Assistant Technical Officer - Pharmacy Stores/Logistics Service

Job overview

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust has an exciting and challenging role within the pharmacy department and requires an enthusiastic, motivated individual to join our dynamic and lively department who are committed to providing an excellent service.

The post holder will be based in the Pharmacy Stores located across both campuses (predominately QMC) and will supply medications to service users, always working accurately and safely.

A high level of concentration is required for long periods of time and you need to be physically fit. You will need to be enthusiastic, committed and adaptable to change. A positive image of Pharmacy at NUH Trust should be demonstrated at all times while showing a commitment to support the Trust values and behaviours.

Main duties of the job

In addition to the below summary you need to familiarize yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.

We are looking for a confident, self motivated individual with good communication skills, problem solving and decision making skills. Individuals need to have a good attention to detail. Accuracy, Efficient and be Self motivated. You will contribute towards the day to day running, maintaining and improving of the service.

The work will be varied and challenging working to tight schedules to achieve targets and responding to customer needs and deadlines. Therefore you should be able to work under pressure, to prioritise and organise workloads. You should also be able to work alone or as part of a team

Working for our organisation

Hours and place of work will depend on the specific rotation and service requirements working 37.5 hours per week over a 7 day period, including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.

No previous experience in Pharmacy is required as full in house training will be given.
We are looking for applicants who are eager to learn, able to organise and prioritise their own work to meet deadlines, and able to work using their own initiative.

Whilst applicants should ideally have an NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services, those without will be expected to enrol and will be supported to work towards a qualification. We are looking for an individual that possesses or are expecting 4 G.C.S.Es or equivalent at grade D or above including English (language), Maths and 1 science subjects and 1 other subject.

This post will not attract a work permit and therefore applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Job Responsibilities

1. To undertake the ordering of pharmaceutical items against agreed stock lists in line with departmental procedure.

2. To assemble a range of stock requisitions from both internal and external customers and produce computer generated paperwork including dispensing labels, where required.

3. To liaise with ward staff, ward pharmacists and medicines management technicians regarding drug stock levels, advising on storage conditions and location changes, ensuring that appropriate stock levels are maintained and wastage is kept to a minimum.

4. To assess the validity of requested stock items and liaise with relevant Pharmacy and ward staff regarding queries or supply issues.

5. To perform an accuracy check of assembled medicines (after training and successful validation) for distribution to wards, departments, Pharmacy departments and external customers.

6. To follow up stock level queries arising during the assembly process with the pharmacy purchasing team, communicating supply problems to the relevant pharmacy and ward staff.

7. To assist with the safe disposal of pharmaceutical items, including hazardous items, following COSHH regulations and Health and Safety procedures.

8. To process via the Pharmacy computer system and following associated procedures, items returned from wards and departments which are suitable for re-use to facilitate cost savings.

9. To assist with the supply process of unlicensed / parallel imports drugs and the recording of supply details, batch numbers and expiry dates.

10. To undertake computer data entry for the issue of medicines which are delivered directly to wards and departments.

11. To restock shelves in the Pharmacy Store, maintain stock rotation and to check for expired stock, recording any expired stock for appropriate removal from the computer system, to maintain accurate stock balances.

12. To answer telephone and face to face enquires of a non-clinical nature from customers both internal and external and where there may be barriers to understanding, escalating/ referring enquiries to clinical staff.

13. To file Pharmacy paperwork which includes confidential and sensitive documents, ensuring any legal storage requirements are maintained and confidential waste procedures followed.

14. To assist in the delivery of items between departments in the pharmacy and to wards as required ensuring any cold chain storage requirements are maintained.

15. To assist in the receipt of pharmacy deliveries as required, via the pharmacy I.T system with accuracy.

16. To assist with the departmental temperature monitoring systems, ensuring accurate records are kept and maintained.

17. Assist in the training and induction of new staff within the department.

18. To process items that are ‘to follow’ on the computer system when they become available in order to maintain appropriate stock supplies to departments.

19. To actively participate in departmental stock control and management programmes, including daily rolling stock takes and planned bi annual stock takes, following associated procedures.

20. Participate in the departmental individual performance review system (IPR) as an appraisee.

21. To partake in general clinical pharmacy duties including full participation in the departmental 7 day shift working and bank holiday rosters as required. In addition the post holder will take part in a system of flexible shifts to facilitate NUH pharmacy operational times and service needs.

22. To undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required, as agreed with the Senior Pharmacy Technician.

23. To actively participate in the mid-year and year end stock takes in accordance with NUH Trust Finance Standard Operating Procedures. This is a mandatory task within the post remit.