Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

We have 2 vacancies in our Pharmacy ATO team here at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. Working within a team you will rotate through a number of areas of the pharmacy including goods in, aseptics and ward top ups. If you do not hold a NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, we will enrol you on this and provide support and training to enable completion - please note to enrol on this course you must hold English and Maths GCSE at grade C or equivalent.

Main duties include:

• Ward top ups of all stock items
• Fulfilment of ward ad hoc stock requests
• Receipt and booking in of wholesaler deliveries
• Support role within the aseptic services unit
• Maintaining accurate stock levels within the pharmacy stores area

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'. We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community. We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Job responsibilities:

• To co-operate in providing a comprehensive and cost-effective pharmaceutical service, ensuring a high quality service based on teamwork, which recognises the importance of patient-focused care and courtesy with the emphasis on the receipt, storage, distribution and stock control of medicines.
• To collect and deliver ward drug bags at the designated times.
• To collect ward/department drug boxes in accordance with the pharmacy topping up system, and then deliver these boxes back when full, including bulky intravenous fluids and dietetic products.
• To book out, through the pharmacy computer system, all stock and temporary stock items to wards/departments, including IVs and Sip Feeds.
• To receive all pharmacy orders into the department and ensure the return of empty containers and pallets to suppliers via delivery drivers.
• To match orders with the correct order sheet, checking product, pack size, price and quantity and recording batch numbers and expiry dates.
• To enter the appropriate records of the delivery into the computer system and ensure that the goods are stored correctly, including appropriate loading of the automated dispenser following departmental procedures.
• To scan all orders into the pharmacy computer system to comply with the Falsified Medicines Directive regulations.
• To communicate with suppliers regarding missing goods, incorrect deliveries, price discrepancies, items that are to-follow or out of stock and completing the appropriate documentation and reporting any errors to the Senior Technician over Procurement.
• To deliver Controlled Drugs to wards/departments, checking the items before leaving the department and obtaining a signature from the nursing staff on arrival at the ward/department.
• To top-up stock items on wards and departments, by carrying out the process of monitoring, ordering, issuing, distributing and controlling stock on these wards and departments in accordance with the standard operating procedures.
• To communicate with nursing staff and other health professionals within the training and experience of an ATO, referring to your Senior ATO, Technician, Senior Technician or Pharmacist when necessary including alterations to ward stock lists.
• To print and amend ward stock lists when required.
• To use and maintain the pharmacy electric truck, within limitations, reporting any defects as soon as possible to the Senior ATO to enable swift repairs.
• To maintain strict stock control within the Pharmacy stores area, performing daily stock checks and monthly expiry checks in accordance with departmental stock control procedures.
• To file requisitions in the appropriate place.
• To handle the return of items brought back to the department appropriately according to departmental procedures.
• To carry out support duties for the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit as required, including ordering consumables.
• To carry out cleaning duties in the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit and report any problems with the unit, e.g. pressure fluctuations, to the Senior Technician for Aseptic Services.
• To participate in environmental monitoring and completion of monitoring documentation of the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit, for example: production of weekly settle plates for Regional Quality Control, in accordance with departmental procedures.
• To carry out the setting up of products and appropriate in-process checks for the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit in accordance with the departmental procedures.
• To track and log fridge temperatures within the department to ensure correct storage of certain pharmaceuticals.
• To complete documentation and ensure sharp-bins are accurately labelled and collected according to Trust procedures.
• To ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with the safe systems of work in the department, and the regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH are complied with.
• To participate in individual personal assessment and development, including the use of computer technology as required by ATO duties.
• To participate in bank holiday and weekend working as required.
• To participate in the training of new ATOs, pharmacy technicians or students as required.
• To participate and contribute in pharmacy meetings and support the development of the pharmacy business plan.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

• Essential: NVQ level 2 Pharmacy Services or GCSE English and Maths at grade C

Knowledge and Experience:

• Essential: Computer Literate, understanding of need for accuracy and attention to detail
• Desirable: Previous experience in pharmacy

Skills and Abilities:

• Good Communication Skills
• Good organisation skills
• Use initiative
• Work as part of a team
• Demonstrate common sense

Values and behaviours:

• Essential: Team Player, helpful and friendly, smart and presentable, learn from mistakes

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.