Rotational Pharmacy Technician (Progression Role)

West Suffolk Nhs Foundation Trust; West Stow; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Rotational Pharmacy Technician to join our hospital pharmacy team. If you are a qualified technician or pre‑registration trainee aiming for GPhC registration, join a supportive department focused on high‑quality patient care.

Responsibilities include dispensary support, ward stock control, medicines reconciliation and patient counselling, with progression to Band 5 following in‑house competencies and GPhC registration.

Qualifications

• Relevant Level 3/4 pharmacy technician qualification for GPhC registration.
• Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
• Experience in hospital, retail or other pharmacy environments.
• Experience dealing with members of the public.
• Knowledge of pharmacy-based computer systems.

Responsibilities

• Support dispensary services: check stock, process prescriptions, order medicines, label and counsel patients.
• Support ward-based activities: stock control, medicines reconciliation, discharge medicines and liaise with ward teams.
• Communicate with patients to inform and coach on healthcare needs.
• Support improvements in patient safety, staff wellbeing and team support.

Skills

Professional communication

Prioritise workload

Time management

Attention to detail

Decision making

Teamwork in busy environment

Education

Level 3/4 Pharmacy Technician

GPhC registration

BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Science

Accredited Checking (B5) aspirant

Medicines reconciliation training (B5)

Accredited patient consultation skills

ACPT (Desirable)

Tools

Pharmacy computer systems

MS Office

Job description

Job summary

At West Suffolk, our patients are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to delivering the best quality and safest care to our local communities and need committed and skilled people to help us achieve this. Are you a qualified Pharmacy Technician or Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technician working towards qualification and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)? Are you dynamic, pro-active and enthusiastic about providing exceptional care and experience for patients? If the answer is yes, the Pharmacy Department is currently recruiting for a Rotational Pharmacy Technician to join our team and enhance the pool of exceptional staff we have working at West Suffolk Hospital.

Main duties of the job

• Support dispensary services by checking stock and prescriptions, ordering medicines, dispensing, labelling, accuracy checking and counselling patients on their pharmaceutical needs.
• Support ward-based activities by undertaking stock control, medication supply, medicines reconciliation, expediting medicines for patient discharge and utilising close liaison with ward pharmacists, medical and nursing teams.
• Communication with patients to inform and coach them about their healthcare requirements.
• Support improvements in patient safety, staff support and health and wellbeing.

Pre-registration pharmacy technicians who prove successful during interview, will automatically be employed at band 4 once the necessary qualification and registration with the GPhC is attained. A six-month progression plan will be implemented to allow necessary in-house competencies to be achieved. Successful completion alongside visible display of necessary behaviours in line with GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals will allow progression to band 5. Qualified technicians that wish to apply, but do not fully meet person specification essential criteria, are still encouraged to do so. All candidates will be reviewed before and during the interview process to assess their level of knowledge and experience.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community. We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings. The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge. Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital. We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description and person specification attached for further information. With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be. We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are. Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant Level 3 / 4 pharmacy technician qualification suitable for GPhC registration.
• Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
• oBTEC Pharmaceutical Science NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Band 5 only
• oAccredited Checking (or nearing completion of accreditation) B5 Only
• oMedicines Reconciliation (or nearing completion of accreditation) B5 only

Desirable

• Accredited patient consultation skills.
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT).
• Medicines Management Service (POD & Supply) competent.
• Medicines Reconciliation competent.
• oA1/V1 Assessor Award.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working in hospital, retail, or other pharmacy environment.
• Experience of dealing with members of the public.
• Knowledge of pharmacy-based computer systems.
• Supervision of staff, including pre-registration.

Desirable

• oSupervisory skills. B5 only
• oKnowledge of pharmacy-based computer systems. B5 only

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Communicate and interact with members of the public and other health care workers in a professional manner.
• Prioritise and manage workload.
• Manage time effectively.
• Demonstrate attention to detail.
• Make decisions and problem solve.
• Maintain composure, working in a methodical, organised manner in a busy environment.
• Work to deadlines and meet agreed objectives.
• Undertake manual handling activities, using appropriate lifting aids if necessary.
• oExperience of dealing with members of the public and other health care workers in a professional manner. Band 5 only
• oHave an all-round knowledge of the technical aspects of hospital pharmacy and a broad outlook of pharmaceutical issues. - B5
• oAble to work closely and in liaison with co-workers within the department.
• oAttention to detail.

Desirable

• Familiar with IT software e.g. MS Office.
• All-round knowledge of the technical aspects of hospital pharmacy.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Positive attitude to work.
• Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes positive team working ethic.
• Effective communications skills including verbal, written and digital.
• Shares information and good practice appropriately.
• Flexible approach to working hours and duties.
• Treat everyone with respect and dignity recognising differing perspective and opinion.

Desirable

• Familiar with IT software e.g. MS Office.
• All-round knowledge of the technical aspects of hospital pharmacy.

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