Pharmacy Technician

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sunderland, South Shields; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness centre

Libraries

Chaplaincy support

Flexible Working

Career progression

Wellbeing support

Job summary

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join the Integrated Medicines Management team. The role covers ward-based work, assessing patients' own drugs, bedside medicine supplies for safe discharge, and medicines reconciliation.

Appointed at Band 4 and progressing to Band 5 after CPD validation, with seven-day rotas and bank holidays. NVQ3 in pharmacy required; GPhC registration essential. Travel between sites may be required.

Qualifications

• Basic IT skills and adaptability.
• Good communication skills for patient counselling and teamwork.
• Ability to work on own initiative in a ward/dispensing setting.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients' own drugs at ward level, outside the dispensary.
• Determine and maintain bedside medicine supplies for safe, timely discharge.
• Counsel patients on their medicines to support medicines optimisation.
• Complete medicines reconciliation.
• Work with ward pharmacists in a multidisciplinary team.
• Provide cover in dispensaries and manufacturing unit to meet targets.
• Provide cross-site cover when needed.
• Complete accredited accuracy checking.

Skills

Good communication

Team worker

Basic IT skills

Adaptable

Own initiative

Education

NVQ Level 3 in pharmacy

Job description

Pharmacy Technician post in the Integrated Medicines Management team at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, with cross-site cover. Ward-based work alongside pharmacists covers assessing patients' own drugs, bedside medicine supplies for safe discharge, patient counselling and medicines reconciliation. Appointed at Band 4 and moving to Band 5 once training and CPD revalidation are complete, with Band 5 needing seven-day working. Students due to qualify within three months may apply; no Skilled Worker sponsorship is offered.

What the job involves

• Assess patients' own drugs at ward level, outside the dispensary
• Determine and maintain medicine supplies stored at the patient's bedside for safe, timely discharge
• Counsel patients on their medicines to support medicines optimisation
• Complete medicines reconciliation
• Work alongside dedicated pharmacists at ward level in the multidisciplinary team
• Provide cover in the dispensaries and manufacturing unit to meet targets
• Provide cross-site cover when needed
• Complete accredited accuracy checking
• Complete the IMM modules: assessing patients' own drugs, ordering for one-stop dispensing, and medicines reconciliation
• Work seven-day rotas including weekends, late nights and bank holidays (Band 5)
• Support the provision and development of pharmacy services
• Work to the challenges and deadlines of the post

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in pharmacy with BTEC, or equivalent underpinning knowledge

Registration & licences

• Registered with the GPhC as a pharmacy technician

Skills & knowledge

• Basic IT skills
• Adaptable
• Good communication skills
• Good team worker
• Ability to work on own initiative

Other

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the post
• Physically capable of doing the job
• Ability to work to the challenges and deadlines of the post

Nice to have

• Accuracy checker
• Well motivated
• Organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Experience dealing with patients
• Experience in counselling

What’s offered

• Fitness centre at Sunderland Royal Hospital
• Libraries at both hospital sites
• Chaplaincy support
• Care Co-ordinator to help with childcare arrangements
• Flexible working supported under the Trust's Flexible Working Policy
• Access to education, training, career progression and support
• Health and wellbeing support