Principal Pharmacy Technician - Medicines Management Band 6
Band 6
As an NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake, as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all, we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity, and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this, and we welcome applicants who share our values.
Job overview
The Trust’s mission is ‘to put the patient first and deliver great care to every patient, every day’. Our priorities include creating a “one team, one trust” culture and focusing on five key objectives to ensure high-quality, compassionate care:
1. Delivering safe and effective care across our sites
2. Creating a positive experience that meets the expectations of patients, families, and carers
3. Providing responsive care with the right treatment, at the right place and time
4. Being financially sustainable
5. Working in partnership with patients, commissioners, other health and care providers, local authorities, the voluntary sector, NHS TDA, NHS England, and Monitor
Main duties of the job
Main duties and responsibilities include:
1. Leading and working alongside the clinical pharmacy technical team to:
2. a. Optimize medicine management by taking drug histories, assessing patients’ own drugs at admission, and promoting one-stop dispensing
3. b. Resolve or appropriately refer interventions back to the clinical pharmacist or liaise with other MDT members within scope
4. c. Record medication history, patient’s own supply, and relevant information on the electronic prescription chart
5. d. Undertake Level 2 medicines reconciliation within competency and policy
6. e. Document interventions and discrepancies in electronic patient records
7. f. Promote compliance with the formulary and prescribing policies
8. g. Communicate effectively with patients regarding medicines supply and adherence issues
Working for our organisation
* We value respect, kindness, professionalism, positivity, and teamwork, which help us provide excellent patient care and make ESTH a great workplace.
* Our mission: 'To put the patient first by delivering great care to every patient, every day.'
* Join us during an exciting future for our hospitals, known for high-quality, compassionate care.
* Enjoy excellent staff benefits, training schemes, and the chance to advance your career while transforming patient lives.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will:
* Follow Trust and departmental policies and standards of practice
* Cover other sites as needed
* Perform additional duties consistent with the role
* Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
* Treat patients and colleagues with dignity and courtesy
* Ensure medicines are secure and used appropriately
* Be responsible for health, safety, and welfare, including COSHH compliance
* Promote equality and diversity in all activities
* Attend training and participate in CPD and appraisal processes
* Comply with data protection and no smoking policies
* Adhere to Duty of Candour principles
Person specification
Qualifications / Education
* Masters in Pharmacy (MPharm), with pre-registration training
* GPhC registration and membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
* Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent; management qualification is desirable
Experience
* Hospital pharmacy experience, including service management and development
* Experience with clinical trials, risk assessment, and clinical governance
* Knowledge of pharmacy systems and resource management
* Experience with KPIs, complaint handling, staff recruitment, and retention
Skills
* Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills
* Ability to work under pressure, motivate others, and lead teams
* Problem-solving, negotiation, and influencing skills
* Computer literacy and knowledge of NHS issues
* Ability to implement change and conduct audits
Other
* High standards of professionalism, reliability, and approachability
* Flexibility, enthusiasm, and a commitment to CPD
* Willingness to work weekends, late shifts, and bank holidays; live within reasonable distance for on-call duties
Additional information
We offer excellent staff benefits, including a high-cost area supplement, and are located conveniently for city or countryside living. The position may close earlier if sufficient applications are received. All applicants are contacted via email; please check your account regularly. If you do not hear within four weeks, consider your application unsuccessful.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming applications from minority groups, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those with disabilities. We support career development and encourage internal applicants to seek training opportunities.
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