Assistant Technical Officer

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Quality and Accuracy Checking Technical Officer to join the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. We are located within a modern medicines packing unit in Hither Green. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who wish to experience a different sector in the NHS.

This is a fulltime role and post holders will work a rota pattern covering the operational  hours of the service. This role will primarily be based at Hither Green and will require travel to locations across the LAS sites when required.

The post holder will work closely with our Pharmacy team to carefully prepare bespoke drug packs, ensuring that each pack is stocked with the right combination of medicines for urgent and emergency care. Your attention to detail and commitment to accuracy will directly impact the delivery of life-saving care to patients across London. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an essential service and make a real difference in emergency healthcare.

Main duties of the job

You will be assisting and working within the medicines packing and distribution function of the LAS.  Daily activities include:  stock checks, medicines packing, processing of drug usage forms.  On occasion there may be a requirement to visit ambulance stations for audit work and stock checks to ensure compliance with our clinical governance framework.  You will be a champion for medicines management and drive continuous improvement.  All training and development will be provided for the post.

The post holder will be required to work a variety of shifts, including weekends and bank holidays, as part of a 7-day service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Effectively assist the medicines area of the Medicines Packing  Unit and help ensure that demand of medicines is met across the Trust and that medicines are kept in a secure manner.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders including medicines management staff, health care professionals and delivery personnel.
• Supply bulk medicines stock to ambulance station in accordance to agreed stock lists, schedules and timetables.
• Produce accurate picking lists, delivery notes and/ or to-follows using the medicines management computer system.
• Process requests from stations and deal effectively with different queries.
• Ensure station orders are booked out and completed in a timely manner to meet delivery/transport times.
• Ensure orders are checked and packed appropriately and any errors corrected before dispatch.
• Assist with the receipt of goods into Stores, ensuring correct storage of stock taking account of Good Distribution Practice and rotation of expiry dates.
• Participate in the receipt/ checking of goods from different suppliers and booking in the deliveries on the medicines management computer system if necessary.
• Ensure that any associated paperwork is correct, processed and filed according to departmental procedures.
• Monitor and advise the pharmacy technicians on actual and potential “out of stock” items to maintain adequate stock levels at all times
• Process and dispatch to-follow items, ensuring computer files and paperwork are updated.
• Ensure information on “to-follow” items is disseminated to relevant staff and stock shortages are pro-actively managed.
• Input, process and file data both computerised and paper based to ensure accurate record keeping and to facilitate its timely retrieval.
• Ensure all areas are kept clean, tidy and well organised to provide a safe working environment.
• To support the development and delivery medicine management training, if required and agreed for a range of individuals including clinicians and non-clinicians.
• Support the delivery of the corporate governance and assurance requirements and any internal/external assurance processes.
• To undertake risk management and clinical governance activities within own area of responsibility and contribute towards the delivery of the appropriate quality standards and targets outlined in the Trust’s Risk Management Strategy.

Applicants are advised to read all the information enclosed in the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.

Priority will be given to staff at risk candidates.

We reserve the right to close the application window early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.