in relation to Health and Safety, Fire and COSHH
  • Post holder should be reliable/flexible to meet the demands of the service we provide to our customer.

14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder to whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Head of Department Signature: / Date:
Date:

Summary of Key Terms and Conditions of Post

Division/Department:NP

Location:Canderside

Job Title & AfC Pay Band:Warehouse Operator band 3

Salary/Salary Scale:£16,110 - £19,077 per annum

Conditions of Service:Your terms and conditions of service are in accordance with the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions Handbook. Agenda for Change comprises a National pay system and job evaluation scheme for the Health Service, a harmonised set of terms and conditions of employment and a Knowledge and Skills Framework.

Hours of Duty:The standard full-time hours for NHS staff are 37.5 hours, exclusive of meal breaks, normally to be worked over 5 days per week. The hours of this post are 37.5.

Annual Leave:The annual leave arrangements are:

  • 27 days (202.5 hours) on commencement
  • 29 days (217.5 hours) after 5 years’ service
  • 33 days (247.5 hours) after 10 years’ service.

8 public and statutory holidays are also available within the leave year.

Superannuation:All new entrants to NHS National Services Scotland who are aged sixteen but under seventy five will be enrolled

automatically as a member of the NHS Superannuation

Scheme (Scotland). The pension scheme is provided by the

Scottish Public Pensions Agency. This scheme is a

Qualifying pension scheme, which means it meets or exceeds

The government’s new standards. All benefits including life

Insurance and family benefits are explained on the SPPA

Website further information on

Membership benefits, contributions, or how to opt out of the

Scheme, please refer to the enclosed factsheet “Auto

Enrolement.

Medical Assessment: Appointment to this post will be subject to satisfactory medical clearance. The successful candidate will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration form and, where appropriate, undergo a health assessment by the Occupational Health Service. Summary of Key Terms and Conditions of Post (cont.)