Job overview
We are looking for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join our forward‑thinking department. The role involves working within our Emergency Department supporting the emergency department pharmacist. The Pharmacy Technician plays a key role in medicines management duties, ensuring patients receive a high level of care, that critical medications are prescribed and supplies are available to avoid missed doses. The objective is to maintain a safe patient stay in the Emergency Department through to transfer to one of the main wards.
The right candidate will be a team player with clinical experience, strong communication skills, and a desire to use knowledge and skills to improve patient care and influence healthcare professionals in the best use of medicines. Candidates should demonstrate consistent leadership, the ability to train, and meet the changing needs of our busy department. Training programmes are available to enhance skills and widen knowledge.
Ability to participate in late‑night, bank holiday and weekend rotas is essential.
Main duties of the job
Pharmacy Technicians ensure patients have sufficient supplies of medicines, flag critical medicines, arrange necessary supplies, make interventions to avoid missed and delayed doses, reconcile inpatient charts against GP records, and support the discharge process. They are responsible for ward‑based medicines management duties, including audit, controlled drug management, and compliance with Trust policies. Experience in a clinical setting is desirable. Technicians at this grade provide oversight and leadership of the dispensary during designated sessions and oversee workload for groups of wards.
Working for our organisation
East Lancashire Hospitals has a history of innovation and is an exciting place to work. We recently launched a full Electronic Patient Record system incorporating electronic prescribing and medicines reconciliation activities. The pharmacy teams utilise ELHT’s unique e‑patient tracking system for medicines reconciliation and e‑pharmaceutical care planning.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Support the Assistant Directors of Pharmacy in providing a high quality, cost‑effective, patient‑centred pharmacy service to the Trust
* Maintain and develop the highest standards of patient‑focused care in the provision of technical services
* Support the governance and medicines risk management agenda locally
* Support the development of the technician and assistant teams to complement and facilitate multidisciplinary working
* Act as a role model in the field of clinical technician pharmacy practice and provide a consistently high level of pharmaceutical service in line with corporate objectives and government initiatives
* Support the agreed policies and procedures for safe medicines use and promote high quality medicine use, effective risk management, clinical governance and adherence to Trust policies and guidelines concerning medicines use
* Contribute to the development of the service
* Support the professional development of technicians and assistants
Person specification
Qualification
* NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification – approved for registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Member GPhC
* BTec Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification or equivalent
* A1 NVQ Assessor Qualification or equivalent
Experience
* Experience in one or more relevant areas, including clinical
* Experience supervising pharmacy services in primary or secondary care
* Experience working within GMP/GDP/GCP guidelines
* Ability to identify, prioritise and evaluate work, meeting deadlines
* Ability to reflect on own practice and learn from experience
Qualities
* Balancing strong leadership and demonstrating flexibility within a team environment
* Demonstrating a systematic approach and working well under pressure
* Flexibility in working hours due to service demands
* Evidence of CPD
* Experience in the use of IT systems / keyboard skills
Skills
* Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance (Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, MHRA Alerts)
* Ability to communicate technical, clinical, or supervisory information
* Ability to prioritise demands on service and plan workload for self and others
* Skills in training and development of staff
* Excellent verbal and written communication
Equal opportunities
The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Appointments will be made on merit. Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if they indicate a desire to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
Reasonable adjustment
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please inform the recruitment services team as soon as possible. Phone: 01254 732075 or email: admin.recruitment@elht.nhs.uk.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme
If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure is £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure is £27.38. This cost does not apply to a volunteer post. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for a DBS check onto candidates who are successfully appointed. Candidates may choose to pay over 1‑3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. For BANK workers, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks.
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