Band 5 Intermediate Care Pharmacy technician

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to learning and development

Flexible working

Compressed hours

Job summary

The Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician to join the Intermediate Care Pharmacy Team. The role centres on medicines reconciliation after transfers of care, checking rewritten medication charts, patient and discharge counselling, and ensuring timely medicines supply across units.

Applicants must have current GPhC registration and the Accredited Checking Technician qualification, and be willing to travel between unit sites.

Qualifications

• Current GPhC registration is required.
• Accredited Checking Technician qualification is required.
• Experience in medicines reconciliation and ACT checking is expected.

Responsibilities

• Carry out level 2 medicines reconciliation under Trust policy.
• Complete accuracy checks on rewritten medication charts and raise concerns with the ICU pharmacist.
• Practise as an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician in the dispensary and on the units.
• Obtain medication histories, including telephoning GPs where appropriate.
• Provide self-medication, discharge and inhaler counselling.
• Assess patients' own medicines for reuse and whether a compliance aid is needed.
• Ensure timely ordering of medicines and homely remedies and emergency drugs, avoiding over-ordering and waste.
• Review or prepare the medication content of discharge letters when the pharmacist is absent.
• Support safe ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medicines on the units, including destroying patients' own medicines and controlled drugs.
• Report medication errors on Datix and help investigate their causes.
• Act on CAS and safety alerts and carry out audits as directed.
• Take part in audit and training of pharmacy and nursing staff, and develop training documents and SOPs

Skills

Medicines reconciliation

Accredited Checking Technician

Effective communication

Education

BTEC/NVQ III in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Accredited Checking Technician course

Tools

Datix

CAS safety alerts

Job description

This post sits in the Intermediate Care Pharmacy Team at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, working mainly across the intermediate care units alongside the clinical pharmacists. The role centres on medicines reconciliation after transfers of care, checking rewritten medication charts, patient and discharge counselling, and managing medicines supply. It is a full-time post with compressed hours and flexible working, and it requires travel between unit sites. Applicants need current GPhC registration and the Accredited Checking Technician qualification.

What the job involves

• Carry out level 2 medicines reconciliation under Trust policy
• Complete accuracy checks on rewritten medication charts and raise concerns with the ICU pharmacist
• Practise as an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician in the dispensary and on the units
• Obtain medication histories, including telephoning GPs where appropriate
• Provide self-medication, discharge and inhaler counselling
• Assess patients' own medicines for reuse and whether a compliance aid is needed
• Ensure timely ordering of medicines and homely remedies and emergency drugs, avoiding over-ordering and waste
• Review or prepare the medication content of discharge letters when the pharmacist is absent
• Support safe ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medicines on the units, including destroying patients' own medicines and controlled drugs
• Report medication errors on Datix and help investigate their causes
• Act on CAS and safety alerts and carry out audits as directed
• Take part in audit and training of pharmacy and nursing staff, and develop training documents and SOPs

Qualifications

• Accredited Checking Technician course completed
• BTEC National Certificate or NVQ level III in Pharmaceutical Sciences, or recognised equivalent

Registration & licences

• Current General Pharmaceutical Council registration
• Maintained CPD portfolio for revalidation

Experience

• Significant experience in medicines reconciliation
• Relevant experience in ACT checking

Skills & knowledge

• Thorough understanding of medicines management and reconciliation after transfers between care settings
• Ability to resolve identified issues
• Effective communication with patients, families and healthcare professionals

Other

• Ability to travel between unit sites

Nice to have

• Relevant experience in self-medication training
• Ability to prioritise work

What’s offered

• Access to learning and development opportunities
• Support for health and wellbeing
• Flexible working and compressed hours