Specialist Pharmacy Technician - Sustainability

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Pharmacy Technician for sustainability projects. You will support medicines optimisation, engage clinical teams, and help deliver greener, safer medicines use across the Trust.

This permanent role involves data analysis, training delivery, audits, and involvement in policy development and service improvement to align with NHS Net Zero ambitions and the Trust Green Plan.

Qualifications

• NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent, and GPhC registration.
• Post-qualification pharmacy knowledge across areas of specialism.
• Experience in staff management and workforce supervision.
• Experience in recruitment and selection processes.
• Ability to supply medicines accurately in hospital or community settings.
• Commitment to ongoing CPD and professional development.
• Experience handling customer/patient complaints.

Responsibilities

• Lead medicines optimisation and sustainability initiatives within the trust.
• Support anti-infectives team and clinical colleagues in projects.
• Analyse data, undertake audits and develop training materials.
• Contribute to policy development and quality improvement programs.

Skills

Pharmacy knowledge

Staff management

CPD

Customer complaints

Recruitment

Medicines supply

Leadership

Operational workload

Education

NVQ3/ BTEC in pharmaceutical science

GPhC registration

Tools

JAC stock control system

Job description

Job Overview

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

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Specialist Pharmacy Technician - Sustainability

Contract Type: Permanent

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Pharmacy Technician looking for an opportunity to shape the future of sustainable healthcare? At University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, we are seeking an innovative Band 6 Specialist Clinical Pharmacy Technician to join our team. This exciting new role will support the delivery of high-profile pharmacy sustainability projects that improve patient care, reduce environmental impact and deliver significant financial benefits to the Trust.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

As part of the pharmacy anti-infectives team you will work closely with pharmacists, clinical teams, divisional sustainability leads and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in implementing medicines optimisation initiatives across the Trust. These projects include reducing unnecessary intravenous medicines use through IV-to-oral antimicrobial and paracetamol switching programmes, supporting patients to transition from liquid medicines to tablets where clinically appropriate, and identifying further opportunities to improve the sustainability of medicines use. These initiatives are anticipated to deliver substantial savings while reducing the carbon footprint associated with healthcare delivery.

The post holder will provide specialist medicines management support, review patients to optimise medicines use, undertake audits, collect and analyse data, develop training materials, deliver education to clinical teams and support service improvement programmes. You will also contribute to policy development, implementation of standard operating procedures and ongoing quality improvement initiatives across the organisation.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated technician who enjoys leading change, engaging clinical teams and using data to improve patient outcomes. You will have the chance to work on projects that directly support the Trust Green Plan, NHS Net Zero ambitions and the wider transformation agenda.

What We're Looking For

You will be a registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC, possessing significant post-qualification experience and a passion for medicines optimisation and service improvement. Strong communication, leadership and organisational skills are essential, alongside experience delivering training, managing workloads, undertaking audits and supporting service developments.

In return we can offer

• An opportunity to lead innovative sustainability programmes with Trust-wide impact.
• Experience working alongside pharmacy, medical and sustainability leaders.
• A supportive environment that values improvement, innovation and professional development.
• Opportunities to contribute to regional and system-wide sustainability initiatives. Join us and help deliver safer, greener and more sustainable medicines use across Southampton and the wider Hampshire and Isle of Wight health system.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent Technician registered with GPhC
• One of the following additional specialist pharmacy qualifications Recognised accuracy checking qualification/accreditation. Medicines management qualification. TAQA assessor or equivalent teaching/training qualification CIPS level 4 Foundation management or equivalent demonstrable experience of day-to-day operational management of staff and workload
• Extensive post qualification Pharmacy knowledge /experience in one or more areas of pharmacy specialism
• Experience of staff management/operational workload and workforce supervision
• Recruitment and selection experience
• Competent in the accurate supply of medicines (in hospital or community pharmacy)
• Evidence of commitment to relevant ongoing CPD and personal and professional development
• Dealing with and resolving customers/patients’ complaints

Desirable criteria

• Experience of leading a team
• Additional specialist pharmacy qualifications e.g. Completed APTUK Foundation Framework Recognised accuracy checking qualification/accreditation. Medicines management qualification. TAQA assessor or equivalent teaching/training qualification CIPS level 4 Foundation management or equivalent demonstrable experience of day-to-day operational management of staff and workload. Quality/Service improvement Qualification
• Awareness of current professional regulations/issues
• Experience of JAC or similar computer stock control system
• Experience of service development and or design and implementation of audit
• Experience relevant to role applied for e.g.: Logistics, providing a ward-based medicines management service, Clinical Trials or research experience, Aseptic services experience
• Experience of mentoring/coaching/motivating others
• Experience of ESR and E rostering systems