Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician - Cancer Services

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Guaranteed interview for disabled job‑

Job summary

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician to support cancer inpatient wards and SACT day units. The role focuses on reconciliations, history taking, and ensuring safe discharge, with opportunities to develop homecare pathways for oral and subcutaneous therapies.

The post requires GPhC registration, post‑registration hospital experience, and a strong background in medicines management.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or BTEC required.
• ACT training required.
• GPhC registration.
• Post-registration hospital experience as a pharmacy technician.
• Experience in medicines management and obtaining accurate medication histories.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist medicines management across cancer inpatient wards and SACT day units.
• Conduct comprehensive medicines reconciliation and drug history taking.
• Support patients commencing SACT, including reconciliation before first treatment cycle.
• Assist safe management of oral, IV and subcutaneous SACT per protocols and competencies.
• Identify discrepancies, adherence issues and risks; escalate as needed.
• Facilitate safe, timely discharge through medicines supply, counselling and coordination with community providers.

Skills

Medicines management

Patient-focused care

Accurate documentation

Education

NVQ Level 3 or BTEC

ACT trained

Job description

This specialist medicines management post sits in the Clinical Cancer Pharmacy Team at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, serving cancer inpatient wards and SACT day units. The work centres on medicines reconciliation and drug histories for patients starting or receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy, plus supporting safe discharge. The postholder also helps build homecare pathways for oral and subcutaneous treatments and joins the wider pharmacy rota, including late, weekend and bank holiday duties. GPhC registration and post-registration hospital experience are needed.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist medicines management across cancer inpatient wards, SACT day units and other relevant clinical areas
• Undertake comprehensive medicines reconciliation and drug history taking from patient interviews, electronic prescribing systems, GP and community pharmacy records
• Proactively support patients commencing SACT, including reconciliation before or around the first treatment cycle
• Support safe management of patients on oral, intravenous and subcutaneous SACT in line with protocols and competencies
• Identify medicines discrepancies, adherence concerns and risks, resolving within scope and escalating complex issues to pharmacists or prescribers
• Facilitate safe, timely discharge through medicines supply, counselling and communication with community pharmacies, GPs and other providers
• Work with Cancer Pharmacy and Homecare teams to establish and maintain homecare pathways for oral and subcutaneous SACT
• Maintain accurate, complete and auditable records of medicines histories, interventions, communications and homecare arrangements
• Provide technical guidance to colleagues and contribute to staff training and development
• Participate in clinical audit, service evaluation, quality improvement and development of procedures and pathways
• Develop and maintain competence in ARIA, CMM and CPR, and complete the BOPA SACT Pharmacy Technician Passport
• Participate in the wider Pharmacy Service rota, including late, weekend and bank holiday duties

What’s required

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or BTEC
• ACT trained

Registration & licences

• GPhC registration

Experience

• Post-registration hospital experience as a pharmacy technician
• Experience of medicines management, medicines reconciliation and obtaining accurate medication histories

Skills & knowledge

• Good understanding of medicines management and medicines optimisation
• Ability to obtain, interpret and accurately document complex medicines histories and identify discrepancies
• Patient-focused and committed to safe and effective medicines use

Nice to have

• Relevant cancer accreditation
• PWFDS qualification
• Previous experience in oncology, haematology or SACT services
• Experience supporting patients commencing SACT or other cancer treatments
• Experience working with cancer homecare services
• Knowledge of cancer medicines and the SACT pathway
• Experience developing or reviewing procedures, guidelines or SOPs

What’s offered

• Support for flexible working wherever possible, considered individually
• Guaranteed interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria