Assistant Technical Officer

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Liverpool seeks a Senior Assistant Technical Officer to oversee pharmacy services. This full-time role involves ensuring safe distribution of medicines, training junior staff, and maintaining stock accuracy. Candidates must hold an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services and exhibit strong communication and leadership skills. Offering competitive salary and opportunities to make a significant impact in patient care. Rotational shifts include weekends and bank holidays.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Training and development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience working in a pharmacy environment.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of dispensing prescriptions or preparation of aseptic products.

Responsibilities

• Dispense and issue medicines from the Pharmacy Department.
• Order and supply pharmaceuticals as part of the ward stock top-up service.
• Input data into the Pharmacy computer system.

Skills

Clear and accurate written communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Ability to adapt to change

Supervisory skills

Education

NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Job description

Senior Assistant Technical Officer - Stores and Distribution

• Band 3
• Grade: Band 3
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Lates, Weekends and Bank Holidays as per additional rotas)
• Job ref: 287-DTC-65-25
• Department: LUH - 1 General Staffing (AFC posts)
• Site: Royal Liverpool Hospital
• Town: Liverpool
• Salary: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
• Closing date: 22/12/2025

Job Overview

Are you an experienced Assistant Technical Officer who has completed NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent Pharmacy qualification? At LUFHT may have the perfect opportunity for you. We are looking for a Senior Assistant Technical Officer (SATO) who can act as a great role model, provide excellent training and demonstrate our trust values. You will be based at the Royal Liverpool Hospital Pharmacy Store and be required to work on site at the Royal Hospital. On a rota basis with other SATOs, you will be responsible for providing a stock distribution service to our Sexual Health and A&E departments, as well as supervising ATOs in our Pharmacy Store. You must be flexible to service demands and willing to work across the two Royal hospital sites. You must be able to show great leadership qualities, a broad experience of working in a pharmacy and knowledge and understanding of working in a hospital. You must be able to manage and prioritise your own workload whilst delivering a safe and robust supply of medicines to the area you are responsible for. We want to recruit a Senior Assistant Technical Officer who is enthusiastic, motivated who will work to our professional standards to provide an efficient and patient focused service. You will be required to work across all LUHFT sites in line with service needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Dispense and issue medicines from the Pharmacy Department including extemporaneously prepared products, controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines and clinical trials, in accordance with the policies, procedures and safe systems of work, which prevail in the department at the time.
• Order and supply pharmaceuticals as part of the ward stock top-up service.
• Load medicines received into the automated dispensing machine.
• Take lead responsibility for reception duties and direct workload and queries in the most appropriate staff members within the department and elevate if required.
• Input data into the Pharmacy computer system to ensure all appropriate records are made and kept up to date.
• Receive medicines into the Pharmacy Department and ensure that documentation and computer entry is carried out in a timely and accurate manner.
• Investigate and resolve delivery discrepancies, liaising with invoicing staff, and suppliers, making appropriate records of all investigations and outcomes keeping line manager fully briefed about key operational matters.
• Ensure that all pharmaceutical preparations are stored appropriately.
• Rotate stock at the point of goods receipt.
• Deal with more complicated enquiries referring to line manager if they are not commensurate with role.
• Ensure that all unused medicines (if appropriate) returned to the pharmacy are recycled in accordance with the safe systems of work and always participate in the safe disposal of medicines in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Manually handle IV fluids, bulk feed deliveries and manoeuvre cages and tote boxes for delivery towards/departments, outside clinics.
• Deliver medicines to ward and departments as required.
• Deal with frequent interruptions eg telephone enquiries from internal and external customers.
• Fix the robot when basic errors occur.
• Participate in daily stock count.
• Issue medicines which are on “To-Follows” list.
• Participate in development and project work in line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.
• Check picked stock items to ensure accuracy of medicines supplies on top up.
• Train, supervise and assess support workers.
• Deliver robot error training for pharmacy assistants and other staff who are new to the department in line with standard training plan.
• Deliver training to pharmacy assistants and other staff as they rotate through areas of practice.
• Deal with ad hoc stock requests as they arise (by telephone or portal) from wards/departments and outside clinics. These may be urgent and will need to be prioritised appropriately.
• Supply emergency orders.
• Support pharmacy assistants with NVQ level 2 training where appropriate.
• Prioritise work so that services meet their objectives.
• Together with other members of staff to ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH and that other pertinent recommendations and standards are complied with.
• Participate and co-operate in weekend, Bank Holiday, Statutory Holiday, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.
• Undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with this role as required. This may be subject to change to meet the needs of our patients.
• Work across site where required.
• The post holder will be expected to adapt to changes that may occur, which may affect the current practices within the Pharmacy Department, such as the introduction of new equipment, procedures, policies, and hours of working.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services or Pharmacy equivalent

Experience

• Demonstrable experience working in a pharmacy environment.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of dispensing prescriptions OR the preparation of aseptic products.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of procedures for own pharmacy area - on the job training, experience to NVQ3 or equivalent level.
• Knowledge of stock control systems and storage of medication.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of hospital pharmacy supply and discharge planning.
• Able to relate to all grades of staff within a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

• Clear and accurate written communication skills.
• Clear and accurate verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use different IT applications.
• Ability to work in a busy environment to meet deadlines whilst paying attention to detail.
• Ability to work alone or part of a team.
• Methodical with attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Ability to show initiative and work efficiently.
• Able to supervise and prioritise tasks for others and prioritise team workflow.
• Ability to set routines and implement new working procedures.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to respond to non-routine queries and escalates when outside limitations.

Other

• Enthusiasm for the position.
• Can use own initiative and shows attention to detail.
• Interest in pharmacy service provision.
• Proactive.
• Friendly, empathetic and reliable team worker able to relate to all grades of staff.
• Willingness to learn.
• Commitment to work.
• Reliable and flexible to the needs of the service.
• Self-motivated and ability to motivate others.
• Ability to work as per departmental weekend, evening and bank holiday rotas.

Important Information

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application. Posts advertised to 'internal staff' are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.

Note: Under current Home Office Immigration Rules we are currently unable to offer right to work visa sponsorship for Band 2 and 3 roles with a salary of less than £25,000 pa as they do not meet the UK Visas & Immigration criteria.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £23 (standard disclosure) or £43 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment.

Equal Opportunities

The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce: black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.

Safeguarding

All employees (and volunteers) are expected to maintain safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.

Contact & Apply

Apply online now.

For more information contact Lisa Hegarty, Lead Pharmacy Technician-Procurement, Distribution, telephone [phone].