Higher Level Pharmacy Technician – Acute Medical Unit

NHS; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare institution as a Higher Level Pharmacy Technician in the Acute Medical Unit. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to apply clinical knowledge while working closely with a dedicated team to enhance patient care through effective medication management. The position ensures professional growth and involvement in innovative pharmacy practices within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

2-4 scheduled days off in each 7-day period

Support for professional development

Qualifications

• Qualified pharmacy technician registered with GPhC.
• Preferably with hospital pharmacy experience.
• Experience in leadership and supervision is essential.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the delivery of a high-quality pharmacy service seven days per week.
• Support the governance and medicines risk management agenda.
• Act as a role model in clinical technician pharmacy practice.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Clinical Knowledge

Flexibility

Education

NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services

BTEC Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification

A1 NVQ Assessor Qualification

Job description

Higher Level Pharmacy Technician – Acute Medical Unit

Are you a team player? Are you ready to take the next exciting step in the development of your career in patient facing role?

Come and join our friendly and supportive team if you would like the opportunity to contribute to the development of the pharmacy service provided to our Acute Medical Unit (AMU). This role provides a real opportunity to develop your clinical knowledge and become embedded in a ward team.

Our two AMUs (73 beds in total) admit up to 90 new patients every day and we have a team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and a pharmacy assistant permanently based on the units. Our priorities are to ensure early medicines reconciliation for all our patients and rapid provision of discharge medication.

Main duties of the job

We cover extended hours (8am -6pm) using our proven model of shift working. Team members work compressed hours - 37.5-hour working 7.5 - 9 hours per shifts including 1 in 3 weekends, some of which qualify for unsocial hours pay. The existing team members enjoy the flexible working pattern and working as part of a close-knit team.

Shifts benefits include:

• rota prepared months in advance enabling swaps and flexibility in working
• 2-4 scheduled days off in each 7-day period
• facility to book annual leave at relatively short notice
• dispensary cover to help keep up to date with dispensing and ACT skills
• immense opportunities for clinical learning in a fast-paced environment

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of the specialist pharmacy service to the AMU seven days per week. The post is wholly based on the AMUs and involves playing a key role in medicines reconciliation and facilitating rapid discharge by means of our satellite dispensaries.

You will be a qualified pharmacy technician, registered with the GPhC, preferably with previous experience in hospital pharmacy, although community experience is also valuable. A BTEC in accuracy checking, is essential for this role, also experience in working as a team lead or previous leadership experience is also essential to this role.

Excellent communication skills are essential as the post holder will be required to provide counselling, advice and information to patients, nurses and medical staff.

About us

East Lancashire Hospitals has a history of innovation and is an exciting place to work. We have gone live recently with a full Electronic Patient Record, which incorporates ePrescribing and medicines reconciliation activities. We were the first Trust in the country to launch Refer-to-Pharmacy. The pharmacy teams utilise ELHT's unique e-patient tracking system to identify and target patients requiring medicines reconciliation, and as an e-pharmaceutical care planning tool.

The successful candidate will be supported to develop themselves as well as the service they are responsible for, in a friendly and forward-thinking organisation.If you want to make a difference, are passionate about patient care, then there has never been a better time to join our team.

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description for full details

• support the Assistant Directors of Pharmacy in providing a high quality, cost effective and efficient patient centred pharmacy service to the Trust
• work in partnership on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU); with the Pharmacy team leader in the provision of a high quality, cost effective and efficient 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 support mechanisms to 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)
• BTec Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification or working towards
• A1 NVQ Assessor Qualification or equivalent

Experience

• Practice in one or more relevant areas, including clinical
• Experience of supervising pharmacy services in primary or secondary care
• Ability to identify and deal with clinical issues, knows when to consult
• Working within GMP/GDP/GCP guidelines
• Ability to maintain and report on records and statistics
• Planning staff rotas
• Understanding of rostering systems

Qualities

• Can balance strong leadership and demonstrates flexibility when working within a team
• Demonstrates a systematic approach and works well under pressure
• Flexibility in working hours due to service demands
• Experience in the use of IT systems/ keyboard skills
• Evidence of CPD

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£31,049 to £37,796 a yearpro rata per annum