Aseptic Pharmacy Technician

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Halifax; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Pharmacy Technician to deliver and develop aseptic dispensing services under supervision. You will ensure compliance with SOPs, support education, mentor staff, and contribute to budget-conscious medicine handling in a busy unit.

The role requires strong attention to detail, CPD commitment, and the ability to work under pressure within a hospital environment, including handling hazardous medicines and participating in

Qualifications

• Demonstratable experience of high level patient focused technical duties in hospital or community setting.
• Good knowledge of dispensing standards and legislation relating to hospital pharmacy.
• Meticulous attention to detail and workload prioritisation.
• Good training and supervisory skills; calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Dispenser and issue prescriptions in hospital base pharmacy.
• Query prescriptions with prescribers when needed.
• Contribute to medicines management and drug budget efficiency.
• Mentor staff through Controlled Drug training and rotations.
• Process controlled drug orders and prescriptions.
• Assess complex situations and advise senior staff on non-formulary availability.

Skills

High level patient care duties

Attention to detail

Prioritise workload

Calm under pressure

Oral and written communication

Problem solving

CPD commitment

Computer literacy

Accredited Checking Technician

Education

BTEC/NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy services

General Pharmaceutical Council registration or eligible

Tools

Controlled Drug training package

Job description

To work under the supervision of the Pharmacy Aseptic Technician Team Manager to deliver and develop the aseptic dispensing service in accordance with current agreed Trust objectives and nationally agreed NHS priorities, ensuring all practices meet current statutory and legal requirements to ensure best quality patient care.

• To undertake the aseptic dispensing process according to SOP's once a required level of competence and validation has been achieved.
• Concentration at all times to minimise the risk of medication errors.
• Working in a busy aseptic unit environment with frequent interruptions.
• A large proportion of the day spent standing or working at a computer.
• Working in an environment handling hazardous compounds such as cytotoxic medicines, monoclonal antibodies, radiopharmaceuticals, industrial ethanol and other cleaning products, and handling sharps.
• To be responsible for checking Electronic Medicines Management work list.
• To assist Senior Education and Training Pharmacy Technician by mentoring a range of staff.
• To carry out the checking of prescriptions and related items, as per the departmental Accredited Checking Technician program and also undergo annual re-assessment of competency of this role in line with the regional framework.
• To participate in the ordering, stock checks and stock control of medicines in each area of the pharmacy, ensuring efficient use of pharmaceuticals and resources.
• You will be required to undertake activities in relation to clinical trials in line with standing operating procedures.
• To follow guidance on rotas and prioritise own workload accordingly, in conjunction with the Senior Technician of the section.

Dispensary Duties

• To carry out the dispensing and issue of prescriptions in the Pharmacy of the base hospital
• To query prescriptions with prescribers, within the capabilities of a Band 5 technician, or when delegated to do so by a pharmacist
• To contribute to the efficient use of the drug budget through effective medicines management whilst dispensing and checking prescriptions
• To mentor staff through the Controlled Drug training package and rotation
• To process controlled drug orders and prescriptions
• To competently assess situations, some of which may be of a complex nature and need analysis, and make judgements concerning availability of non-formulary medicines informing the relevant senior member of staff if necessary

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of undertaking high level patient focused technical duties in a hospital or community setting.
• Good knowledge of dispensing standards and legislation relating to hospital pharmacy
• Able to pay meticulous attention to detail
• Able to prioritise workload
• Good training and supervisory skills
• Calm and professional manner under pressure
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good problem solving skills
• Self motivated
• Demonstratable commitment to CPD
• Basic audit skills
• Computer literate, BTEC/NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy services, including underpinning knowledge, or other equivalent qualification recognized by the General Pharmaceutical Council Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Accredited Checking Technician

CHFT is an integrated acute and community Trust serving diverse communities across Calderdale and Kirklees, with strong partnerships across West Yorkshire. We are proud of our One Culture of Care -- caring for each other with the same compassion, kindness and respect that we show our patients -- and of the values that underpin how we work: we put people first, we go see, we work together to get results, and we do the must dos.

CHFT is recognised as a forward looking, digitally enabled Trust, with a strong track record of using data, innovation and system collaboration to improve quality, safety and outcomes. We are ambitious about the role that acute trusts play in prevention, population health and reducing inequalities, and this post sits at the heart of that agenda.