Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician - Cancer Services

Royal Berkshire; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Berkshire is seeking a passionate Pharmacy Technician to join the Clinical Cancer Pharmacy Team. You will provide specialist medicines management across cancer services, support patients on systemic anti-cancer therapy, and help ensure safe discharge and continuity of care.

The role requires post-registration hospital experience, GPhC registration, ACT training, and familiarity with cancer medicines pathways.

Qualifications

• Post-registration hospital experience as a pharmacy technician.
• Experience of medicines management, medicines reconciliation and obtaining accurate medication histories.
• Experience of working with cancer, haematology or SACT services.
• Knowledge of medicines management and the SACT pathway.

Responsibilities

• Provide a specialist medicines management service across Cancer Services, supporting patients through treatment pathway.
• Undertake medicines reconciliation and drug history taking using interviews and records.
• Support medicines management for patients commencing systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT).
• Support safe management of patients receiving oral, IV and subcutaneous SACT.
• Facilitate safe and timely discharge with appropriate medicines supply and counselling.
• Collaborate with Cancer Pharmacy and Homecare teams to develop homecare pathways.
• Maintain accurate, auditable records of medicines histories and interventions.
• Participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Medicines reconciliation

Documentation

Patient counselling

SOP development

Education

GPhC registration

ACT trained

Tools

ARIA

CMM

CPR

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and motivated individual to join our Clinical Cancer Pharmacy Team.

In this role, you will need o provide a specialist medicines management pharmacy technician service across Cancer Services, supporting patients receiving or commencing systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) and those admitted to cancer clinical areas. The role involves undertaking comprehensive medicines reconciliation, obtaining accurate drug histories, identifying and resolving medicines-related discrepancies, supporting medicines optimisation, and facilitating safe and timely discharge.

The postholder works collaboratively with oncology and haematology pharmacists, medical and nursing teams, pharmacy colleagues, Homecare services and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective and continuous medicines management throughout the cancer treatment pathway. The role also supports the development of medicines management pathways for patients commencing SACT, including proactive assessment before or around their first treatment cycle, and the development of appropriate homecare pathways for patients receiving oral and subcutaneous cancer treatments.

The role requires ongoing professional development, completion of relevant cancer pharmacy competencies, including the BOPA SACT Pharmacy Technician Passport, and adherence to professional standards, Trust policies and patient safety requirements.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a specialist medicines management service across cancer inpatient wards, SACT day units and other relevant clinical areas.
• Undertake comprehensive medicines reconciliation and drug history taking using patient interviews, electronic prescribing systems, GP records, community pharmacy information and other appropriate sources.
• Proactively support medicines management for patients commencing systemic anti-cancer therapy, including medicines reconciliation before or around the first treatment cycle where appropriate.
• Support the safe management of patients receiving oral, intravenous and subcutaneous SACT, in accordance with agreed protocols, competencies and local procedures.
• Facilitate safe and timely patient discharge by supporting medicines supply, providing appropriate medicines counselling and communicating relevant information to community pharmacies, GPs and other healthcare providers.
• Work collaboratively with the Cancer Pharmacy and Homecare teams to establish, implement and maintain suitable homecare pathways for patients receiving oral and subcutaneous SACT.
• Maintain accurate, complete and auditable records of medicines histories, interventions, communications and homecare arrangements.
• Participate in clinical audit, service evaluation, quality improvement and the development of medicines management procedures and pathways.

About us

Diversity makes us interesting... Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

We support flexible working wherever possible, with requests considered on an individual basis taking into account service requirements, operational needs and the requirements of the role.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will be responsible for delivering a specialist medicines management service across Cancer Services, supporting patients throughout their cancer treatment pathway.

Key responsibilities include undertaking comprehensive medicines reconciliation and drug history taking; reviewing available clinical and electronic records; identifying discrepancies, adherence concerns and medicines-related risks; and resolving issues within the scope of professional practice. Clinical concerns and complex medicines-related problems will be escalated to the appropriate pharmacist or prescriber.

The postholder will support patients receiving or commencing systemic anti-cancer therapy, including proactive medicines management before or around their first treatment cycle where appropriate. They will work closely with oncology and haematology pharmacists, medical and nursing teams to support safe treatment pathways, identify medicines supply issues and maintain accurate patient information.

The role will include supporting safe and timely discharge, appropriate medicines supply, patient and carer counselling, and communication with GPs, community pharmacies and other healthcare providers. The postholder will also collaborate with Cancer Pharmacy and Homecare teams to develop and implement suitable homecare pathways for patients receiving oral and subcutaneous SACT, ensuring accurate documentation and effective coordination of medicines information.

The postholder will develop and maintain competence in specialist cancer pharmacy systems, including ARIA, CMM and CPR, and complete the BOPA SACT Pharmacy Technician Passport. They will provide technical guidance and support to colleagues, contribute to staff training and development, and participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.

The role requires independent workload management, effective multidisciplinary communication, professional accountability and adherence to GPhC standards, relevant medicines legislation, Trust policies, confidentiality, information governance, infection prevention and control, safeguarding and health and safety requirements. The postholder will maintain continuing professional development and participate in the wider Pharmacy Service rota, including late, weekend and Bank Holiday duties as required.

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the role, duties, responsibilities and essential and desirable criteria.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GPhC registration
• ACT trained

Experience

• Post-registration hospital experience as a pharmacy technician.
• Experience of medicines management, medicines reconciliation and obtaining accurate medication histories.
• Previous experience within oncology, haematology or SACT services
• Experience of supporting patients commencing SACT or other cancer treatments
• Experience of working with cancer homecare services

Knowledge

• Good understanding of medicines management and medicines optimisation
• Knowledge of cancer medicines and the SACT pathway

Skills and Personal Qualities

• Able to obtain, interpret and accurately document complex medicines histories and identify discrpancies
• Patient-focused and committed to safe and effective medicines use
• Experience of developing or reviewing procedures, guidelines or SOPs.

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.

Senior Lead Pharmacist - Oncology & Haematology