Developmental / Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Bodmin; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Technical Officer to join our pharmacy team at Bodmin Community Hospital. This developmental role targets a Band 2–3 progression and offers varied duties with supervision and opportunities to grow.

You will support the supply and distribution of medicines, assist with ward top-ups, stock control and admin tasks, and contribute to patient safety within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Pharmacy-related education and training requirements for hospital or community settings.
• Basic computer literacy and evidence of progressing towards NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services.
• Strong numeracy and literacy skills for accurate handling of medicines.

Responsibilities

• Assist in provision of pharmacy services, supply and distribution of medicines.
• Support ward top-ups, expiry date checking and handling returned medication.
• Support audit, stock control and record-keeping processes.
• Provide admin support to the pharmacy team including 7 day service on rolling rota.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Computer skills

Education

Working towards an NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent relevant experience in a hospital or community pharmacy

GCSE Grade C or 4 in Maths and English or demonstratable literacy and numeracy skills at this level

Experience gained from on-the-job training to NVQ Level

Experience in hospital pharmacy and hospital pharmacy computer systems

Full NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Tools

Hospital pharmacy computer systems

Job description

Developmental / Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

Band 2 - Band 3

Main area Developmental / Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) Grade Band 2 - Band 3 Contract Permanent: We would consider a band 2 to 3 progression pathway for the right candidate Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working
• Compressed hours

37.5 hours per week (Includes weekend working as part of a rolling rota) Job ref 201-26-855

Site Community Hospitals across Cornwall Town Bodmin Salary £25,272 - £27,476 Per Annum/Pro Rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/09/2026 23:59

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

• Care based on what matters to people.
• Care provided at home or close to home.
• Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
• Prevention and alternatives to hospital.

Great Organisation

• Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
• Technology enabled care.
• Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
• Safe, efficient, effective and productive.

Great People

• A place people love to work and feel valued.
• Living our values with staff (all voices count).
• Attract, grow and develop talent.
• Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.

Great Partner

• Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
• Joined-up community services.
• Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
• Reduce our impact on the environment.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job overview

Are you looking for a rewarding and dynamic role where you can apply your knowledge and contribute to patient safety as part of a multi-disciplinary team?

Cornwall Foundation NHS Trust is looking to recruit an Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) with excellent communication and organisational skills to join our expanding pharmacy team. This is a developmental role and we would consider a band 2 to 3 progression pathway for the right candidate. Students can apply.

This is a varied role with the successful applicant needing to work independently and within the wider pharmacy team. As an Assistant Technical Officer, you will be required to work alongside the current SATO’s to assist in the provision of pharmacy services, support the supply and distribution of medicines, working under supervision and in accordance with standard operating procedures.

We welcome applications from individuals who are hardworking and motivated to optimise patient care, contribute to the maintenance of patient safety and help develop pharmacy services into the future.

Main duties of the job

Assistant Technical Officer based at Bodmin Community Hospital or Camborne Redruth Community Hospital with support to other peripheral hospitals.

To assist in the provision of pharmacy services by supporting the supply and distribution of medicines, including ward top-ups, expiry date checking, and handling returned medication, working under supervision and in accordance with standard operating procedures.

To support audit, stock control, and record-keeping processes as required.

To provide routine administrative and clerical support to the pharmacy team and respond to basic enquiries from patients and staff, referring queries where appropriate.

To provide admin support to the pharmacy team including 7 day service provision on a rolling rota and when required.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification, including the main responsibilities of this role, please see ‘supporting documents’.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications and Relevant Experience

• Working towards an NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent relevant experience in a hospital or community pharmacy
• Good general education including GCSE Grade C or 4 in Maths and English or demonstratable literacy and numeracy skills at this level
• Experience gained from on-the-job training to NVQ Level
• Experience in hospital pharmacy and hospital pharmacy computer systems
• Full NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services

Skills and Aptitude

• Computer skills and experience in working with common computer programmes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Consistently accurate, orderly, and logical approach to work. Able to focus and to complete tasks.

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes and values individuals with lived experience of mental or physical ill health joining our workforce. We aspire to have a culture that develops, promotes and supports lived experience roles - throughout the organisation.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644

Please note we are not accepting any communication from Recruitment Agencies at the current time. Please refrain from Sending the Trust CV’s as this does not count as an introduction.

If you need sponsorship, please check the requirements for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) on the gov.uk website to see if you're eligible before applying.

The Health Jobs UK website has jobs from numerous employers, within health and care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute medical, surgical and specialist services to a population of around 500,000 which can increase significantly during the busy holiday periods.