Higher Level Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary / Wards

Transformation Unit; Huddersfield; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) is seeking a Higher Level Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary/ Wards (NHS AfC Band 5) based at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. The role spans hospital pharmacy duties with a focus on medicine optimisation and patient concordance.

You will work within the Medicine Optimisation team alongside pharmacists and healthcare professionals, mentoring staff and ensuring safe, cost-effective use of medicines while supporting discharge planning.

Qualifications

• 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
• 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

Responsibilities

• To provide skilled pharmaceutical counselling to patients in order to improve concordance and compliance with medicines and to reduce risks from medication related events.
• To check patient’s own medicines on admission for suitability for use within the Trust.
• To obtain accurate patient medication histories, using the appropriate sources, including external Healthcare Professionals, the patient and/or carer's, facilitating medicines reconciliation.
• To provide professional pharmaceutical advice to relevant health care professionals and patients regarding safe, appropriate and cost-effective use of medicines and medicinal products.
• To reduce the risk of missed medications and critical medication incidents by identifying and actioning supply of ongoing prescriptions
• To support trust initiatives for the rapid and efficient discharge of patients through effective discharge planning, liaising with key staff, checking transcription and managing supply
• Mentoring a range of staff in line with the Medicine Optimisation Framework

Skills

Pharmacy tech duties

Dispensing standards

Attention to detail

Prioritise workload

Calm under pressure

Problem solving

CPD commitment

Audit skills

Education

BTEC/NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Technician Higher Level - Dispensary / Wards Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (up to 37.5 hours per week) Job ref 372-FSS3133

Employer Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Town Huddersfield Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 11/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 05/11/2026

Higher Level Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary / Wards

NHS AfC: Band 5

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.

We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.

We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.

We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.

Our Future Plans

The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/

Job overview

The post holder undertakes high-level technical duties in the following areas of pharmaceutical care:

• Clinical Medicine Management Technician to highest level of the Medicine Management Competency Level Framework
• The post holder will be an integral part of the Medicine Optimisation team working alongside the Pharmacists, and a range of health care professionals.
• They will work seamlessly between primary and secondary care and link with a range of healthcare professionals to optimise concordance and compliance with prescribed medication
• To practice as a mentor in all areas of competence.

This post requires a Disclosing & Barring Services (DBS) check

Main duties of the job

• To provide skilled pharmaceutical counselling to patients in order to improve concordance and compliance with medicines and to reduce risks from medication related events.
• To check patient’s own medicines on admission for suitability for use within the Trust.
• To obtain accurate patient medication histories, using the appropriate sources, including external Healthcare Professionals, the patient and/or carer's, facilitating medicines reconciliation.
• To provide professional pharmaceutical advice to relevant health care professionals and patients regarding safe, appropriate and cost-effective use of medicines and medicinal products.
• To reduce the risk of missed medications and critical medication incidents by identifying and actioning supply of ongoing prescriptions
• To support trust initiatives for the rapid and efficient discharge of patients through effective discharge planning, liaising with key staff, checking transcription and managing supply
• Mentoring a range of staff in line with the Medicine Optimisation Framework

Working for our organisation

We employ around 6,000 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes.

We are continuing to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Membership Council and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community. Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job description and Person Specification for further information regarding main responsibilities.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

• 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

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

• 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
• Calm and professional manner under pressure
• Good problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated
• Demonstrable commitment to CPD
• Basic audit skills

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

• Able to work on own or as part of a team
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good training and supervisory skills

Our vision is to provide One Culture of Care for one another in order that we can provide compassionate care for the people who use our services. We are passionate about creating a workplace where we work together to get results, encouraging colleagues to have their say, in order to co create the change we want to see. We take pride in the diversity of our workforce that’s why we encourage applications from all. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants.

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.

If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). You will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.

CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

If you have any questions please contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Sarah Peckett Job title Chief Pharmacy Technician Email address [e-mail]

Claire Curry , Senior Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Services

[e-mail]