Job overview

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Pharmacy Department at Royal Stoke, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust as a Dispensary Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer (ATO).

This is an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic, organised and motivated individual who enjoys working as part of a team and takes pride in delivering excellent customer service. You will play an important role in supporting the safe and efficient supply of medicines to patients across the Trust.

Working within our busy dispensary team, you will assist in the delivery of pharmacy services for inpatients and patients being discharged from hospital. The role offers a varied workload, opportunities to learn new skills and the chance to work alongside Pharmacy Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists within a supportive environment. Development opportunities are available, including completion of the Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff, where this qualification is not already held.

Main duties of the job

At UHNM, we take pride in supporting our staff throughout their career development, and our strong retention rates reflect the value we place on nurturing individual growth. We are committed to helping our staff reach their potential and offer excellent opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.

As a Dispensary Pharmacy ATO, you will support the day-to-day running of pharmacy dispensary services and contribute to the safe supply of medicines to patients.

The role is varied and will include:

• Dispensing medicines within the pharmacy dispensary and ward based dispensing hubs
• Dispensing controlled drug medicines for individual patients and ward stock supplies
• Handing medicines to patients and healthcare staff
• Undertaking reception duties, including the use of the pharmacy prescription tracking system
• Answering telephone calls and directing enquires to the appropriate member of staff
• Maintaining stocks of dispensary consumables such as medicine bottles, bags, spoons, measures and syringes
• Ensuring dispensary equipment is clean, maintained and ready for use
• Carrying out stock rotation and expiry date checks to minimise waste and maintain medicines safety

You will work closely with Assistant Technical Officers, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists to ensure a high quality service is provided to patients and clinical areas across the Trust.

Working for our organisation

We are looking for someone who is reliable, flexible and keen to learn. You'll have good communication and organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to work effectively as part of a team in a busy environment. Previous pharmacy experience is welcomed but is not essential, as full training will be provided.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. 

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.