Pharmacy Technician

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; Southampton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to join our inpatient dispensary team at Southampton General Hospital on a fixed-term secondment.

This role supports progression through the band 4/5 framework, with supervised development of core competencies and potential upgrade to band 5. You will work within a busy, supportive pharmacy department focused on patient care.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacy technician with GPhC in the UK.
• BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NVQ Level 3.
• Hospital pharmacy experience preferred.
• Supervision of staff and workload management experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform general pharmaceutical duties under supervision.
• Undertake day-to-day supervision and task allocation to co-ordinate workload.
• Dispense, label and check medications; issue meds to patients.
• Support progression through band 4/5 framework and competency development.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Team player

Education

GPhC registration

BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences / NVQ Level 3

GCSE Maths & English or IELTS 7

Tools

JAC labelling/ordering system

Job description

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title:

Pharmacy Technician

Contract Type:

Fixed Term

Fixed Term Contract End Date:

September 2027

Purpose for Fixed Term:

Secondment

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team. We are looking for a registered or soon-to-be registered pharmacy technician to join our enthusiastic and motivated team based at Southampton General Hospital (SGH). These are progressive band 4 to 5 posts; however, applications from current band 5s are welcome.

This exciting, fully supported post would be ideal for pharmacy technicians soon to qualify and register with the GPhC. You must be a team player, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and be keen to develop yourself.

We have an exciting opportunity within our inpatient dispensary for a fixed term secondment.

Within the pharmacy department, we pride ourselves on the development of our staff. You will be supported to complete the band 4/5 progressive framework by collecting relevant evidence towards a set of core competencies. Once complete and signed off, your post will be upgraded to band 5.

Applicants who can demonstrate that they already meet the required competencies may be offered a Band 5 contract upon appointment. Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experienceneeded for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application, as these criteria are used byhiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

About us

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for performing general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a pharmacy technician specialist.To undertake day to day supervision of staff including the allocation of tasks in order to co-ordinate and manage the workload of the section.

• Dispensary based training at Southampton General Hospital where you will be trained through competency based learning to dispense, label and check accurately; issuing medications to patients will also be covered.

What we're looking for:

We are looking for diligent, enthusiastic Pharmacy Technicians committed to improving patient care and working within the pharmacy and UHS teams in all areas of pharmacy and at ward level.

Applicants must be a Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and must possess the following: BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NVQ level 3 supported by appropriate underpinning knowledge e.g. BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NPA.Applicants working towards the relevant qualifications will be considered.

Attached you will find the person specification document, which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experienceneeded for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application, as these criteria are used byhiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

This role within the inpatient dispensary is key in the supply of inpatient, TTA, CD medication for patients within the trust, as well as responsible for stock control, training of junior staff androle modelling.

This role is reporting to the Lead Pharmacy Technician.

Person Specification

Physical requirements of the post

Essential

• Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post (if necessary with reasonable adjustments with respect to the Equality Act 2010).

Qualifications / training required

Essential

• Registered pharmacy technician in UK by GPhC / registered Science Manufacturing Technician (Apprenticeship Standard- Level 3 Diploma in the Principles of Aseptic Pharmaceuticals processing) in UK by the Science Council
• Numerate and literate e.g. GCSE in Maths and English A* to C or equivalent or IELTS test score 7 as required by GPhC if overseas candidate
• One of the following additional pharmacy qualifications - Accredited Checking PT (ACPT) Pre and In Processing Checking (PIPC) medicine management accreditation , TAQA assessor , CIPS level 4, foundation management or equivalent demonstrable experience of day to day operational management of staff and workload.
• Experience of staff management/operational workload supervision

Desirable

• Completion of Practice supervisor programme or equivalent.
• Additional pharmacy qualifications e.g. Completed APTUK Foundation Framework Foundation management or other recognised management qualification or demonstrable management experience TAQA Medicines Management qualification PIPC ACPT CIPS level 4

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential

• Accurate dispensing of medicines (in hospital or community pharmacy or aseptics)
• Maintaining continuous professional development portfolio
• Dealing with customers/patients

Desirable

• Hospital pharmacy experience
• Stock control/ordering experience
• Experience of JAC or similar computer labelling/ordering system
• Experience relevant to role applied for e.g.: Providing a ward based medicines management service , Clinical Trials or research experience, Aseptic services experience

Special requirements of the post

Essential

• Work weekends, evenings and bank holidays as per rota
• Able to work at RSH and SGH and other sites if required

Desirable

• Cover flexible working hours including weekends, late nights and on call where necessary according to rota

Trust Values

Essential

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).