Senior Assistant Technical Officer

Job overview

Senior Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join our expanding Pharmacy Team as a Senior Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer (SATO). As our services continue to grow and develop, we are seeking a motivated, dynamic, and enthusiastic individual to take on a more responsible role within the Pharmacy Department.

In this senior role, the post holder will take on additional responsibility supporting workflow management, providing guidance to ATOs and less experienced staff members. They will contribute to maintaining high standards of practice, ensuring medicines are handled, stored, and supplied safely and in line with departmental procedures.

The SATO will aid in stock control and management, ensuring accurate stock levels are maintained and medicines are appropriately received, checked, and stored. They will also support the distribution of medicines to hospital wards and clinics, enabling patient care.

Essential Requirements

• Level 2 Pharmacy Services qualification (or nearing completion)
• Demonstrable experience working within a pharmacy environment (preferably hospital)
• Good understanding of stock control and dispensing processes
• Ability to supervise and support junior staff
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to patient safety

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience in a hospital pharmacy setting
• Experience in training or mentoring staff

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

• Support and participate in the dispensing of medicines, ensuring accuracy and efficiency under supervision
• Provide day-to-day support, guidance, and informal supervision to ATOs, Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians and other staff
• Assist with the training and induction of new staff members
• Receive, check, and ensure appropriate storage of medicines and pharmaceutical deliveries
• Take a lead role in organising and maintaining dispensary stock
• Maintain accurate stock control systems, including monitoring stock levels, expiries, and reordering
• Support and help coordinate the supply and distribution of medicines to wards and clinics, ensuring safe transport and correct storage on delivery
• Assist in prioritising workload within the dispensary to meet service demands
• Support outpatient dispensary services, acting as a professional, friendly, and informative first point of contact for patients and customers
• Handle routine queries and escalate more complex issues appropriately
• Answer telephone calls and respond to internal and external enquiries in a polite, efficient, and professional manner
• Ensure high standards of housekeeping, organisation, and cleanliness within the Pharmacy Department
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement initiatives

Please note that this role involves some manual handling, including lifting.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and co-ordinate a team of Assistant Technical Officers (ATOs), and Trainee Pharmacy Technicians in ward supply & dispensary sections across the Trust.
• Ensure that the contribution to the provision of the service is comprehensive, of high quality and cost effective.
• Ensure ward supply & dispensary services are achieved whilst adhering to policies and procedures and are delivered in an efficient, courteous and professional manner.
• Training and develop staff in ward supply & dispensary services.
• To perform the personal development appraisals of staff.
• Develop and expand the service currently provided when required
• Writing of Pharmacy ward supply & dispensary procedures with managers.
• Manage ward/clinic stock reviews with liaison with ward managers and pharmacy staff.
• To attend meetings when required.
• Assist with the effective and efficient day to day operations of the Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
• Develop the roles of Assistant Technical Officers and highlight training needs within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
• Participate in internal audits.
• Ensure own skills in all relevant areas are maintained and up-to-date.
• Ensure that events which fall outside procedure are documented and brought to the attention of the appropriate manager.
• Use of computer systems including Meditech, intranet / internet and other programs to produce documentation.
• Ensure accurate stock control, costing and traceability; monitoring stock rotation and managing manual ordering.
• Ability to undertake all duties within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
• Supervise all support operations within the Ward Supply & Dispensary Areas.
• Continually assess, update and implement training manuals for support staff within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
• Ensure that all housekeeping duties are carried out in accordance with departmental and national guidelines.
• Participate in the recruitment of support staff.
• When required carry out duties in other sections of the Pharmacy Department.
• Participate in, and co-operate with, individual personal assessment and continuing education programmes in order to keep abreast of pharmaceutical matters and legislative changes which affect pharmacy.
• Participate in development and project work in line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.
• Together with other members of staff to ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH and that other pertinent recommendations and standards are complied with.
• Participate and co-operate in Bank Holiday, Statutory Holiday, weekends, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.
• To undertake such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time.
• The post holder will be expected to adapt to changes that may occur, which may affect the current practices within the Pharmacy Department, such are the introduction of new equipment, procedures, policies and hours or working, after discussion and reasonable notice.
• Ensure that total confidentiality is upheld at all times throughout Trust.