Enhanced Role Pharmacy Technician - Homecare and Procurement

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust; Wednesbury; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a reliable Pharmacy Technician to join the Pharmacy Homecare Team. The post holder will support day-to-day management, governance, and staff training, ensuring timely, safe homecare medicines delivery. The role includes dispensary support and coordinating with procurement.

You will work with wards and suppliers to ensure accurate orders, data, and continuous service improvements within Homecare and procurement teams. Weekend work may be required.

Qualifications

• Qualified Pharmacy Technician to NVQ Level 3, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent.
• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• ACPT accreditation.
• Recent experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital setting.
• Knowledge of MHRA GDP and Falsified Medicines Directive.
• Experience with ward storage audits and CQ/CQC compliance.
• Experience in hospital procurement and homecare services.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day workload of the pharmacy homecare team and procurement.
• Supervise the work of others in the pharmacy homecare team.
• Implement new processes within procurement and homecare teams.
• Provide quality feedback and data with high accuracy.
• Assist in recruitment of staff for procurement, homecare and pharmacy stores.
• Resolve supply problems and delays, and communicate with stakeholders.
• Maintain the pharmacy computer system and update drug contracts.
• Create and amend drug files and supplier records in the system.
• Liaise with suppliers and procurement teams to ensure timely deliveries.
• Respond to non-clinical enquiries and escalate issues as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team supervision

Education

NVQ Level 3 / BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent

Tools

GPhC registration

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a reliable, self-motivated, and enthusiastic individual to join our expanding Pharmacy Homecare Team. The post holder will play an integral role in supporting the Homecare Team to ensure the timely, safe, and efficient delivery of a high-quality, patient-focused homecare medicines service. The role will involve supporting with the day-to-day management of the homecare service, supporting with governance arrangements and contributing to the training and development of staff. Responsibilities will also include providing dispensary support and supporting wards in organising and preparing medication for patients attending for treatment, including ordering and accuracy-checking medicines intended for administration. The role will also involve providing support to our procurement team. To participate in weekend and bank holiday working as per rota. PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS.

• To co-ordinate the workload on a day-to-day basis of the pharmacy homecare team and whenever needed the procurement team.
• Supervise the work of others working in the pharmacy homecare team.
• To implement new processes and new ways of working within the procurement and Homecare teams.
• Proactively suggest improvements and service developments within the pharmacy procurement/ homecare team and the wider pharmacy team.
• Provide quality feedback and data using a high level of accuracy.
• To assist in the recruitment of staff to the procurement, homecare and wider pharmacy stores team.
• Dealing with non-routine enquires received by the procurement and homecare team, answering queries using a high level of accuracy & problem solving
• To manage and investigate supply problems, resolving queries with orders and stock, purchasing in an accurate and timely manner to minimise shortages reporting any supply problems, effectively communicating to all relevant persons.
• To support the management the makers can't supply data base and communicate to the appropriate staff as appropriate.
• To be responsible for maintaining the pharmacy computer system ensuring that drug contract prices are updated as required.
• To be responsible for creating and amending drug files on the pharmacy computer system ensuring that product files are up to date and tagged appropriately.
• To be responsible for creating and amending new suppliers on the pharmacy computer system ensuring the files are up to date.

As the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, we offer a unique opportunity to be part of a Trust making a genuine difference to local health outcomes. The Trust is a busy district general hospital offering compete range of acute services, alongside extensive community services. A new Urgent Emergency Care Centre was opened in March 2023. The two-storey development has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity and has provided almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space. Our strategy is aligned to delivering exceptional care together while supporting a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We offer clear career development pathways, access to training and education, and opportunities to contribute to service innovation and improvement. Communication and Relationship Skills The post holder will:

• Act as a key point of contact between pharmacy, clinical teams, homecare providers, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers and regional/national procurement teams, maintaining effective working relationships.
• Liaise with suppliers and the pharmacy procurement team regarding price discrepancies between orders and invoices.
• Liaise with wholesalers and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of medicines.
• Communicate with pharmacy staff and healthcare professionals regarding stock shortages and availability.
• Resolve discrepancies relating to products, strengths, quantities and prices.
• Liaise with the Trust Finance Team regarding delays in invoice payments.
• Escalate issues relating to wholesaler or company accounts to the Chief/Senior Pharmacy Technician.
• Respond to non-clinical enquiries from internal and external customers, referring clinical queries appropriately.
• Report ARX issues to the Informatics Team.
• Inform relevant pharmacy staff of unlicensed or imported medicines requiring checking.
• Report medicines that are not FMD compliant to the Senior Technician.
• Use tact and persuasive communication when supervising and training staff.
• Liaise with NVQ assessors and trainers, provide feedback and act as an expert witness for new staff.

Be a qualified Pharmacy Technician to NVQ Level 3, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent.

• Be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Hold National Accredited Pharmacy Checking Technician (ACPT) accreditation.
• Have recent experience working as a Pharmacy Technician within a hospital pharmacy department.
• Have knowledge of MHRA Good Distribution Practice requirements and the Falsified Medicines Directive.
• Have experience of completing ward storage audits, developing action plans and reassessing compliance against CQC requirements.
• Have knowledge of automated storage cabinets.
• Have recent experience within hospital pharmacy procurement and/or homecare services.
• Understand procurement, homecare invo