Go back Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer Apprentice - (Southport)
The closing date is 01 June 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Team MWL as a Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer Apprentice in our Pharmacy based at Southport.
This is a permanent training post of 30 hours per week. As an apprenticeship this role is supported by an accompanying assessment and skills development programme, during which the post holder will gain the skills and knowledge relevant for this role. Learning will be a mix of in the workplace, formal on and off the job training, and opportunities to practise new skills in a real work environment. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, they will have the right knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for their chosen role.
Benefits
* Paid employment with holiday leave
* Hands‑on experience working in a leading NHS organisation
* 6 hours per week time, pro‑rota off‑the‑job learning
* Support to gain a nationally recognised qualification
Main Duties and Responsibilities
* To be a member of the Pharmaceutical Service team as required at Southport District General, or Ormskirk District General Hospitals.
* To participate in the physical receipt of medicines and sundries, including signing for delivery and putting away such items in the appropriate location ensuring stock rotation; to assist in the maintenance of stock levels and stock storage ensuring efficient turnover whilst maintaining quality and potency.
* To participate in ward topping‑up service for stock items held on wards and departments, including checking stock levels and placing newly ordered items into stock under the supervision of the Technical Services Manager.
* To raise orders for wards, departments, and community clinics as per approved stock order sheets, across both sites, using the EMIS Pharmacy computer system.
* To input data into the pharmacy computer system as necessary and to provide information such as pricing lists and delivery notes.
* To assemble and pack stocks of medicines for wards, departments and associated hospitals.
* Following successful training completion of the internal training package, accuracy check orders of stock medicines for wards, departments and associated hospitals.
* To check expiry dates of stock items on a regular basis, no less than monthly.
* To ensure the appropriate return of drugs into stock and assist in the maintenance of accurate and reasonable stock levels.
* To record and liaise with external companies to ensure the safe disposal of waste, including clinical waste returned from wards in accordance with local policy and departmental procedures.
* To record and monitor refrigerator temperatures in accordance with local policy and departmental procedures.
* To file documentation and prescriptions as required in accordance with Trust Guidelines for record storage and departmental procedures.
* To answer telephone and face‑to‑face queries of a routine nature from a wide range of staff groups, either in the Pharmacy or on the wards; refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the Pharmacy team when necessary.
* To liaise with various members of the Pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients.
* To ascertain requirements for departmental sundry orders.
* To cash and record contents of the dispensary till.
* To participate in Annual Performance Appraisal Reviews, setting joint objectives in relation to the Trust set objectives.
* To cooperate in the operation and development of the EMIS pharmacy computer system under the direction of the Computer Systems Manager.
* To participate with Saturday and Bank Holiday duties on a rota basis.
* To participate on a voluntary basis with late‑night duties as considered appropriate by the Technical Services Manager or other supervising pharmacists or senior technical staff.
* To participate in appropriate training schemes for pharmaceutical staff and keep relevant pharmaceutical clinical and technical knowledge up to date.
* Adhere to the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals as set out by the GPhC.
* To undertake mandatory training on an annual basis determined by the Trust on CPR, risk and manual handling.
* To undertake appropriate mandatory training in infection control and comply with all Trust Infection Control policies relevant to the post, particularly with regard to the hand hygiene policy.
* To provide mentoring, induction and training of student technicians, pre‑registration pharmacists, dispensary ATOs, summer placement and work‑experience students and any other relevant members of the Pharmacy team.
* To participate in ward‑based SSHM audits under the direction of the Technical Services Manager on a quarterly basis.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ level 2 Pharmacy service skills - or GPhC recognised equivalent, or must be willing to undertake qualification and complete within 18 months of commencing employment.
Other
* Physical Effort – To sit at VDU, to push, pull and handle deliveries of drugs.
* Mental Effort – To concentrate for stock issue and checking.
Knowledge and Experience
* Experience of working with computer systems.
* Experience of working as a Dispensing Assistant.
Skills
* Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
* Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
* Ability to pay attention to detail.
* Ability to work to a high specification of accuracy.
* Ability to understand the importance of confidentiality.
* Commitment to continual professional development.
* Self‑motivating and flexible.
* Pleasant, helpful disposition.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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