Senior Assistant Technical Officer (SATO)

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits at a leading NHS Trust for a Senior Assistant Technical Officer in Pharmacy. This role is vital in ensuring high standards of patient care through the preparation and dispensing of medications. You'll work collaboratively within a dedicated team, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting patient safety. With a commitment to training and development, this position offers a pathway to professional growth. If you are passionate about making a difference in healthcare and thrive in a supportive environment, this is the perfect role for you to shine and contribute to exceptional patient care.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Generous Annual Leave

Pension Scheme

Learning and Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent required.
• Experience in a pharmacy or healthcare setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation and dispensing of medications for patients.
• Support stock control and compliance with pharmacy standards.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff and trainees.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services

English and Maths GCSE grade C or above

Completion of a recognised OTC sales course

Job description

Employer: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Town: Lancaster

Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 per annum pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 23/02/2025 23:59

Senior Assistant Technical Officer (SATO)

NHS AfC: Band 3

"Creating a great place to be cared for and a great place to work"

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce and therefore welcomes and encourages applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+, and people with a disability.

Job overview

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a dedicated and motivated individual to join our Pharmacy team at Royal Lancaster Infirmary as a Senior Assistant Technical Officer (SATO). This is a key role within our pharmacy department, providing essential support in the preparation and dispensing of medicines, ensuring a high level of patient care and safety. You will work closely with our pharmacy team, helping to deliver high-quality services to patients and supporting the operational needs of the department.

Working Pattern will be Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 with weekend and Bank Holiday work as part of a rotation. Part-time or full-time hours are available.

Training role including completion of NVQ2 Pharmacy Services will be considered for applicants without this essential qualification.

Training role is paid at 70% of a Band 3 in Year 1 and 75% in Year 2 (uplifted to minimum living wage), then moving to a Band 3 upon completion of NVQ2 Pharmacy Services.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation and dispensing of medications for patients.
• Support the technical aspects of the pharmacy service, ensuring compliance with legal and professional standards.
• Provide assistance with stock control, including ordering and stock management.
• Offer advice to other healthcare professionals and patients regarding medications.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff and trainees.
• Assist in the provision of medicines to wards and departments across the hospital.

Personal Specifications

• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification (or be willing to work towards it).
• Previous experience in a pharmacy or healthcare setting is desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to high standards of patient care.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and independently.
• A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to take on new challenges.

Full training will be given to the successful applicants.

If you are passionate about delivering excellent patient care and want to make a difference within a supportive and rewarding environment, we would love to hear from you.

Working for our organisation

We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community health care premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units, and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Benefits of working for the NHS

• Competitive Salary: NHS pay and benefits in line with the Agenda for Change Band 3 salary scale.
• Generous Annual Leave: 27 days of annual leave plus 8 public holidays, with the opportunity to increase this with length of service.
• Pension Scheme: A competitive NHS pension scheme for your financial security.
• Learning and Development: Excellent opportunities for training, career progression, and further education. We support and encourage continuous professional development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay by visiting our website here.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• English and Maths GCSE grade C or above
• NVQ and Btec level 2 in Pharmacy Services
• Completion of a recognised OTC sales course

Experience

• Experience in hospital pharmacy or other Pharmacy Setting
• Experience in dispensing medications, drugs receipt, record keeping, and cold chain maintenance

PLEASE NOTE THAT SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL.

The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities wherever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be Effortlessly Inclusive.

The trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our Person Specification will be shortlisted for Interview.

We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

If the post is subject to Disclosure & Barring Service checking, (formerly CRB), a charge of £49.50 for Enhanced and £21.50 for Standard clearance and an additional £4.90 administration fee will be made to the successful candidate(s). This currently only applies to roles Band 6 and above and Medical & Dental posts.

Anyone newly appointed to the trust under the Agenda For Change contract will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory 6-month probationary period. This will give the new staff member an opportunity to become familiar with the role and working environment.

We have introduced a new system called Pre-Onboarding, specifically to support you right the way through to your first few months in your new role with us at UHMB. This bespoke site has lots of useful information to help you settle into your new role including: what to expect from the recruitment clearances process, where to get a uniform, when you'll get paid etc. To access click on this link here.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.