Assistant Technical Officer
The closing date is 15 May 2026.
Assistant Technical Officers play an important role, working in a busy department you will be responsible for assisting Technicians and Pharmacists in the provision of a safe and effective dispensing service and the supply and maintenance of stock medicines to all wards and departments.
This is an Apprenticeship role, and the post holder will be required to gain substantial new knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) as part of the Apprenticeship Standard and undertake a range of duties relevant to the role.
If the candidate already holds an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy services they do NOT need to complete the apprenticeship.
The post holder will complete a Level 2 in Pharmacy Services Apprenticeship Standard with West Cheshire College and will study for at least six off-the-job (OTJ) hours of their working hours. This will include 1-2 hours per week of virtual learning with a tutor from West Cheshire College.
*Please be advised that the OTJ hours is a mandatory requirement for the Apprenticeship.
For those individuals joining the Trust to undertake an Apprenticeship, it is expected that the Apprenticeship be fully completed. If the post holder does not fully complete the Apprenticeship, including End Point Assessment (EPA) this would be in breach of both this agreement and the requirements for this role and the employment contract may be terminated.
Main duties of the job
To undertake duties to ensure stock control is maintained in the pharmacy department and on the wards to include daily stock checks, environmental monitoring and an effective stock return/disposal system. Understanding when to elevate concerns to a senior member of the Pharmacy team.
To safely dispense prescriptions under supervision which have been clinically screened by a pharmacist on Near Patient Pharmacy (NPP) wards and in the Dispensary, requires good concentration and time management skills.
To ensure the effective replenishment of emergency drug boxes to wards and departments requires the ability to work independently.
Regularly using computer programmes to accurately issue, label and maintain stock to relevant cost centre's requires good IT skills and attention to detail.
About us
The Pharmacy team is innovative, caring and compassionate and provides Pharmacy services to a wide range of paediatric surgical and medical specialties. We are patient focused and passionate about upholding Trust values in order to provide the best possible service.
The Pharmacy department consists of a wide range of personnel, Pharmacists, Technicians and Assistant Technical Officers, working together as a team in a busy environment.
Job responsibilities
To carry out the routine dispensing and issuing of prescriptions, including in-patients, outpatients and discharge prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist in accordance with the safe systems of work procedures in the department and on the wards. This will include assisting in the recording and monitoring of dispensing errors.
To ensure the overall tidiness of the working area in the Dispensary and on the wards.
To use the pharmacy computer system to dispense, issue, label and return medicines in accordance with level of training provided.
To carry out routine duties in the dispensary including daily stock checks, stock returns, and maintenance of stock levels and checking expiry dates to ensure pharmaceutical waste is dealt with appropriately in a cost effective manner.
To assist in the replenishment and rotation of emergency boxes on the wards and departments.
To carry out, monitor and check the issuing, stock control, assembly and purchasing of medicines in accordance with safe systems of work with particular emphasis on checking expiry dates, both in the pharmacy and on all wards on a monthly basis.
Assist in organising the delivery and tracking of prescriptions for the Dispensary courier service.
To participate in the preparation of extemporaneous products demonstrating Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice and adhering to Health and Safety and COSHH requirements.
To participate in the dispensing of clinical trials and unlicensed medicines as required.
To replenish bottle, carton and sundry items within the dispensary on a daily basis. This includes liaising with the Senior ATO and purchasing team to highlight any potential stock issues.
To provide a top-up service for stock medicines held on all wards and departments on a daily basis, to include Theatres and Accident and Emergency departments liaising with pharmacy and nursing staff to ensure an effective service. This will involve the use and maintenance of ward automated drug storage systems.
To safely and securely pack ward drug delivery boxes (weighing <25kg) and transfer these ready for delivery by the porter service.
To ensure that the pharmacy night room is checked on a daily basis replenishing any used items.
To follow up any outstanding orders to the wards on a daily basis and elevate if necessary.
To efficiently deal with any extra stock requests from wards on a daily basis and in a timely manner to ensure best service to patient and follow up any outstanding orders to the wards on a daily basis.
To dispense non-complex inpatient and outpatient prescriptions.
To assist in the monitoring of fridge temperatures and any other specified equipment as required recording data as required.
To carry out routine procedures associated with the preparation and packing of medicines, including pack downs for Accident and Emergency to include inflammables and cytotoxics following standard operating procedures.
To professionally and politely answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, referring appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
To proactively contribute to weekly feedback meetings.
To keep up-to-date with current pharmacy practice by attending appropriate in-house tutorials or training courses for Pharmacy Assistants.
To assist in the training of new pharmacy assistants and student pharmacy technicians.
Candidate that is selected for interview are advised to arrange an informal visit of the department prior to interview.
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
* Working accurately to standard operating procedures.
* Being able to adapt to computer packages.
* Experience of stock maintenance.
* Understanding of the role and acknowledgment of commitment to undertake the Level 2 BTEC in Pharmacy Services.
* Maths and English functional skills qualification or equivalent.
* Previous experience working within a Pharmacy environment.
Experience
* Working accurately, following standard operating procedures.
* Stock maintenance - stock rotation, stock checks.
* Being able to adapt to different computer packages.
* Previous experience working within a Pharmacy environment.
* Maths & English functional skills qualification or equivalent.
Skills
* Good organisational skills and working under pressure.
* Ability to work in a team and unsupervised.
* Accuracy and good attention to detail.
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.
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