County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Lead Technician Medicines Optimisation
The closing date is 12 August 2025
Support and manage the pharmacy technician team in thedelivery of patient facing clinical pharmacy services across the Trust. Thiswill include medicines reconciliation, the promotion of safe and cost effectivedrug use, appropriate medicines storage and security and providing a highquality service.
Support and manage the ward based pharmacy assistants in thedelivery of medicine optimisation in wards and departments by delivering the promotionof safe and cost effective drug use, appropriate medicine storage and providinga high quality service.
Support the development and implementation of policies,procedures and guidance for medicines optimisation by pharmacy technicians andto ensure a high quality, patient-focused ward-based medicines optimisationservice is provided and to monitor compliance. This includes undertakingaudits, producing reports and implementing any changes that are necessary.
Actively provide professional technical supportto pharmacists in wards and departments in order to support the patient facingmedicines optimisation service. Work with the Chief Pharmacy Technician todevelop and implement policies, procedures and guidance for medicines optimisation
Main duties of the job
Manage the medicines optimisation technical service toensure appropriate service development and service delivery.
Provide line management responsibilities to the pharmacystaff involved in medicines optimisation services across the Trust.
Provide education and training support and coordination toensure medicines optimisation pharmacy technicians receive appropriatedevelopment opportunities to drive the development of the service.
Participate in the provision of the medicines optimisationservice to a specified group of patients as appropriate and when required.
Participate in the provision of the medicines managementservice as appropriate and when required.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
Service Development & Delivery
The post holder will:
Work withthe care group lead pharmacists, lead pharmacy technicians across site(Medicines Management, Medicines Safety and Education & Training) to supportthe development of medicines optimisation services across the Trust including:
- facilitatingthe provision of medicines optimisation services at ward and department levelas necessary
- developingand implementing policies, procedures and guidance for medicines optimisationpharmacy technicians to support best practice in medicines optimisation at wardlevel
- developing,reviewing and maintaining ward-based training accreditation programmes forpharmacy technicians working within ward-based medicines optimisation services
- providingsupervision for ward based pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians workingin wards and departments
- monitoringand evaluating the practice and competency of pharmacy technicians working inwards and departments
- performingaudits of workload as necessary to streamline quality of service on a regularbasis.
Workingwith the Medication Safety Team, identify and highlight areas whereinterventions concerning safe and secure handling of medicines are required withinthe department or at ward level if appropriate, make relevant recommendationsand support actions by wards and departments.
Identifyand highlight areas where interventions concerning controlled drugs arerequired on wards, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards.
Organiseprojects and training in relation to ward-based optimisation as required.
Providethe Care Group Lead Pharmacists with details of output, performance andactivity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Deputy ChiefPharmacist.
Liaise andwork closely with the Chief Pharmacy Technician, Care Group Lead Pharmacistsand Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training).
The post holder will:
Participatein the front-line provision of clinical services as appropriate and whenrequired.
Activelyprovide technical support to pharmacists on wards in order to support thepharmacy ward-based medicines optimisation service. This includes undertakingand supporting the following activities in accordance with departmentalprocedures:
- Assessmentof Patients Own Drugs
- Orderingof medicines (that are clinically screened by a pharmacist)
- Supportingimplementation of self-administration by patients and/or carers where possible
- Dispensingof discharge prescriptions to facilitate timely discharges
Participatein the efficient management and review of ward stocks.
Communicatewith community pharmacies, where necessary, as part of the discharge processes.
Promotecost-effective and appropriate use of medicines in the best interest of thepatient.
At timesof significant bed pressures, act as a discharge co-ordinator for thedepartment and implement efficient systems for discharge when necessary.
Staff Management
The post holder will:
Linemanage pharmacy staff across the Trust where needed and take responsibility(directly for senior staff and delegated to senior staff for more junior staff)forl the following, according to Trust procedures:
- Appraisalsand objective setting
- Sicknessabsence
- Disciplinaryand grievance matters
- Recruitmentand selection
- Departmentalworkload allocations
Inconjunction with other lead pharmacy technicians, be responsible for theauthorisation of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants,ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.
Workalongside the Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to identify thetraining and development needs of all pharmacy staff involved in the medicinesoptimisation service.
Facilitatethe training and development of medicines optimisation pharmacy staff on wardsin line with service needs and personal development plans.
Work withthe Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to support the leadpharmacist with responsibility for education & training in co-ordinatingand delivering education and training to other healthcare staff as required.
Co-ordinateand provide advice on continuing professional development (CPD) for alltechnical staff within Pharmacy.
Education & Training
The post holder will:
Support,co-ordinate and deliver training to the pharmacy team on issues associated withmedicines optimisation & in-house service developments as necessary.
Supportthe provision of training regarding ward-based pharmacy services to nursing andmedical staff, ranging from one to one communications to more formalpresentations in order to promote medicines optimisation services and practice.
Evaluateand develop own management and professional knowledge competencies byattendance at in-house training programmes, external training programmes,self-education and practice research.
Supportthe Chief Pharmacy Technician to co-ordinate and deliver pharmacy technicianand pharmacy assistant training across the department to ensure studentsreceive the vocational training required. This will be by providing appropriatesupport and delivery of underpinning knowledge sessions to complete thequalification within the timescale.
Research & Development
The post holder will:
Supportthe publication of practice research in medicines optimisation.
Supportthe integration of research evidence into practice.
Identifygaps in evidence base and, working with the Lead Pharmacist with responsibilityfor Practice Research, develop potential plans to research specific areas ofpractice.
Governance, Information & Data Management
The post holder will:
Support thecollation of quantitative and qualitative performance measures, co-ordinatetheir use and be involved in disseminating and acting on the informationgathered, as relevant for the medicines optimisation service.
Collateand review audit data relating to outcome measures associated with medicinesoptimisation services and utilise available information to influence anddevelop services in the Trust.
Supportthe investigation of medication related incidents and the formulation anddelivery of actions plans across the Trust to address problems identified whereappropriate.
Ensurethat the principles of safe and secure handling of medicines are adopted and totake part in quality assurance systems for pharmacy services.
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Knowledge of change/project management
* Knowledge of a relevant Pharmacy computer system.
* Advanced skills in Microsoft Office especially spreadsheets.
* Good analytical skills
* Good organisational skills, including planning and prioritising.
* Ability to manipulate, present and explain data to varying levels of staff
* Evidence of self-development
Statutory Registration
* Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Experience
* Extensive experience as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in an acute hospital setting
* Extensive experience of working in a ward environment and relevant medicines management experience.
* Experience of a specialist pharmacy technician role or experience of supervising a relevant technical area
* Experience of training staff.
* Experience of pharmacy/prescribing computer systems
* Experience of pharmacy practice research
* Experience of working as a qualified senior Pharmacy Technician in a primary care or community pharmacy setting
* Experience of HR practices
Special Requirements
* Able to build good relationships with colleagues
* Ability to communicate complex information where there may barriers to understanding and where information may be challenged or where opinions may differ
* Team player who delegates appropriately
* A problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
* Desire to develop clinical skills
* Able to prioritise own workload
* Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Qualifications
* Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
* Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
* Obtained an appropriate higher qualification to at least degree level or willing to commence within 12 months
* Commitment to CPD and personal development
* Leadership/supervisory experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£38,682 to £46,580 a yearper annum, pro rata
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