Senior pharmacy Technician

OUH; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Pharmacy Technician (Band 6) to lead the John Radcliffe Dispensary team. The role manages day-to-day dispensing for in-patients and the discharge pathway, ensuring accuracy, safety and timely service.

You will lead recruitment, induction and training, conduct appraisals, and drive process improvement while maintaining high standards of pharmaceutical care within a busy hospital setting in Oxford.

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with NVQ3 or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversee the Dispensary day-to-day operations.
• Recruitment, induction and training of new staff; conduct appraisals and manage performance.
• Carry out risk assessments and support incident investigations; develop SOPs and service continuity plans.
• Promote a health and safety culture within the dispensary environment.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Decision making

Pharmacy knowledge

Under pressure

Communication

Education

NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent

Tools

Hospital Pharmacy Computer Systems

Robotic dispensing

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Technician Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 9:00-17:15, 1 weekend day per 6 week period, early and late shifts as per rota.) Job ref 321-CSS-8322563-B6

Site John Radcliffe Hospital Town OXFORD Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/10/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

My name is Charlotte Woodward, I am the Operational Manager of the John Radcliffe Pharmacy. I am privileged to lead our very hardworking Dispensary team in providing a dispensary service, supplying in-patient, outpatient and discharge medication to Patients of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen for a full time Senior Pharmacy Technician, to work alongside our existing Senior Pharmacy Technician for Automation and Stock control, to oversee the day to day service provided from the John Radcliffe Dispensary and manage the Dispensary team of staff.

I am very keen to hear from you if you are an experienced Pharmacy Technician with a particular interest in leadership and shaping our future dispensary services.

Main duties of the job

You will need to be a confident decision maker, with clear leadership skills, excellent pharmaceutical knowledge and technical skills and a sound understanding of pharmacy service and hospital services.

The Dispensary issues approx. 35,000 items a month and the Dispensary is an extremely busy and pressurised environment and the post holder will need to be able to continually read the work situation and make informed decisions under pressure to ensure that we meet our Key Performance Indicators and that all dispensary related tasks are completed according to standard operating procedures and in a safe and timely manner.

You will also be involved in all aspects of Dispensary staff management, including recruitment, induction and training of new staff to the team, conducting appraisals for designated staff, through to performance or disciplinary processes should they arise.

You will undertake risk assessments for dispensary related processes, assist the Operational Manager in the investigation of incident reports, writing of standard operating procedures and service continuity plans and promote a health and safety culture within the dispensary environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Technician to be able to fully contribute and help shape our future Dispensary service, during a challenging time within the NHS.

If you have the skills and ambition to take on this challenge then I'd like to hear from you!

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the job description attached detailing the role responsibilities and person specification.

Candidates not meeting the essential criteria listed in the person specification may be offered a band 5-6 progression, more information can be found in the 5-6 progression job description.

The dispensary team is a friendly and hardworking team of 28 staff ranging from band 2 Assistants through to band 7 Technicians.

This is a full-time dispensary based position, 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday, with working hours of 9:00-17:15, however flexible working options would also be considered. You will also be required to participate in weekend working on a 1:6 rota basis, bank holiday, early and late duty rotas as per rota.

Person specification

Registration

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with an NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Science or other equivalent qualification.
• Previous Pharmacy experience, ideally including within a hospital setting..
• Proven experience of managing staff including leading and encouraging team working, recruitment and appraisal.
• Completion of recognised Leadership Training programme
• Confidential and considerate to the needs of other staff.
• Proven competency in writing implementing and monitoring procedures.
• Organised with the ability to prioritise workload and direct staff to designated tasks.
• Copes well under pressure and able to help others to do so.
• Proven time management and problem solving skills.
• Able to work as part of a team and also independently.
• Adaptable and flexible.
• NVQ Assessor (Cava Award or equivalent) or willingness to work towards.
• Intermediate word and excel.
• Commitment to continuing Professional Development of self and others.
• Proven experience of hospital pharmacy computer systems, including robotic dispensing.
• In-depth knowledge of Pharmacy Purchasing and stock control management
• Experience of Audit and Project work
• European Computer Driving License
• Experience of conducting Risk Assessments
• Experience of investigating incidents.
• Fire Incident Co-ordinator trained
• First Aid trained

Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospital promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers / Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.

When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or be able to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Vacancies with our PFI partners

Domestic / catering / portering services at the John Radcliffe Hospital are provided by Mitie.

Domestic / catering / portering / maintenance engineer services at the Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre are provided by G4S.

Maintenance engineer services at the John Radcliffe Hospital are provided by Equans.

Fraudulent recruiters have been using social media platforms to dupe potential job seekers into divulging personal and financial information.

Sophisticated frauds, involving grooming of targeted individuals, shows the fake recruiter asking the unsuspecting job seeker to take part in a fake job interview, either over the phone or via WhatsApp, and also sending fraudulent follow-up correspondence offering job positions.

All meetings and interviews will be scheduled on Microsoft Teams from a verified OUH email account.

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