Lead Pharmacy Technician (Homecare and Prior Approvals)
The closing date is 19 May 2026.
Are you an experienced AfC Band 6 medicines optimisation technician looking for an opportunity to further develop your leadership skills?
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic, highly- motivated and forward thinking medicines optimisation technician to join our Pharmacy Medicines Effectiveness as an AfC Band 7 Lead Pharmacy Technician (Homecare & Prior Approvals).
In this role, you will lead on all aspects of pharmacy homecare and prior approvals and, working collaboratively with clinicians & pharmacy colleagues, will play a pivotal role in adoption of new NICE-approved medicines, biosimilar switching and realisation of other medicines savings.
You will be joining a wider Pharmacy team, which is forward thinking, continuously strives to improve our ways of working, puts patients at the centre of our care and aims to enhance every patient's experience.
Main duties of the job
To provide senior leadership, professional expertise and manage the pharmacy homecare team, leading, developing, delivering and monitoring a safe, comprehensive and high-quality, patient‑centred core pharmacy service to Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWH).
To maintain the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) 'professional standards for homecare services', maximise governance and ensure patient safety, reporting incidents via the Trust incident reporting system and submitting formal complaints to homecare providers as required.
To ensure homecare provider contracts are appropriate for the Trust and patients, in terms of service and financially, in collaboration with the Peninsula Purchasing and Supply Alliance (PPSA) and other SW trusts.
To work collaboratively with clinical specialties, specialist pharmacists and Pharmacy Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure seamless adoption of new NICE approved medicines, prompt switching to best value biosimilar medicines and early implementation of other medicines savings initiatives.
To contribute to our Medicines Optimisation Service both at ward level and in our Dispensary, including participation in our evening, weekend and bank holiday service as per rota.
About us
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17,600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.
We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.
Job responsibilities
1. To provide leadership and expertise in the day-to‑day provision of the GWH homecare clinical service engaging with clinicians, specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals.
2. To ensure prescriptions are received by the pharmacy homecare team, clinically screened (if applicable), checked and sent to the homecare providers, allowing sufficient time for the homecare provider to process and agree a delivery with the patient.
3. To develop the homecare service, engaging with the clinical specialties, specialist clinical pharmacists and the Pharmacy Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure seamless adoption of new NICE approved medicines suitable for supply via the homecare service.
4. To support the Trusts commitment to the timely use of best value medicines, engaging with the clinical specialties, specialist clinical pharmacists and the Pharmacy Medicines Effectiveness team to facilitate & effect prompt switching to biosimilar alternatives as these become available.
5. To support the Trusts commitment to the timely use of best value medicines, engaging with the clinical specialties, specialist clinical pharmacists and the Pharmacy Medicines Effectiveness team to advise of, facilitate & effect switches as a result of other medicines savings initiatives as they occur.
6. To ensure there is a comprehensive set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to cover homecare, blueteq and clinical team processes.
7. To have an active role with the PPSA regarding low tech and high‑tech tenders, contractual agreements and adjudications; to represent the GWH clinical team and pharmacy department needs ensuring patient safety, governance and financial control. This may involve attendance of face‑to‑face meetings offsite.
Please see attached Job Description for full details.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
* NVQ / QCF Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent plus accredited underpinning knowledge (BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent)
* Current registration as Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
* NVQ assessor to A1 standard or equivalent, or able to work towards and willing to undertake training which will be completed within 12 months
* Accredited Checking Technician qualification or be eligible and willing to work towards accreditation which will be completed within 12 months
* Accredited medicines management qualification or be eligible and willing to work towards accreditation, which will be completed within 12 months.
Experience
* Good and broad understanding of current hospital pharmacy practice
* Knowledge and experience of pharmaceutical procurement and/or homecare services
* Understanding the wider implications of homecare for the trust and commissioners
* Experience of Blueteq or other Prior Approvals systems, their use and associated reporting
* Recruitment and selection experience
* Experience of dealing with external agencies and wider multidisciplinary teams
* Experience managing meetings
* Experience of organising and managing in busy and potentially stressful environments
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.
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working,Compressed hours
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