Assistant Technical Officer

Support the provision of the dispensary, ward and community based services to enable the smooth, seamless and efficient supply of medicines across the Trust. The Band 2 ATO will work under the supervision of the Senior Assistant Technical Officer, dispensary manger, pharmacy technicians and pharmacists

Main

**Responsibilities**:
To assist the pharmacy team (under the supervision of a pharmacy registered professional) in providing a high quality service to patients, customers and pharmacy staff in the dispensaries and within the Trust, by promoting a positive and professional image of pharmacy and demonstrating good customer care skills. Take an active role in accurately dispensing medicines to provide an efficient and timely service and participate in reception duties. Take part in the management of stock, including ordering, receiving, and storing of stock and actively participate in routine stock checks. Ensure the working environment is kept clean and tidy and to support pharmacy professionals in the delivery of an effective, efficient pharmacy service.

The Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation Team is a diverse and exciting team providing pharmacy services to our 3 main sites; Haywood, St Georges and Redwoods along with a number of community based hubs.

We value our staff and aim to support them in their Pharmacy journey.
- Your work life balance is important to us, so you will be required to only work a maximum of 2 Bank holidays per year, with currently no weekend or late night working.
- Training, education and support provided

We are embedding values based and inclusive recruitment practices to ensure that all applicants, from any backgrounds, have an equal chance of success in achieving a role with us.

Dispensary Duties
- To interpret and accurately dispense requests for medication for in-patient, outpatients, and clinical trials in accordance with department SOPs under the supervision of a pharmacy professional (excluding Controlled Drugs).
- To assist with general reception duties including receiving prescriptions from patients and members of staff, answering the telephone and dealing with enquires where appropriate whilst ensuring a positive and professional image is displayed in keeping with the Trust values.
- Working with customers in a polite and efficient manner - face to face, over the phone, or by electronic methods, to deal with enquiries of a routine nature and referring appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team.
- To take part in departmental stock takes and stock maintenance including: expiry date checking ensuring any short-dated / expired items are quarantined-ordering of stock, checking of orders received against delivery notes and restocking of shelves ensuring good stock rotation is maintained. This will involve the completion of all the necessary

documentation and stock transfer using the pharmacy computer system.
- To support with raising orders for external suppliers and homecare. Orders raised will require sign off by a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.
- Undertake the temperature monitoring of the refrigerators and room environments and alert an appropriate senior member of staff of any excursions outside of the normal range.
- To participate in the management of medication returns ensuring recycling and destruction is carried out which will contribute to maximising drug usage and financial resources.
- To liaise with portering and transport services to ensure an adequate service is provided and escalate any failures as appropriate.
- To maintain accurate computer records which include the accurate use of pharmacy computer systems, patients records, the issue and costing of medication being issued to all areas of pharmacy, wards, departments and individual patients.
- Support the team in maintaining the safe storage and security of medicines, prescriptions, confidential information etc.

Ward / Departmental Top-up services
- To participate in the topping-up’ of ward/ department stock medication and re-order as necessary.
- To participate in the ‘topping-up’ of stock medicines in the emergency medicines cupboard, ensuring that short-dated drugs are removed and replaced as appropriate.
- To occasionally deliver medication to wards including cytotoxic/cytostatic medicines.

Miscellaneous
- To support the day-to-day provision of the dispensary service to ensure smooth running of dispensary services e.g.: looking after documentation, liaising with patients/service users and troubleshooting problems and queries.
- Support with the procurement of medicines.
- Arrange transport for collection and delivery of urgent items. Pack medicines securely, ready for delivery to wards /departments /clinics. Identify fridge items and pack separately, to ensure that they are kept in the refrigerator until collection.
- Contact wards /departments to advise that prescriptions are ready for collection.
- To monitor the fax and scanner for any prescriptions or orders