Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time – 37.5 hours per week (NHS seven-day service including weekends and bank holidays) Job ref 410-DTC-8386313

Employer Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Town Liverpool Salary £25,272 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59

Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

NHS AfC: Band 2

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision’ to bethe best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation’.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine including adult cystic fibrosis and diagnostic imaging, both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Heart and lung disease continue to be amongst the biggest killers in the UK and the communities we serve are marked by increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, higher levels of heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease and an ageing population.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering thebest carefor our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and facilitated by technology. New and upgraded clinical areas are designed with patients and families fully involved to deliver their needs.

As part of our long term plan, we aim to form strong clinical and organisational relationships where possible. There is clear evidence that partnerships improve patient care and enhance quality and we aim to collaborate with a range of other providers and professionals with the aimto extending access and improve quality.

Our vision is underpinned by five strategic goals:

• Quality:to deliver the highest quality, safest and best experience for patients and their families by providing reliable care
• Service and Innovation:to develop our service portfolio for patients by developing innovative models of care
• Value:to maintain financial viability, enhance service delivery and develop new models of care to improve the health of our patients and safely reduce costs
• Workforce:to be the best NHS Employer by 2019 by attracting and retaining the best staff to deliver excellent patient care
• Stakeholders:to develop productive relationships with key stakeholders in order to enhance our profile and reputation.

Our Mission

“Excellent, Compassionate and Safe care for every patient, every day”

Job overview

The Pharmacy department provides pharmaceutical care to a range of specialties, including Cardiology, Chest Medicine, Cardiac and Thoracic surgery, together with a 45 bedded critical care area. In addition, a clinical pharmacy service is provided to Willowbrook Hospice. The pharmacy department houses an automated dispenser and a small shop for OTC sales.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at LHCH for 2 full time Assistant Technical Officer’s (ATO) – to work in our busy, friendly pharmacy department.

Job Summary

To co-operate in providing a comprehensive and cost-effective pharmaceutical service, ensuring a high-quality service based on teamwork, which recognises the importance of patient-focused care and courtesy with the emphasis on the receipt, storage, distribution and stock control of medicines.

Main duties of the job

• Ward top ups of all stock items
• Fulfilment of ward ad hoc stock requests
• Receipt and booking in of wholesaler deliveries
• Maintaining accurate stock levels within the pharmacy stores area
• Delivery of medication (including controlled drugs) to the appropriate ward
• Communication with pharmacists, technicians and the wider hospital team

Working for our organisation

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision ‘to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation’.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To collect and deliver ward drug bags at the designated times.

2. To collect ward/department drug boxes in accordance with the pharmacy topping up system, and then deliver these boxes back when full, including bulky intravenous fluids and dietetic products.

3. To book out, through the pharmacy computer system, all stock and temporary stock items to wards / departments, including IVs and Sip Feeds.

4. To receive all pharmacy orders into the department and ensure the return of empty containers and pallets to suppliers via delivery drivers.

5. To match orders with the correct order sheet, checking product, pack size, price and quantity and recording batch numbers and expiry dates.

6. To enter the appropriate records of the delivery into the computer system and ensure that the goods are stored correctly, including appropriate loading of the automated dispenser following departmental procedures.

7. To scan all orders into the pharmacy computer system to comply with the Falsified Medicines Directive regulations.

8. To deliver Controlled Drugs to wards/departments, checking the items before leaving the department and obtaining a signature from the nursing staff on arrival at the ward / department.

9. To top-up stock items on wards and departments, by carrying out the process of monitoring, ordering, issuing, distributing and controlling stock on these wards and departments in accordance with the standard operating procedures. This also includes travelling to offsite locations for whom we provide this service

10. To print ward stock lists when required.

11. To use and maintain the pharmacy electric truck, within limitations, reporting any defects as soon as possible to the Senior ATO to enable swift repairs.

12. To maintain strict stock control within the Pharmacy stores area, performing daily stock checks and monthly expiry checks in accordance with departmental stock control procedures.

13. To file requisitions in the appropriate place.

14. To handle the return of items brought back to the department appropriately according to departmental procedures.

15. To track and log fridge temperatures within the department to ensure correct storage of certain pharmaceuticals.

16. To complete documentation and ensure sharp bins are accurately labelled and collected according to Trust procedures.

17. To ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with the safe systems of work in the department, and the regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH are complied with.

