Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) Medicines Management

Whittington Health NHS Trust is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Assistant Technical Officer to join and support our busy team in the Pharmacy Department at the Whittington Hospital. You will support the provision of pharmacy services across the Trust, providing a professional, efficient and customer-focused service following agreed departmental policies and procedures.

We are looking for a candidate who has good customer service and interpersonal skills, communicates well, and demonstrates the ability to prioritise and organise work to meet deadlines. The candidate ideally should have previous pharmacy experience and hold an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services or equivalent. If not, you will undertake the BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff through the Apprenticeship framework. You must have GCSEs in both Maths and English at Grade C (4) or above, or equivalent.

Main duties of the job:

• This position aims to enhance quality of patient care by contributing to an efficient medicines management service at ward level.
• The role supports ward services by managing ward top-ups and stock control, while working closely with Medicines Management Technicians and Ward Pharmacists, assisting with ordering and dispensing individual patients’ medicines and carrying out medicines safety checks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to medicines management tasks in assigned wards and clinical areas such as:
• Ward top-ups
• Evaluating PODs for potential reuse
• Maintaining safe storage of medication
• Monitoring of clinical area environments
• Support dispensary services, including dispensing To Take Away (TTA) medications or blister packs.
• Support Pharmacy Stores in assembling stock for distribution to clinical areas, and completing returns.
• Work accurately, effectively, and efficiently to uphold high-quality service standards for patients, staff, and departments.
• Perform medicine safety checks and environmental monitoring, recording results at every shift.
• Conduct medicines management and handling audits under the supervision of the matron, pharmacist, or pharmacy technician.
• Ensure continuous two-way communication between the pharmacy and clinical ward areas, to maintain high standards across the Trust.

Education/ Qualification:

• GCSE or equivalent
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy

Personal Qualities and Experience:

• Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of efficient stock control.
• Able to organise and prioritise workload, and to meet pre-determined deadlines.
• Experience of dispensing all kinds of prescriptions.

Safeguarding Children and Adults:

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.