Pharmacy Technician

NHS; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Northampton is seeking a qualified Pharmacy Technician to support clinical and community pharmacists in optimizing medication use. Responsibilities include assisting with safe prescribing, managing dispensary processes, and ensuring compliance with pharmacy laws. The ideal candidate holds a BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and is registered with the GPhC. This role offers options for on-site, remote, or hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Understanding of dispensary processes and medication storage.
• Knowledge of pharmacy law, ethics, and current legislation.
• Experience in patient counselling (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Support medicines optimisation and safe prescribing practices.
• Assist with repeat prescribing processes and electronic dispensing.
• Adhere to local protocols and legal requirements for medicines management.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Strong organizational and time management skills

Good computer literacy

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Education

BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Registered or eligible for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Job description

Overview

The post holder is employed by the Primary Care Network and will contribute to the designated practice pharmacy team. They will support clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other members of the PCN multidisciplinary team. Pharmacy Technicians do not prescribe or make clinical decisions and work under supervision to ensure the effective and efficient use of medicines. Core responsibilities cover clinical, technical and administrative roles. The role supports Kingsthorpe Medical Centre with options for on-site, remote or hybrid working.

Main duties

The purpose of the role is to maximise safe, cost-effective prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post-holder will help patients get the best from their medicines, use existing protocols to maximise cost-effective preparations, improve repeat prescribing processes (including electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering), minimise clinical risk and reduce avoidable wasted medicines. They will develop and encourage a positive culture of medicines optimisation to assist the PCN in achieving local and national medicines-related objectives.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is part of a programme of transformation to develop a new model of care across the PCN. This model is supported by national policy to better utilise the role of pharmacy professionals within the healthcare team. Goals include keeping patients safe and well out of hospital and reducing demands on general practice regarding medicine use.

Pharmacy Technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists and other PCN team members. They do not prescribe or make clinical decisions but work under supervision to ensure the safe and efficient use of medicines.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support medicines optimisation and safe prescribing practices within the PCN.
• Assist with repeat prescribing processes and electronic dispensing when applicable.
• Adhere to local protocols and legal requirements for medicines management.

Person Specification

Experience

• Essential: Understanding of dispensary processes, controlled drugs legislation, and medication storage.
• Essential: Knowledge of pharmacy law, ethics, and current legislation.
• Essential: Understanding of national policies impacting medicine management.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of medication optimisation principles and rational prescribing.
• Familiarity with primary care prescribing.

Skills & Abilities

• Essential: Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Essential: Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Essential: Able to work accurately under pressure.
• Essential: Good computer literacy (pharmacy systems and Microsoft Office).
• Essential: Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Essential: Manual dexterity and accuracy in dispensing.
• Essential: Good IT and administrative skills.

Desirable:

• Experience in patient counselling.
• Experience in stock management and ward-based medicine delivery.
• Supervisory experience.

Qualifications

• Essential: BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent.
• Essential: Registered or eligible for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Desirable:

• Accredited Checking Technician qualification.
• Experience in hospital, community, or primary care pharmacy.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

• Essential: Honest, trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality.
• Essential: Flexible and adaptable.
• Essential: Polite, confident and professional demeanour.
• Essential: Enthusiastic and motivated.
• Essential: Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively.
• Desirable: Positive "can-do" attitude; strong team-building and problem-solving skills; interest in people's health and customer service.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the DBS will be required.

Employer details

WOODVIEW MEDICAL CENTRE

Kingsthorpe Medical Centre, Eastern Avenue South, Northampton, NN2 7JN

Website: https://www.woodviewmedicalcentre.co.uk