Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 159-LWH-114-26
- Employer
- Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Liverpool Women's Hospital
- Town
- Liverpool
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Assistant Technical Officer
Band 3
Liverpool Women’s NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.
We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.
Liverpool Women’s has an excellent reputation and is a centre of excellence. It is an exciting environment to work in and a great place to develop your career for many years to come.
We invite you to review why Liverpool Women's Hospital is a great place to work: https://vimeo.com/556197652
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
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
Working for our organisation
Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.
We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.
The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving it’s services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.
Check out why Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:
Video: https://vimeo.com/556197652
Online brochure: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/4121/recruitment-pack-great-place-to-work-16pp-v4-final.pdf
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Description
1. Lead and co-ordinate a team of Assistant Technical Officers (ATOs), and Trainee Pharmacy Technicians in ward supply & dispensary sections across the Trust.
2. Ensure that the contribution to the provision of the service is comprehensive, of high quality and cost effective.
3. Ensure ward supply & dispensary services are achieved whilst adhering to policies and procedures and are delivered in an efficient, courteous and professional manner.
4. Training and develop staff in ward supply & dispensary services.
5. To perform the personal development appraisals of staff.
6. Develop and expand the service currently provided when required
7. Writing of Pharmacy ward supply & dispensary procedures with managers.
8. Manage ward/clinic stock reviews with liaison with ward managers and pharmacy staff.
9. To attend meetings when required.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Assist with the effective and efficient day to day operations of the Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
2. Develop the roles of Assistant Technical Officers and highlight training needs within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
3. Participate in internal audits.
4. Ensure own skills in all relevant areas are maintained and up-to-date.
5. Ensure that events which fall outside procedure are documented and brought to the attention of the appropriate manager.
6. Use of computer systems including Meditech, intranet / internet and other programs to produce documentation.
7. Ensure accurate stock control, costing and traceability; monitoring stock rotation and managing manual ordering.
8. Ability to undertake all duties within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
9. Supervise all support operations within the Ward Supply & Dispensary Areas.
10. Continually assess, update and implement training manuals for support staff within Ward Supply & Dispensary Services.
11. Ensure that all housekeeping duties are carried out in accordance with departmental and national guidelines.
12. Participate in the recruitment of support staff.
13. When required carry out duties in other sections of the Pharmacy Department.
14. 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.
15. Participate in development and project work in line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.
16. 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.
17. Participate and co-operate in Bank Holiday, Statutory Holiday, weekends, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.
18. To undertake such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time.
19. 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.
20. Ensure that total confidentiality is upheld at all times throughout Trust.
Person specification
Required Skills
Essential criteria
- Good communication, both written and verbal
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Ability to pay attention to detail
- Ability to work to a high specification of accuracy
- Capability to work in confined spaces
- Basic numeracy & literacy skills
- Experience working in a pharmacy
Desirable criteria
- Good time management skills
- Experience of working in hospital environments
- Self -motivating
- Computer literate
Personal Characteristics
Essential criteria
- Ability to understand the importance of confidentiality
- Pleasant, helpful disposition
Desirable criteria
- Experience supervising or mentoring other staff
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Has a Level 2 Pharmacy Services qualification (or nearing completion)
Circumstances
Essential criteria
- Able to comply with the Trust's 'No Smoking' Policy.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Matthew Orme
- Job title
- Lead Pharmacy Technician - Technical Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0151 702 4169
- Additional information
All enquiries are welcome and encouraged, please use the provided contact details for more information and to arrange any tours of the Pharmacy Department.
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