Pharmacy Technician Band 4 to 5 Progression Post
Closing date: 23 June 2026
Pharmacy Technician (Rotational) – Band 4 to 5 Progression Post – 37.5 hours – Permanent
We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated, registered Pharmacy Technician with demonstrable post‑qualification experience, who wants to make a real difference to patient care, to join our successful team and contribute towards developing our services and continuing to extend the technician role.
Applicants should hold a Level 3 BTEC / NVQ Pharmacy Services certificate or equivalent and be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician or equivalent.
Experience of working within a hospital pharmacy department as a qualified technician is desirable but not essential.
The initial banding of the postholder will depend on past experience and/or completion of a conversion competency document.
Duties will include:
* Dispensing and accuracy checking for in‑patients, out‑patients and discharge.
* Patient counselling.
* Medicines optimisation at ward level including medicines reconciliation; assessing patients' own medicines at the bedside and processing patient discharge prescriptions.
* Aseptic dispensing including CIVAS, adult and neonatal TPN.
The post will require participation in rotas that extend into early evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Those seeking part‑time employment during the daytime, evening and/or weekend will be considered.
So soon to register technicians can apply.
Main duties and responsibilities
* To co‑operate with all pharmaceutical staff in providing and developing the technical aspects of the pharmaceutical service including a comprehensive dispensing and medicines distribution service to out‑patients and in‑patients on all wards and departments throughout the Trust.
* To act as Dispensary Team Leader when required.
* To train and mentor new and existing staff undertaking in‑house or external training/qualifications.
* To supervise pre‑registration trainee pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants on a day‑to‑day basis.
* Duties are carried out under the control or direct supervision of a pharmacist or where appropriate Principal or Chief Technician.
Benefits
Benefits include flexible working, 27‑33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.
Job responsibilities
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
* To act as Dispensary Team Leader when required as part of progression or once Band 5.
* To train/mentor new and existing staff undertaking in‑house/external training/qualifications e.g. ACT mentorship, Ward or Dispensary competency training once Band 5.
* To dispense and accuracy check prescriptions for in‑patients, outpatients, patients being discharged from hospital; day case patients and mental health leave patients in accordance with standard labelling; relevant dispensary and computer procedures and safe systems of work practice. (Accuracy checking once Band 5)
* To provide verbal and written information to outpatients to enable the patient to adhere to the prescribed therapy and gain maximum benefit from their medicines.
* To provide verbal and written information to selected in‑patients without the direct supervision of a pharmacist to enable the patient to adhere to the prescribed therapy and gain maximum benefit from their medicines.
* To receive telephone and face‑to‑face queries from health professionals and patients either in the pharmacy or on the ward, assess the nature of the query, where appropriate provide technical information on the supply or usage of medicines, and refer as necessary to the appropriate member of staff.
* To receive and assess prescriptions/orders from patients and/or hospital staff, against agreed departmental and Trust protocols, documenting receipt onto the manual or computer recording system and transferring to the appropriate working area to ensure efficient workflow through the department.
* To ensure that relevant details recorded on prescriptions comply with all legal requirements and liaise with medical and nursing staff as necessary.
* To evaluate prescriptions to determine if patients are liable to pay prescription charges, collect charges or check proof of payment or issue promise to pay forms as appropriate. To ensure that documentation is completed for patients that are exempt from payment or are unable to pay.
* To issue pharmaceutical products being collected by hospital staff, patients, representatives or carers.
* To maintain and replenish stocks of medicines in ward out‑of‑hours/discharge cupboards via the retrospective prescription system by checking and reconciling stock to be issued against prescriptions received.
* To dispense Clozapine. Check patients blood results from the monitoring service via the internet. Provide accurate record‑keeping of patients blood results, safety category, doses prescribed and quantities dispensed in line with procedures.
* To dispense Clinical Trial medicines in accordance with the dispensing protocol, ICH/GCP guidelines and European Directive under the direction of a senior colleague.
* To check and replenish stocks in the Emergency Pharmacy Room on a daily basis. Expiry dates to be checked on a monthly basis and stock rotated to other areas in the pharmacy or hospital to ensure that time‑expiring stock is used first thus minimising financial loss through unnecessary wastage.
* To prepare and package extemporaneously or in advance of requirements medicines for internal and external use using suitable techniques. Products are prepared from materials / ingredients in accordance with good manufacturing practice and with COSHH regulations, including the completion of all relevant documentation. This may require use of safe handling equipment including a Fume Filtration Cabinet where appropriate.
* To use the Pharmacy Computer System to label products in accordance with procedures.
* To maintain, replenish and check the accuracy of assembly of the resuscitation boxes and emergency trays in accordance with local procedures.
c. Ward Medicines Distribution and Pharmacy Top‑Up and Clinical/Technical Duties
* To participate in the maintenance of a cost‑effective system of medicine distribution to all wards, departments and community clinics including.
* To participate in ward based stock audits under the direction of senior management.
* Support clinical pharmacists and other ward based pharmacy staff in the provision of complete pharmaceutical care to patients at ward level.
