Employer Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type NHS Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £31,049 - £37,796 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 15/09/2025 23:59 Interview date 25/09/2025
NHS AfC: Band 5
After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Pharmacy Technician - Accuracy Checker to join our Pharmacy Department.
2 Full Time Permanent
It is vital that applicants are adaptable and prepared to work with us to help shape the best possible service. Your contribution through suggestions, working groups, involvement in projects and audits will be encouraged.
You will be based at Whiston or St Helens site which has 100 staff operating across both departments.
We have established automated dispensing systems within the dispensaries at both sites, and the Trust has a long-standing reputation for being a rewarding place to work.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change
Main duties of the job
* To provide a dispensing service to all patients of the Trust to include taking medication histories, counselling patients and inspection and accuracy checking of all medications belonging to and supplied to patients.
* You will be working on wards to complete medicines reconciliation, assessing patients own medicines, ensuring discharges are completed in a timely manner and counselling patients on discharge.
* You will also accuracy check prescriptions in the dispensary on a rota basis.
* To final accuracy check dispensed prescriptions, including ‘one stop dispensing’ items in accordance with departmental procedures.
* To dispense prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
* To provide a one stop dispensing service to inpatients at ward level, including taking patient medication histories, counselling patients, inspection of patient own drugs for re-use and dispensing for discharge.
* To participate in the dispensing process of all prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices and departmental procedures, including TTOs, CD, Clinical Trials, Cytotoxic Drugs and Unlicensed medicines.
* To be responsible for the stock control of dispensed medicines on wards, departments and clinics.
* To assist in the maintenance of the stock control of non-dispensed medicines on wards.
* To liaise with appropriate medical staff, clinical pharmacists, ward staff, GP’s, Primary Care Trust staff, community pharmacies and other professional bodies regarding any issues with patients’ medication.
* To order stocks and special line items to fulfil prescriptions.
* To provide individual dose dispensing and blister packing services for patients who have difficulty with normal medicines packaging.
* To assist in the preparation, assembly and final accuracy check of emergency resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
* To assist the Chief Technician in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels.
* To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7 day service.
* To participate in Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday, late night and on-call rotas as necessary in response to the changing needs of the service.
Clinical & Professional responsibilities
* To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
* To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
* To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
* To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in their role.
* To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the dispensaries in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
* To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under their control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust
Administrative responsibilities
* To assist in the receipt of prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
* To be responsible for making appropriate records in the Controlled Drug Register.
* To be responsible for organising own daily workload within allocated areas.
* To carry out prescription charge transactions accurately, including ‘Chip and pin,’ handling cash, cheques and be able to ‘cash-up’ in the dispensaries as necessary, according to departmental procedures.
* To train and counsel patients on their suitability for the use of compliance aids (e.g. blister packs, inhalers/spacers, containers and other formulations such as liquids) and assess their understanding.
* To extemporaneously dispense medicines using specific equipment and ensuring accurate weighing and measuring.
* To assist other members of staff in the performance of their duties.
* To co-operate with the provision of staffing within the Pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to 2 Trust sites (e.g. Whiston, St Helens) when the need arises.
* To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team.
* To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use (e.g. labeling, ordering and stock control).
Teaching & Training responsibilities
* To assist in the training and development of all grades of staff in the systems used including discharge planning and the efficient operation of dispensing for discharge.
* To assist in the training and support of ATOs and pre-registration pharmacy graduates in dispensing training manual requirements and provide witness statements for NVQ students.
* To assist in the training and development of other members of staff in patient services and to ensure complete training records are maintained.
Financial responsibility
* To co-operate in the provision of an efficient and cost effective service.
Research & Audit
* To carry out and assist in audit research projects to improve and develop the service provision.
Person specification
Qualifications
* BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practices for Pharmacy Technicians or GPhC recognised equivalent
* BTEC professional diploma in dispensing checking or GPhC recognised equivalent which must meet the APTUK standard for accuracy checking (1000 item log with checking test). The APTUK standard must be met within 3 months of starting role.
* Registered as a practising Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC
Knowledge & Experience
* Significant post-qualification experience working in a pharmaceutical environment
* Experience of dispensing for discharge and medicines management
* Experience in using the JAC pharmacy computer system
* Knowledge of LEAN principles
Skills
* Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
* Good verbal communication skills both face to face and using telephones
* Ability to talk to patients, staff and other senior health care professionals
* Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and able to work under pressure
* Ability to work accurately and efficiently with good attention to detail
* Well organised with good time management skills
Other
* Ability to participate in the department evening and weekend rota for 7 day working.
* Supportive of colleagues of all grades
Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.
Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact Recruitment@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk
We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.
The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.
eVisa Update
For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK. Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account. Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to understand how to generate an eVisa share code.
* Understand how to generate an eVisa share code
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
Flexible Working
We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that all employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, there is no limit on the number of requests they can make, and employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.
At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working and encourage discussion at interview stage.
Working for Team MWL
Staff recognition is important; we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services.
The Trust is non-smoking across all sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.
You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
The Trust will not accept applications which are AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.
Additional Information
Before applying, review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours: We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE. An applicant guide is available in the supporting documents.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Phillip Halfpenny
Job title Senior Pharmacy Technician-Clinical Services/EPMA
Email address phillip.halfpenny@sthk.nhs.uk
Telephone number 0151 290 4287
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