18. To participate in individual personal assessment and development, including the use of computer technology as required by ATO duties.

19. To participate in bank holiday and weekend working as required.

20. To participate and contribute to pharmacy meetings and support the development of the pharmacy business plan.

Communication

1. To communicate with suppliers regarding missing goods, incorrect deliveries, price discrepancies, items that are to-follow or out of stock and completing the appropriate documentation and reporting any errors to the Senior Technician over Procurement.

2. To communicate with nursing staff and other health professionals within the training and experience of an ATO, referring to your Senior ATO, Technician, Senior Technician or Pharmacist when necessary, including alterations to ward stock lists.

Training

1. To participate in the training of new ATO’s, pharmacy technicians or students as required.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

CONFIDENTIALITY

All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to Information Governance, Confidentiality and Information Security.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner.

The postholder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health & Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.

SAFEGUARDING

All staff are required to be familiar with the arrangements for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and support the organisation in promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff working directly with children, young people and vulnerable adults will have a responsibility to ensure safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of their duties.

Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff who come into contact in the course of their duties, with parents, carers or other significant adults or children, young people and vulnerable adults should always be mindful of safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of these individuals.

INFECTION CONTROL

In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, it is the responsibility of every member of staff to participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. In order to maintain high standards of infection and prevention control all staff are expected to comply with the relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines and report any concerns to their manager or to the infection prevention team.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper “Choosing Health – Making Healthy Choices Easier”.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities. All employees are expected to observe this policy in relation to the public and fellow employees.

All staff are expected to adhere to, and act in accordance with, the values & behaviours of the Trust.

This document is intended to be used as a guide to the general scope of duties involved in this post. It is not exhaustive and should not therefore be used as a rigid specification. It will be kept under review and amended as required in consultation with the postholder.

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of need for accuracy and attention to detail
• Previous experience working in pharmacy

Skills and Abilities

• Good organisation skills
• Team orientated
• Adaptable to different environments and situations

Behaviours and Values

• Giving or ready to give help
• Ability to learn from mistakes
• Self motivated

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Therefore, interested applicants are advised to apply as early as possible.

Please review the job description and person specification carefully before applying to ensure that you meet the essential requirements for the post.

All applicants will be contacted and informed by email whether they were successfully shortlisted for interview.

As part of you pre-employment checks we will be required to obtain satisfactory references. We require at least one written reference from your current or most recent employer. We are only able to accept references from a professional work email address.

Employers are expected to implement the Care Certificate for all applicable new starters from April 2015. The Care Certificate aims to equip health and social care support workers with the knowledge and skills which they need to provide safe, compassionate care. We expect all new starters in clinical, patient facing posts (bands 1-4) to complete all 15 standards of the Care Certificate, within their first 6 months with the Trust.

Flexible Working applications will be considered in line the Trusts flexible working policies.

The Trust is a no-smoking site.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications and so urge you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note UKVI guidelines prohibits sponsorship for all Band 2 and 3 posts. Guidelines state that many other posts are also not eligible for sponsorship. Please use UKVI guidance on Skilled Worker Visas to determine whether you would be eligible for sponsorship if you were to gain a conditional offer for this role.

If you are a Skilled Worker/ Health and Care visa applicant and you are coming to work in an occupation defined by the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, you will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, this is also applicable for your adult dependants.

Our statement on modern slavery

We have zero tolerance of slavery and human trafficking and are committed to maintaining and improving systems, processes and policies to avoid complicity in human rights violation and to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain.

The Trust policies, procedures, governance and legal arrangements are robust, ensuring that proper checks and due diligence are applied in employment procedures to ensure compliance with this legislation. We also conform to the NHS employment check standards within our workforce recruitment and selection practices. This strategic approach incorporates analysis of the Trust’s supply chains and its partners to assess risk exposure and management on modern slavery.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Michelle Jervis Job title Chief Pharmacy Technician Email address Michelle.jervis@lhch.nhs.uk Telephone number 01516001031 Additional information

John Walmsley

Senior Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

John.Walmsley@lhch.nhs.uk

0151 600 1814

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