Senior Assistant Technical Officer/Storekeeper

NHS; Worthing; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in Worthing is seeking a Pharmacy Senior ATO/Storekeeper to oversee pharmaceutical storage and stock control operations. The candidate will manage daily pharmacy functions, support staff, and maintain compliance with health regulations. An NVQ Level 2 qualification in Pharmacy Services is essential. This dynamic role supports efficient pharmacy operations across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Pharmacy Receipt, Storekeeping and Distribution.
• Experience of Pharmacy Storekeeping/supervising pharmacy staff/processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage the storage of all pharmaceuticals within the department.
• Supervise daily stock takes and training of pharmacy staff.
• Maintain compliance with product storage guidelines.

Skills

Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution Experience

Storekeeping Experience

Communication Skills

Education

NVQ Level 2 qualification in Pharmacy Services

Job description

Overview

Pharmacy Senior ATO/Storekeeper, to support the Receipt & Distribution / Bulk & Stores Manager, Dispensary Leads and Quality Assurance Lead in managing the Pharmacy storage areas, stock control, quality assurance and supporting the Pharmacy Automation Lead to ensure the maintenance and smooth day to day operations of the Pharmacy service in UHSussex NHS Trust.

Main duties

We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated person with good communication and development skills to undertake this essential post. The role will involve supporting the Receipt & Distribution / Bulk and Stores Manager, Dispensary Leads and Quality Assurance Lead working within pharmacy cross site locations and with support staff for the management, maintenance and future development of our storage areas, stock and pharmacy stores at Worthing General Hospital & St Richards Hospitals to include 7 day working and providing cover across all four hospitals in UHSussex NHS Trust, if required. The successful candidate will have duties in the dispensary, ward distribution & receipt, to include all Pharmacy storage areas and automation, supporting the Receipt & Distribution / Bulk&Stores Manager and Quality Assurance Manager in developing and maintaining policies and procedures to ensure a safe, efficient and contemporary service, managing the day to day storekeeping duties, areas and whilst maintaining MHRA guidelines and criteria for safe and secure receipt, storage and distribution.

You will hold or work towards an NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Service certificate appropriate to your role with Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution or equivalent experience desirable.

Responsibilities

Role Summary

Responsible for storage of all pharmaceuticals within the department, to include managing and supervising storage areas, expiry date checking and stock rotation. Responsible for training of pharmacy staff regarding storage areas, expiry date checking and stock rotation. Responsible for reviewing the temperature control for specific storage areas, reporting to the Dispensary, Receipt / Bulk and Distribution / Stores, and Quality Assurance leads in all aspects of temperature management and excursions. Ensure that NHS Supplies/Sundries stock are receipted and stored away in respective areas and to support the administrative teams in managing the department paperwork being labelled, boxed and distributed to library services for storage.

Organise and be accountable for day-to-day work tasks in relation to stock control (including Daily Stock Takes / KTAKE), storage of Pharmaceuticals (to include Automation) and supporting Stock Returns. Provide high level supervision and assistance to the Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officers (ATOs) for the Dispensary, Receipt and Distribution services throughout the Trust by supporting stock management and Pharmacy Automation roll out. Participate as an active member of the Pharmacy Team, providing line management in line with departmental procedures. Participate in on-going training and development, and maintain skills necessary for the role. Carry out daily practice in line with our Trust values: Communication; Kindness, Understanding and Inclusion; Fairness and Transparency; Working Together; Excellence.

Key working relationships

Internal: Pharmacy Department, Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution Team / Stores & Bulk Team, Pharmacy and Ward Staff responsible for Pharmacy stock control, and the extended Pharmacy Trust team; UHSussex NHS Trust Pharmacy Purchasing & Invoicing Team; Other hospital support services.

External: Pharmaceutical Suppliers and representatives including couriers and delivery personnel.

Structure and reporting lines are provided in the original job description and reflect cross-site responsibilities within UHSussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities (operational)

Provide day-to-day management in the storage of all pharmaceuticals within the Pharmacy footprint, securely storing stock into allocated shelving and Pharmacy automation, ensuring tidiness, correct labelling, rotation of stock to comply with product storage guidelines, and overseeing stock stored in temperature-controlled areas. Ensure stock is presented for efficient issues by Pharmacy staff; supervise Daily Stock Takes and investigations of errors; support expiry date checking to ensure monthly removal of expired stock in line with Quality Assurance procedures. Support NHS Sundries order storage and systematic collection of Pharmacy paperwork to library services for storage. Supervise and assist ATOs with ward boxes and return/destruction processes in line with COSHH regulations. Aid in training and maintenance of Pharmacy automation processes and liaise with Automation suppliers to ensure replenishment and issue resolution. Answer telephone and emails; resolve stock or storage enquiries; resolve irregular stock discrepancies with senior staff. Access temperature reading procedures and inform senior staff of excursions.

Qualifications

Essential

• Basic Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution Experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of Pharmacy Receipt, Storekeeping and Distribution
• Experience of Pharmacy Storekeeping/supervising pharmacy staff/processes
• NVQ Level 2 qualification in Pharmacy Services
• Familiar with Quality Assurance process within UHSussex NHS Trust

Desirable

• Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution Experience, Minimum of 3 GCSEs grade C or above, or equivalent in Maths, English Language
• Previous or existing Pharmacy Storekeeping experience
• Able to communicate and develop stock management and working relationships

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Other information

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) - Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Rd, Worthing BN11 2DH. Website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/