Senior Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

The post-holder will ensure, under the guidance of the pharmacy technician, the smooth and efficient running of the pharmacy procurement and supplies functions for Elmley prison with regard to routine ordering, receipt of goods, computer input, appropriate storage of medicines, environmental monitoring, and recycling and disposal of medicines in line with GDP. Responsibilities Dispense medicines against prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist, following the appropriate SOPs. Maintain the dispensary in a clean and tidy condition at all times. Assist pharmacists with drug alerts and recalls. Check and record fridge temperatures daily to ensure cold chain integrity. Report any errors or issues immediately to the senior pharmacy technician or the Responsible Pharmacist. If not already achieved, work towards attaining the required NVQ Level 2 modules in pharmacy services. Assist with departmental filing, photocopying, and general office work as required using basic packages such as Word. Help the pharmacy technician (ACT) create new drug files on the computer system and update them when new contracts are issued by the CMU. Be responsible for the day‑to‑day ordering, receiving, and unpacking of pharmaceutical products from suppliers according to GDP and departmental SOPs. Act as an authorised signatory for orders up to £1,500 in value. Ensure medicines are sourced from reliable suppliers and that purchasing contracts are adhered to. Use the pharmacy computer system to receive goods into the pharmacy store according to SOPs. Keep all received goods under appropriate storage conditions in accordance with GDP. Carry out regular stock checks, expiry date checks, and other monitoring procedures, including logging fridge and ambient temperatures and dealing with any anomalies. Maintain high standards and accuracy of work and adhere to all SOPs. Ensure medicines returned from clinical areas are sorted and either restocked or disposed of safely in accordance with GDP, Trust guidelines, and departmental procedures. Ensure all procurement work complies with current legislation, GDP, and Trust financial procedures. Management Responsibilities Manage workload in pharmacy stores to ensure tasks are carried out timely and orders are received on time. Communication Communicate with routine pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers to place orders, chase receipt of goods, and query invoice discrepancies. Handle telephone queries and staff visits to the department (both dispensary and stores) as the first point of contact, dealing with them or referring as required according to SOPs. Communicate with external regulatory bodies and share information pertaining to the WDL or other requests as necessary. Other Tasks Post holders must undertake a Level 1 prison security check prior to employment, in addition to standard NHS recruitment checks. Appreciate and adhere to all prison procedures in the secure environment. Undertake any additional tasks at the request of the senior prison services pharmacist. Requirements Willingness to undertake National Security Vetting as part of pre‑employment checks. Proof of right to work in the UK. Proof of identity (one photographic ID). Proof of address. Non‑UK passport holders must provide correct documentation (right to work in the UK) and a Home Office share code. Applicants who have lived abroad for less than 5 years in the UK must provide a police certificate in English. Applicants who are UK passport holders and have lived abroad for more than six months in the last three years must provide a certificate of good conduct or an overseas police check in English. Completion of NVQ Level 2 modules in pharmacy services (or plans to achieve). Applicant Support and Policies The organisation is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all abilities; applicants with disabilities are guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. Applicants may request adjustments to participate fully in the interview process; details should be added when scheduling the interview. Applicants are encouraged to contact the hiring manager prior to interview for clarification. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist application writing is discouraged; personalisation of the statement is required. AI usage during the interview process is prohibited. #J-18808-Ljbffr