* Accurately assess the safety and suitability of patients' own drugs (PODs) to ensure correct use in hospital in accordance with the relevant procedures.
* Conduct a thorough technical medication review of the patients medication chart, order and supply medicines to patients at ward level via a one‑stop drug (OSD) system using the correct documentation. Investigate any missed, delayed, or omitted medicines in accordance with relevant procedures.
* Obtain clinical/transcriptions checks from the ward pharmacist.
* Ensure that POD supplies are maintained via the one‑stop dispensing system in accordance with the relevant procedures.
* Be responsible for the transfer of PODs for patients who may have already transferred to another ward without their medicines.
* In accordance with the relevant procedure during discharge planning, accurately check POD/OSDs to ensure the directions on the drug correspond to the patients discharge prescription.
* Accurately carry out dispensing of all prescriptions in accordance with agreed safe systems of work within the pharmacy department and at ward level, ensuring that there are no delays to a patient receiving their medication.
* Work independently by managing own time and workload and prioritising urgent discharge prescriptions, non‑stock items and re‑supplies of medication.
* Provides a pharmaceutical medicines management service to patients.
d. Aseptic Dispensing Service
* To assemble materials, prepare and dispense products requiring the use of appropriate aseptic procedures, to Good Manufacturing Practice standard, without the direct supervision of a pharmacist, including parenteral nutrition for adults and neonates; cytotoxic reconstitution and intravenous admixtures. Competence will be required in the use of a Vertical Laminar Air Flow Cabinet and/or Flexible Film Isolator cabinet. The competence to undertake aseptic dispensing will be regularly reassessed. With appropriate training to act as Aseptics Team Leader.
e. Stock Control
* To ensure that dispensary stock levels are maintained and stocks are replenished from the pharmacy store.
* Assess pharmaceutical products returned from clinical areas and return to stock items which are fit for reuse or dispose of items unfit for use in accordance with COSHH regulations and Trust procedures. Enter details of returned items on pharmacy computer system.
* Carry out stock checks within the department in accordance with local procedures to ensure computer records accurately reflect stock holding.
* Monitor cold storage equipment to ensure temperatures are within the defined limits and report any variation to a supervisor.
* Identify and report stock shortages to procurement colleagues for ordering to ensure that pharmaceutical products are available for patients when required.
* Identify and report stock discrepancies to a supervisor to ensure that pharmaceutical products are available for patients when required.
* Maintain storage areas in an organized, safe and tidy condition in accordance with Health and Safety regulations.
* Participate in a system for checking expiry dates of stock to ensure that stock is rotated so that shorter dated stock is used first and avoid unnecessary wastage. Report out of date stocks to a supervisor and dispose of stock where appropriate recording the issue on the pharmacy computer.
e. General Duties
* Works within a pre‑determined rota providing day‑to‑day pharmaceutical services to the hospital and other health care premises.
* To participate in the delivery of pharmacy objectives set by the Trust, National Patient Safety Agency; Department of Health and others to meet clinical governance targets; develop patient record; improve clinical outcomes; and ensure compliance with all standards expected for hospital pharmacy services and the interface between primary and secondary care.
* Contributes and inputs into review meetings regarding changes required to standard operating procedures.
* To be competent in the operation of all equipment, particularly the dispensary computer system in carrying out all the above duties. Accurately records all issues and receipts through the Pharmacy Computer System to ensure that all transactions are recorded and the stock management system works efficiently. Assists in the maintenance of all relevant documentation and work analysis records.
* Work is carried out at all times in accordance with current legal requirements; local and national policies, departmental standard operating procedures and safe practices.
* Projects a professional attitude within and outside the department, and to the general public.
* To participate in Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday and late night duties as is considered appropriate by the Chief Pharmacist or other senior manager in line with current local policy. This will include duties on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays on a rota basis.
* Undertakes manual handling up to maximum of 15 kg per item regularly each day.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* BTEC National Certificate in Pharmacy services and NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy services or the recognised equivalent Certificate Pharmacy Technician qualification.
* Good general education, preferably Mathematics, English and 2 other subjects at GCSE level grade C or above.
* Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council.
* BTEC Professional Development Certificate in Technician Dispensing Accuracy Checking.
Experience
* Recent experience of working in a busy hospital pharmacy.
* Experience of ward based medicines management processes, including assessment of patients own medicines.
* Experience of undertaking aseptic dispensing.
Skill and Knowledge
* Good working knowledge of pharmaceutical practice.
* Good therapeutics knowledge of frequently used medicines.
* Can communicate effectively verbally and in writing with patients and service users, particularly by telephone.
* Able to prioritise own workload within the scope of organised rotas and use initiative.
* Able to work unsupervised.
* Able to work as part of a large team.
Other Factors
* Respect for working colleagues, other disciplines and the public.
* Able to meet the demands of a busy department and specifically to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
* Able to accept guidance, direction and constructive criticism.
* Practical, enthusiastic and self‑motivated.
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.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Depending on experience pro rata per annum.
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