Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician - MHSOP (Drug Monitoring)

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; North Shields; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in North Shields is seeking a proactive pharmacy technician to develop a new clinical pharmacy service for older adults with severe mental illness. You will be instrumental in implementing a drug monitoring service, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the safe use of high-risk medications. The role requires strong communication skills and adaptability, making it an exciting opportunity to innovate in patient care and mental health services. This position is located at North Tyneside General Hospital.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacy technician with clinical experience in mental health.
• Eager to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with clozapine, lithium, and antipsychotic medications appreciated.

Responsibilities

• Implement a specialist Drug Monitoring Service for mental health patients.
• Provide clinical leadership within the multidisciplinary team.
• Deliver clinical pharmacy support to optimize treatment outcomes.
• Collaborate actively with clinicians and nursing teams.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Ability to work independently

Adaptability

Education

Registration as a pharmacy technician

Job description

Vacancy at Northumbria Healthcare – NHCT Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

We are looking for a highly motivated and forward‑thinking pharmacy technician with a passion for innovation and patient care to join our dynamic pharmacy team at Northumbria Healthcare.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape a new clinical pharmacy service within our Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP) in the North Tyneside area. You will be responsible for developing and delivering a specialist drug monitoring service for patients prescribed clozapine, lithium, and antipsychotic medicines across in‑patient and community settings. You will support the safe initiation of high‑risk medicines in line with NICE guidelines, manage monitoring and side‑effect mitigation to improve treatment adherence and outcomes, ensure safe and coordinated transitions of care including discharge and community follow‑up, champion holistic care through the “Making Every Contact Count” initiative, and support both the physical and mental health needs of patients with severe mental illness.

What We’re Looking For

A proactive, adaptable pharmacy technician eager to shape a new and impactful service. You should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

You will be a motivated and proactive pharmacy technician, playing a key role in shaping a new, innovative service and strengthening the clinical pharmacy contribution within the MHSOP in North Tyneside.

Responsibilities

Within your area of responsibility, you will work alongside the newly appointed MHSOP senior clinical pharmacist to:

• Implement a specialist Drug Monitoring Service for patients initiated on clozapine, lithium, and antipsychotic medications, ensuring safe and effective ongoing management in both in‑patient and community settings.
• Provide clinical leadership within the MHSOP team, contributing actively to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and wider service development.
• Deliver clinical pharmacy support, helping to optimise treatment outcomes and reduce medicine‑related risks.
• Offer expert advice and guidance on medicines use, including input into clinical guidelines, patient safety initiatives, and governance processes.

You will be expected to demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a busy, multidisciplinary team. Collaboration with clinicians, nursing teams, and fellow pharmacy colleagues will be key to promoting the safe, effective, and cost‑efficient use of medicines across the care pathway. Attendance at relevant directorate or governance forums will be part of your role.

Additional Highlights

To provide technical support on pharmaceutical matters, medicines management issues and medicines legislation within a delegated area of responsibility on a routine basis, but also, whenever required, to other specialist areas (e.g. ward/clinical setting). The role will require team working as part of the many multidisciplinary teams as outlined above, as well as a need to be able to work independently and be self‑motivated.

To participate in a weekend pharmacy service and relevant bank holiday arrangements (unless otherwise agreed upon appointment).

To role‑model compassionate and inclusive leadership in order to shape the creation of a collective leadership culture within the trust. This means demonstrating a consistent leadership style which (a) engages, enables and empowers others; (b) uses coaching to promote ownership of learning and quality improvement; and (c) facilitates team working and collaboration within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries.

About Our Trust

In addition to our state‑of‑the‑art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England, we manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High‑quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to develop a new service and make a real difference in reducing health inequalities for older adults with severe mental illness. You'll work in a supportive, innovative environment at North Tyneside General Hospital and have the chance to collaborate with both local and neighbouring mental health teams.

This advert closes on Sunday 21 Dec 2025.