Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer
Job Description
Job summary
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 Manager working with the pharmacy receipt & distribution team and supporting staff for the receipt, supply, maintenance and future development of our ward top up and storage processes, and areas, to include automation at the Princess Royal Hospital & Royal Sussex Hospital, whilst supporting the QA Lead maintain MHRA guidelines and criteria for safe and secure receipt, storage and distribution of medicines.
Main duties of the job
Applicants are required to have experience of working within a Pharmacy environment, have a working knowledge of storekeeping, stock receipt, distribution and maintenance processes with experience in using Word and Excel.
It is essential you hold an NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Service certificate appropriate to the vacant role with. Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution experience or a UK pass of grade 4 or above in English and Maths and also be resident in the UK for 3 years.
About us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Job responsibilities
We would be looking to interview successful candidates around the first week of May 2025
Role Summary
To provide support and process designated duties and services for the receipt, supply and storage of all pharmaceuticals within the department, expiry date checking and stock rotation
To support the Pharmacy Storekeepers in ensuring the NHS Supplies/Sundries stock are receipted and stored away in respective areas and to support the Admin team in managing the department paperwork being labelled, boxed and distributed to archiving services for storage.
To support the ongoing maintenance of storage, staff working areas that need to comply with Wholesaler Dealer Licence requirements.
To support current working practices and to complete duties following processes and procedures for the Dispensary, Receipt and Distribution services throughout the trust by supporting stock management and Pharmacy Automation
Participate as an active member of the Pharmacy Receipt & DistributionTeam, providing support in areas required in line with departmental procedures.
Follow set day-to-day work tasks in relation to the stock control (including Daily Stock Takes), storage of Pharmaceuticals (to include Automation) and filtering Stock Returns.
To attend other UHSussex Pharmacy locations (if required) across the 4 sites to support the needs and requirements of UHSussex NHS Trust during possible staffing shortages or unplanned pressures.
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 Receipt & Distribution Team, Dispensary Teams, 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.
To maintain good communications with all patients, their carers and relativ
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Preamble
This is a generic Job Description for Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officers working cross-site, but within the UHSussexTrust (Legacy East).
General
Work within own level of assessed competence and participate actively in training and assessment; take personal responsibility for booking and participating in all statutory & mandatory training required for the role.
Work at all times in a way that minimises the risk of infection (to patients and self) and maintains health, safety and security in line with established protocols (e.g. hand hygiene, use of Personal Protective Equipment).
At all times, maintain patient dignity, privacy and confidentiality.
Provide concise, legible and accurate data and records from own work (Input into Pharmacy computer system CMM and handwritten)
Provide support to Pharmacy ATOs and for processes in Receipt & Distribution, PRH/RSCH.
Responsibilities for Pharmacy Receipt & Distribution
To provide day to day support in the receipt, supply and storage of, and storage areas for all pharmaceuticals within the Pharmacy footprint, securely storing stock into the allocated areas of shelving and Pharmacy automation, ensuring tidiness, correct labelling, rotation of stock to comply with product storage guidelines and oversee stock stored in appropriate temperature-controlled areas, whilst presenting stock in such a way to enable efficient issues by Pharmacy staff.
To support the Receipt & Distribution Team in completing ward top ups which include visiting wards and providing top up stock checks, picking, packing and setting out for delivery all orders processed by completing the top ups and following the same processes for picking, packing and setting out for delivery all orders processed by the Receipt & Distribution Ward Services ATOs
To provide support and assistance for Pharmacy ATOs to ensure the Daily Stock Takes are printed, checked, and investigated to comply with Trust Audit requirements.
To provide support with the Pharmacy ATO responsible for departmental expiry date checking to ensure all pharmaceutical areas within the department are checked, reported, and removed monthly to comply with departmental Quality System procedures.
To support and assist ATOs emptying ward boxes and filter drugs for return, recycling & destruction whilst following COSHH regulations.
To support the Automation Senior ATO/Storekeeper in the maintenance of the Pharmacy automation processes and to ensure a continuation of replenishment and supply of fast-moving stocks and consumables from the receipt & distribution area(s) into the Robot.
Support and assist where necessary answering telephone(s), emails and resolve stock or storage enquiries as appropriate..
To support the Quality Manager and Storekeeper by ensuring storage areas for all pharmacy stock and working areas for Pharmacy staff that come under the Wholesaler Dealer Licence requirements are maintained at the required level as set out in Quality System procedures to ensure the WDA licence is valid.
To support the Receipt and Distribution Manager in supporting the day to day processes of the Pharmacy Department where applicable, to include working (if required) across any of the four hospitals to support the UHSussex NHS Trust Pharmacy Support Services.
Communication
To use communications skills effectively and maintain good communications using a variety of methods to include email/ telephone with all internal users and all Trust staff.
To conduct effective working relationships across the trust.
To liaise with other healthcare professions where applicable.
To act professionally and observe the Trusts values and behaviours at all times.
To support the Receipt & Distribution Manager to manage and implement receipt, distribution, and storage maintainence processes to ensure a clean and tidy department policy.
To communicate learning and actions from department internal audit and self-inspections to other pharmacy colleagues as necessary.
Welcome visitors and new staff into the Pharmacy Department as required.
Provide/receive complicated and sensitive information ...
