Senior Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer to join our vibrant pharmacy team within the NHS. In this role, you will support the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical services, ensuring the safe and efficient supply of medications to our patients. You will work collaboratively with pharmacists, Pharmacy Techncians and other healthcare professionals to contribute to patient care and improve health outcomes.

Main duties of the job

§ To supervise other ATOs and lead / co-ordinate the workload in dispensary.

§ To support the ward teams in maintaining safe storage and temperature control of medications in all areas of the ward(s).

§ To assist in the provision of a high-quality pharmacy stores service to the wards, community teams and associated areas.

§ To ensure that stock levels for 'topped up' areas are appropriate and that the stock is in date and appropriately rotated.

§ To assist in the provision of a high-quality patient focused medicines management service to patients at the Trust. In association with the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians, ward teams and clinical pharmacist teams to ensure that stock lists are updated and adequately reflect the needs of the area.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To ensure the safe, efficient and correct receipt, storage and distribution of pharmaceuticals.

2. To participate in stock topping up service to wards and departments.

3. To interpret and accurately dispense prescriptions and requests for medication including in-patients, outpatients, and community prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist.

4. To use the pharmacy computer system to dispense, issue, label, return, order and requisition medicines in accordance with level of training provided.

5. To ensure that the stores, dispensary and distribution areas are kept clean and tidy.

6. To dispose of and recycle pharmaceuticals in accordance with the departmental and local policies.

7. To ensure an adequate supply of sundries and stationary at all times in the dispensary and stores

8. To undertake day-to-day housekeeping tasks and other basic duties as necessary

9. To assist the purchasing officer to ensure supplies are maintained at optimum levels.

10. To ensure that requisitions are dealt with in a timely manner.

11. To ensure the maintenance of efficient stock control, including stock checks, stock rotation and expiry date checks

12. To assist in the induction and training of new members of staff, for example student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and pre-registration pharmacists as appropriate.

13. To work as a practice supervisor

14. To work in line with department policies and procedures and line manager contactable.

15. To attend course and study days as deemed appropriate.

16. To participate in education and training schemes and meetings organised within the department.

17. To participate in all relevant departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.

18. To always practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

19. Any other duties deemed appropriate by the Dispensary Manager

Person specification

Education and Training

Essential criteria

• A Levels or equivalent
• GCSE's or equivalent in Maths and English Grade 4 or above (grades A-C).
• NVQ Level 2 in pharmaceutical services

Desirable criteria

• Medicines Optimisation Programme POD Assessment & Transcribing module or equivalent.
• Practice Supervisor

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working within a team
• Previous experience of working in a pharmacy

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience with computerised stock control system.
• Experience of working in a mental health setting
• Previous experience of working in a hospital

Skills

Essential criteria

• Good organisational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Good verbal and written communication
• Good IT skills with knowledge of standard operating systems such as Microsoft office.

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity

Please note:

• That all applications for this post will need to be made online
• That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Band 3 ATO Job Description (PDF, 704.4KB)
• SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)