Pharmacy Technician

NHS; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Barnsley is seeking an experienced Band 4 Pharmacy Technician to support clinical pharmacists in providing a comprehensive medicines management service. Candidates must have a qualification in pharmaceutical sciences and be registered with the GPhC. Key responsibilities include managing stock levels, patient counselling, and maintaining records. This role requires excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

Commitment to professional development

Opportunities to work within a multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

• Must hold a current registration as pharmacy technician in the UK.
• Experience of working in a UK pharmacy either community or hospital.
• Understanding of mental health related issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide a technical pharmacy service to inpatient and outpatient areas.
• Manage, order, and maintain stock levels.
• Participate in patient counselling regarding medicines.

Skills

Self-motivated

Team player

Excellent communication

Good time management

Education

NVQ Level 3, BTEC, or similar qualification in pharmaceutical sciences

Tools

Pharmacy procurement and dispensing systems

Hospital computer systems JAC

Job description

Overview

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

The closing date is 23 October 2025

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic Band 4 Pharmacy Technician. You will work alongside and support our clinical pharmacists to undertake a medicines management service in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team at South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust.

Our trust offers mental health, community and learning disability services as well as providing a pharmacy service to two rehabilitation wards and a hospice. We are a small pharmacy team based at Kendray Hospital Barnsley. You will be expected to work effectively as part of a team and, where required, independently. Having your own transport is essential as this role requires dispensing competencies to be maintained at Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefield.

The successful candidate must be self-motivated with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You should be able to prioritise your own workload and be a good team player.

Applicants must hold a BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in Pharmaceutical Sciences. You MUST be registered with the GPhC and be willing to undertake internal competency-based training as part of the role.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

The candidate will work with other professionals to provide a comprehensive pharmacy service on all inpatient wards and community areas.

Main Duties

• Managing, ordering, and maintaining stock levels.
• Undertaking medicines reconciliation on all newly admitted patients and checking patients own drugs (PODs).
• Drug history taking.
• Ordering medicines using the electronic prescribing system (EPMA).
• Delivering safe, effective, and efficient systems by reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
• Maintaining accurate clinical records in a timely manner.
• Carrying out medicines assurance checks in line with key safety standards.
• Ensuring all work-based validations are up to date.

Professional and visa note

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups. We value diversity and want our workforce to reflect our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust. Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

To work with the senior technicians in the locality to provide a technical pharmacy service to the inpatient and outpatient areas across the locality, including checking patients own medication on admission. Maintain competencies by undertaking both in-house and nationally recognised validations as appropriate. Maintain competencies for dispensing of medications. Ensure patient information leaflets are available on allocated units and in identified areas and keep all pharmacy information up to date. Ensure stocks of medicines are available on all allocated wards and departments through the named patient and stock top up service. Working to standard operating procedures (SOPs) provide pharmacy service to allocated units/wards.

Key Result Areas

• Check patients own medication on admission in line with departmental procedures.
• Participate in the medication supply and topping-up service at ward/team base level, to allocated units, to ensure adequate stocks are maintained for patient care.
• Assess suitability of medicines, and record findings using the pharmacy prescribing system. Identify discrepancies and liaise with the appropriate healthcare professional.
• Participate in patient counselling regarding medicines as appropriate.
• Ensure the appropriate receipt, processing, storage and stock control of medicines and other supplies. Report via medicines assurance process.
• Respond to enquiries and requests from staff, patients, and carers, in accordance with individual competence and departmental policy.
• Assist the technician managers in the development and monitoring of SOPs.
• Assist in the distribution of information and policies to all wards/departments as necessary.
• Participate in pharmacy related audits as appropriate.
• Participate in the supply of Clozapine to a specific group of patients ensuring compliance with the SOPs (e.g. blood tests taken, results obtained, valid prescriptions received, and medication dispensed and collected in a timely manner).
• Perform stock takes both within the dispensary and at ward/department level.
• Liaise with nursing staff concerning the use of medicines and advise on safe and secure storage of medicines at ward level.
• Comply with the Trust's Medicine Code.
• Ensure errors/mistakes are reported via the trust's incident reporting system.
• Use of pharmacy and other computer systems in the course of performing these duties.
• Answer telephone and face-to-face queries of a routine or technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients, and carers and refer appropriate queries to the relevant members of the pharmacy team.

When working at Fieldhead

• Dispense medication, including compliance aids, for inpatients, outpatients, day cases and patients ready to receive a final accuracy check.
• Ensure that all information needed for accurate stock control and prescription issues is recorded using both paper and computerised systems.
• Dispense clinical trial medication and complete all required documentation following the defined SOP.
• Dispense controlled drugs and ensure that all legally required records are accurate and up to date.
• Counsel patients attending the pharmacy department on the use of their medication, as appropriate.
• Assist with the training of others in the routine duties of the dispensary.

General

• Observe the principles of Clinical Governance and participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including attendance at appropriate training courses.
• Participate in the Trust's Appraisal system.
• Assist in the bank holiday provision of pharmacy services at Fieldhead and be involved in Saturday morning rota.
• Work in other areas of the Trust (by previous agreement) if necessary.
• This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities; the post holder may undertake other duties within the grade as discussed with the manager.
• The job description will be reviewed regularly in light of changing service requirements and changes will be discussed with the post holder.
• Post holder must comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.
• South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust operates a no smoking policy.

Trust values

The Trust is committed to ensuring high standards of care and treatment and expects all staff to treat service users, carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors, etc., with dignity and respect at all times. The post holder must act in accordance with the Trust values: Honest, open, transparent; Respectful; Person first and in the centre; Improve and be outstanding; Relevant today, ready for tomorrow; Families and carers matter.

Safeguarding

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families, etc., in accordance with Trust Policy. Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand your role by undertaking safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments

All staff must comply with the Trust's policies and procedures, undertake required training, and commit to: Whistleblowing policy; confidentiality; data protection (GDPR/DPA); Health and Safety; supervision and annual appraisal; Equal Opportunities in Employment; promote equality and diversity; safeguard and promote welfare of children and young people; CPD, audit, supervision; continuous quality improvement; codes of professional practice; flexible work practices; Investors in People.

Adhere to the Trust's smoke-free policies and contribute to reducing environmental impact. Identify and report risks and incidents promptly. All staff are responsible for safety and adherence to infection prevention and control guidance.

This job description is an outline of the main duties. The postholder may undertake other duties of a similar level of responsibility. Content will be reviewed with the postholder as needed. Full details available in supporting documents attached.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Note: We discourage AI-generated responses in NHS applications and will screen accordingly. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated.
• Team player.
• Well-motivated, enthusiastic, and adaptable.
• Commitment to CPD.
• Understanding of mental health related issues.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants unable to drive due to disability).

Experience

• Experience of working in a UK pharmacy either community or hospital.
• Use of pharmacy procurement and dispensing systems.
• Hospital pharmacy experience.
• Experience of working in mental health pharmacy.
• Linking with community pharmacies, home care.
• Managing supplies for offsite unit and teams.

Training

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to fairness and equality, especially where sickness relates to disability or pregnancy).

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3, BTEC, or similar nationally recognized qualification in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Current registration as pharmacy technician in the UK.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Pharmaceutical waste management.
• Misuse of drugs act 197.
• Regulations on Controlled Drugs in Primary and secondary care.
• Good communication and time management skills.
• Hospital computer systems JAC.
• Knowledge and experience of dispensing prescriptions for service users with mental health problems.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to check for any previous convictions will be required.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust