263260 Pharmacy Technician - Higher Level

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Edinburgh (IN); On-site; USD 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development and training

Dynamic and collaborative environment

Make a real difference in patient care

Job summary

NHS Lothian’s Pharmacy & Medicines Service at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is seeking a Pharmacy Technician Higher Level (Band 5) for a 36-hour, permanent post to join a proactive pharmacy team. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure safe, timely medicines use and high-quality patient care.

Key duties include taking medication histories on admission, supporting medicines management during inpatient stays, verifying discharge prescriptions, and providing specialist

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Holds a Final Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT) qualification.
• Normally holds an HNC in Pharmacy Services Development and Management; equivalence may be considered with portfolio evidence and mapping assessment.

Responsibilities

• Taking comprehensive medication histories upon patient admission.
• Supporting medicines management throughout the inpatient stay.
• Verifying discharge prescriptions to ensure accuracy and continuity of care.
• Providing specialist counselling to patients to promote understanding and adherence to their medication regimens.
• Participate in ACT activities within the Dispensary.
• Leading and developing yourself and others within the team.

Skills

GPhC registration

ACT qualification

Evidence portfolio

Commitment to patient care

Education

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration

Final Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT) qualification

Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Pharmacy Services Development and Management

Job description

Pharmacy Technician Higher Level (Band 5)

NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Band 5 - 36 Hours - 2 posts - Permanent

(including evenings, weekends and public holidays commitment)

Advance Your Career as a Clinical Pharmacy Technician

Are you an experienced pharmacy technician ready to take the next step in your career?

Join our proactive and supportive pharmacy team and play a key role in delivering high-quality patient care.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

About The Role

As a Clinical Pharmacy Technician, you will work closely with both pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the safe, timely, and effective use of medicines. Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking comprehensive medication histories upon patient admission
• Supporting medicines management throughout the inpatient stay
• Verifying discharge prescriptions to ensure accuracy and continuity of care
• Providing specialist counselling to patients to promote understanding and adherence to their medication regimens
• Participate in regular ACT activities within the Dispensary
• Leading and developing yourself and others within the team

W are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and passionate about improving patient outcomes through safe and effective medicines use.

What We Offer

• A dynamic and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A chance to make a real difference in patient care

About You

We are seeking a dedicated and qualified individual who meets the following criteria:

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Holds a Final Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT) qualification (HN Unit: Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians or Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Award (provided by Buttercups or NPA, 2019 or before).
• Candidates should normally hold a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Pharmacy Services Development and Management. However, applicants who do not possess this qualification but can demonstrate equivalent professional experience may also be considered. In such cases, a completed Mapping Assessment Form and a supporting Portfolio of Evidence must be submitted as part of the application process (copies are included with the Job Description and Person Specification with this advert). Applicants who are shortlisted will receive detailed guidance, including instructions and timelines, for completing and submitting this documentation. We advise that you start building your portfolio as soon as possible to give you the longest time possible before the submission date.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing patient care through proactive and evidence-based pharmaceutical services.

About NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian covers Edinburgh city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. We are the second largest health system in NHS Scotland and one of only four teaching Boards. We have strategic partnerships with local Universities, Local Authorities and our four Integration Joint Boards. We serve a population of 900,000, providing a range of primary, community based and acute hospital services. We also provide regional and national services across a range of clinical specialties.

The vision for the Pharmacy & Medicines service is to deliver clinically led, person-centred services to ensure patients across Lothian get the best from their medicines and pharmacy services. We are focussed on creating an environment where each person in the team has the opportunity to flourish, develop and make best use of their skills.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

For comprehensive details regarding the responsibilities of this position and the qualifications we are seeking, please consult the job description and person specification provided below. If you are curious about the role, the team you will be joining, or the opportunities that come with it, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to the hiring manager for an informal chat; it's a great opportunity to ask questions and see how this role could fit with your career goals.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact

Adele Stinear, Lead Clinical Pharmacy Technician

0131 242 2908 [e-mail]

or

Peggy Sorin, Lead Clinical Pharmacy Technician

0131 242 2908 | [e-mail]