An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our Medicines Optimisation Team supporting inpatient services across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon, and Wiltshire, with the primary base at Chippenham Community Hospital. This key role delivers a safe, efficient, and high‑quality ward‑based pharmacy service within a community hospital setting, supporting medicines optimisation in line with national and local policies.
Responsibilities
- Support the delivery of a safe, efficient, and compliant pharmaceutical technical service, in line with legislation, local policy, and professional standards.
- Participate in ward‑based medicines management, supporting the safe and effective use of medicines under the direction of the pharmacist.
- Undertake medicines reconciliation and medication reviews in line with agreed competencies.
- Review inpatient prescription charts at ward level in preparation for clinical verification by a pharmacist.
- Ensure the timely supply of medicines, including expediting individual dispensed items to support patient care and discharge.
- Maintain accurate medicines stock control, monitor stock levels, and communicate medicines availability to relevant staff.
- Support the safe management of Controlled Drugs, including stock checks, audits, and adherence to statutory storage requirements.
- Counsel patients on the safe and effective use of medicines, including possible side effects, and support patient self‑administration where appropriate.
- Check returned medicines for re‑use where appropriate and ensure the safe disposal of unwanted medicines.
- Identify opportunities to reduce medicines waste and optimise pharmaceutical care within designated areas.
- Provide technical medicines advice and respond to routine enquiries, escalating non‑routine issues appropriately.
- Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, maintaining clear and effective communication with clinical staff and patients.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, audits, incident reporting, and service development activities.
- Maintain a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) and share learning to support service improvement.
Qualifications
- Registered Qualified Pharmacy Technician with NVQ Level 3 or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Experience working in primary care, community, or hospital pharmacy.
- Sound knowledge of pharmacy law, ethics, and current medicines legislation.
- Ability to work autonomously and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Strong attention to detail, with the ability to work accurately and identify errors.
- Well‑organised, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for daily use, with the ability to travel across BaNES, excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence liaising with patients and clinical staff.
- Good IT and computer skills.
- Effective decision‑making and prioritisation skills.
- Professional, reliable, and able to maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Commitment to continuing professional development and understanding of the evolving Pharmacy Technician role.
- Positive team player with the ability to work independently when required.
- Patient‑focused, conscientious, and enthusiastic about delivering high‑quality pharmacy services.
- Desirable: medicines management checking qualification, medicines reconciliation training, and patient counselling experience.
Benefits
Package Description As a Pharmacy Technician (Band 5) you will be part of our valued team at HCRG Care Group, receiving access to exclusive rewards and benefits including:
- £32,073 – £39,043 FTE (Band 5 AfC Salary) with NHS Pension and full Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
- Membership of My Reward Hub, giving you access to discounts on everyday purchases such as grocery shopping, cashback, and voucher offers.
- Access to your wages as you earn them to help cover life’s emergencies and avoid overdraft fees or high‑interest rates.
- Online and face‑to‑face help with your mental and physical wellbeing – from healthy recipes and activity challenges to post‑trauma support, legal, debt and life‑management help, as well as career coaching and counselling.
- Access to eLearning, bespoke career pathways and opportunities for continuing professional development through our ‘Outstanding’ learning and development team, The Learning Enterprise.
- An open, just culture encouraging idea implementation to help us deliver our purpose: changing lives through transforming health and care – backed up by at least £100,000 of ring‑fenced innovation funding each year.
- The pride of working for an organisation committed to the highest clinical and quality standards, with the majority of our rated services holding “good” or “outstanding” ratings from the Care Quality Commission.
Equal Opportunity
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from a broad, diverse range of people who want to join our team.
