Overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a registered or soon-to-be registered Pharmacy Technician to join the department on a full-time basis, based at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. You will support a number of teams within Pharmacy, including the dispensary and medicines management ward technicians.
This developmental role starts as a Band 4 Technician and includes a guided programme to complete competencies over 12 months to move to Band 5. Training will cover Final Accuracy checking, Medicines Management skills, and other leadership and development competencies. Full support and training will be provided to progress within the desired time frame. The team is experienced and supportive, with a focus on helping you develop to your full potential.
Responsibilities (Band 4 and Band 5)
* Dispenser and checker duties in the dispensary, with checking qualification requirements and potential additional training/competencies as needed to meet standards.
* Rotations across dispensary, controlled drug dispensing, ward drug safety checks, aseptics, and supporting the homecare technician in homecare prescription management (Band 4).
* Ward-based duties including medicines reconciliation, patient counselling, and TTO teach back (Band 5 in addition to Band 4 duties); ward duties cover LHCH and SLA sites.
* Participate in practice research and clinical audit projects; out-of-hours, bank holidays and weekend provision of pharmaceutical service.
* Manage ordering, dispensing, issuing, distribution and stock control of medicines on designated wards/departments; ensure procedures align with SOPs and Medicines Act 1968.
* Communicate with nursing staff, other health professionals, and patients; provide advice on medications and confidentiality at all times.
* Assist with drug information queries, check for prescribing errors within training limits, and escalate to supervising pharmacist as needed.
* Participate in issuing, receipt and stock control of Controlled Drugs per procedures and Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; manage unlicensed drugs with liaison to Regional Quality Control when necessary.
* Contribute to emergency preparedness (emergency cupboard/arrest boxes) and drug alerts (MHRA/National CAS).
* Process registrations, prescriptions, orders and invoices for homecare services; maintain prescription databases and ensure timely patient access to medicines.
* Support colleagues to produce legal and timely prescriptions for homecare medicines.
Band 5 Specific Duties
* Ward-based pharmaceutical technician service to designated wards, including validation of patients’ own drugs, dispensing systems, ward stock management, and medicines reconciliation.
* Provide advice on safe administration and monitoring of Amiodarone/Warfarin/DOACs; perform TTO teach-back with discharged patients.
* Produce reports for pharmacy staff; deputise for Senior Technicians during absences; participate in training of junior staff and new starters; support patient counselling and device-related guidance to improve drug compliance.
Managerial/Leadership
* Coordinate junior technical staff, student technicians, and ATOs; identify and report problems in ordering processes.
* Cover for Assistant Technical Officers during absences; manage controlled stationery stock and distribution.
Qualifications & Requirements
Band 4/5 duties include dispensing and checking prescriptions depending on qualification; appropriate training and competencies are required to meet BTEC Professional Diploma in Dispensing Checking standards. The role requires a commitment to mandatory training and UK employment checks as applicable.
Working Pattern & Conditions
General pattern is 37.5 hours per week over 7 days, with usual hours 8:45am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday, including weekend and bank holidays as needed. Flexible working applications will be considered in line with Trust policies. The Trust is a no-smoking site.
Additional Information
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early; applicants are advised to apply promptly. Pre-employment checks include satisfactory references (at least one written reference from the current or most recent employer, professional work email address preferred) and compliance with care certificate/UK visa guidelines where applicable. The Care Certificate standards (15 standards) are expected to be completed within the first 6 months for applicable new starters. UKVI sponsorship guidelines apply where relevant.
For context, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is the largest single-site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, with a vision to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organization. We provide services across cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, and respiratory medicine, serving a catchment area of 2.8 million people. Our mission is "Excellent, Compassionate and Safe care for every patient, every day". Please visit our website for more information: lhch.nhs.uk
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