Senior ATO – Stores & Distribution

University-Hospitals-of-North-Midlands-Nhs-Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in Stafford is seeking a Band 3 Senior Assistant Technical Officer for Stores and Distribution in the Pharmacy Directorate. The role is 37.5 hours per week, with a mix of early/late shifts and weekend/bank holiday work to support timely medicines supply.

You will oversee Store and Distribution activities, coordinate staff, and liaise with wards, departments and external customers to ensure efficient processing and delivery of medicines.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English at grade 4 or above; BTEC Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Services or NVQ Level 2 in a relevant area
• 1+ year experience in a similar pharmacy role
• Ability to lead and supervise team; prioritise and allocate work
• Good organisational, IT, and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Support the supply of medicines liaising with wards, departments and external customers
• Coordinate and support pharmacy staff in processing ward orders and stock requisitions
• Lead as part of the Pharmacy team and train staff
• Engage with clinical teams and ward staff to resolve queries and ensure timely medicine delivery
• Work flexibly including extended hours, weekends and bank holidays

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent: An average of 150 hours, over a 4 week rota, to include late shifts and weekend/bank holiday working Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (To include early and late shifts, weekend and bank holiday working) Job ref 205-8276861

Employer University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site County Hospital Town Stafford Salary £25,760 - £27,476 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59

Band 3

Job overview

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join the Pharmacy team at County Hospital where you will oversee the work in the Stores and Distribution area.

Experience we are looking for:

• Previous experience of working in a pharmacy environment
• It would be desirable but not essential to have experience of ward based automated/ pharmacy automated machines
• It is desirable but not essential to have previous experience of working in a warehouse/ stores environment
• Co-ordinating people and workflow
• Experience of evaluating and translating information from a variety of sources.
• Experience of communicating with patients and hospital staff over the phone
• Problem solving
• Good organisational skills

We take pride in supporting our staff throughout their career development and our strong retention rates reflect the value we place on nurturing individual growth.

Main duties of the job

You will support the supply of medicines, including liaising with wards and departments and external customers.

It is necessary to liaise with internal stakeholders to support the timely supply of medicines and processing of orders. We are looking for someone who is able to show initiative; is helpful and approachable; organised and can work accurately; good IT skills, problem solving and communication skills.

It is a requirement to be able to demonstrate working unsupervised to the required deadlines.

You will have previous experience in a similar environment, with a willingness to work in other areas within pharmacy.

You will be responsible for co-ordinating and supporting the pharmacy support staff in the processing of ward orders and stock requisitions for the delivery of medicines. You will provide leadership as part of the Pharmacy team and co-ordinate and support the training of staff. You will be required to liaise with clinical teams, ward staff and external customers to resolve queries and to ensure patients receive their medicines in a timely manner.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Senior Assistant Technical Officer – Stores and Distribution

Pharmacy Directorate

Band 3

37.5 hours per week

Things to remember when completing your application form.

• Link skills in the application in line with the person specification.
• Write about skills / experience you have relevant to this role
• Any work history, corresponding to the Job description.
• Supporting information not too lengthy and be specific and relevant to this post
• Overall - Ensure you promote your abilities and skills

Person specification

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs or equivalent - must include Maths and English at grade 4 or above - and BTEC Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Services or be working towards. OR 4 GCSEs or equivalent - must include Maths and English at grade 4 or above plus an NVQ Level 2 or equivalent, in an area relevant to the role and willing to work towards BTEC Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Services

Experience

• At least 1 years’ experience in a similar role
• Experience of using computer systems and applications
• Ability to lead and supervise other members of the team, prioritising and allocating work, ensuring rotas are complied with
• Good organisational skills for example when liaising with Lead Technician to compile rotas
• Ability to deal confidently and directly with all members of healthcare teams and members of the public
• Ability to investigate queries, taking appropriate action, liaising with technicians and pharmacists as necessary
• Pride in establishing and maintaining high standards of work and attention to detail
• Ability to work unsupervised and alone within departmental guidelines/SOPs
• Previous experience of dealing with customers and difficult queries
• Work experience in any of the following: Hospital environment Stock control Reception/telephone work

Personal Qualities

• A positive ‘can do’ attitude combining an enthusiastic and intelligent approach to work
• Flexible approach to work including changing in work schedules and job rotation
• Participate in extended hours, weekend and bank holiday working
• Interest in expanding knowledge and self-development. Self-motivated and ability to motivate others

Important information about your application

• All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
• References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
• We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
• Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies
• New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community

We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non encrypted format.

If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.

If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of your start date to ensure sufficient time for the operational and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.

In line with the change of Immigration rules on 8th January 2026 if you require Sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa you must be able to provide B2 English evidence before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued.

Visa eligibility notice: The UK Home Office has imposed an emergency brake on specific visa routes.

• Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
• Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan. As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.

UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Rachel Adamson Job title Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services Email address [emailprotected] Telephone number 01785 886466