Job summary
Are you a band 5 looking for a different challenge? or a band 4 pharmacy technician with post qualification experience? If so we would love to hear from you!
We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated and adaptable pharmacy technician with good communication and interpersonal skills to support our clinical pharmacy services in Mental Health and Community Health services. Your responsibilities will include:
- Medicines reconciliation for new admissions
- Checking medicine charts on wards for technical accuracy
- Providing support, advice and training to wards
- Working with patients to facilitate discharge planning
- Supporting the operation of clozapine clinics.
This is a full-time post but we are happy to consider part-time applicants as we are committed to enabling good work/life balance for our team. Training where needed (eg PWDS medicines management qualification), and support to fulfil the role will be provided and we encourage staff to pursue further appropriate qualifications.
Somerset NHS FT includes the acute hospital at Musgrove Park Hospital, Yeovil District Hospital and the Mental health and Community hospital services.
We have 3 bases around the Trust at Bridgwater, Taunton and Yeovil.Your base will be dependent upon your home location. You will be required to travel to hospital sites within approximately 45 minutes of your base.Previous applicants need not apply.
Main duties of the job
- Support designated wards in ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines.
- Provide support and advice on Medicines Management in the designated wards particularly focussing on medicines reconciliation on admission and discharge facilitation.
- Deputise for the other pharmacy technicians in the team and provide cover for holidays and sickness.
- Provide liaison between Trust wards and the contracted medicine supplier.
- Promote the safe, appropriate and cost effective use of medicines within the Trust.
- Provide individual inpatients and out patients with support and advice to ensure compliance with medication regimes.
- Take part in a rota for provision of pharmaceutical support to clozapine monitoring clinics, including near patient testing.
- Support the running of the service for the coordination and supply of clozapine to community patients including near patient testing at clozapine monitoring clinics.
- Support community mental health teams.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Medicine Optimisation Technician principal role is to provide support in the Clinical Pharmacy service as part of the Medicines Optimisation Team. This role will include Medicine reconciliation, assessment of patients own drugs, counselling patients about their medicine, discharge facilitation and ward and dispensary-based medication supply. The post holder will be required to act in a supervisory role and assist in the training and development of junior staff.
Please refer to Job Description for full details of the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Medicine Optimisation Technician principal role is to provide support in the Clinical Pharmacy service as part of the Medicines Optimisation Team. This role will include Medicine reconciliation, assessment of patients own drugs, counselling patients about their medicine, discharge facilitation and ward and dispensary-based medication supply. The post holder will be required to act in a supervisory role and assist in the training and development of junior staff.
Please refer to Job Description for full details of the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- NVQ level 3/ BTEC in pharmaceutical sciences or an equivalent recognised Pharmacy Technician qualification
- Registered pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council for Great Britain
Desirable
- Medicines reconciliation experience within primary or secondary care
- SW Medicines Management accredited technician or equivalent including: Managing Patient Medication/Meds Rec/Discharge Facilitation
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of principles relating to good medicines management in a hospital and community setting
- Knowledge of drugs used in the treatment of common chronic conditions
- Experience of working with patients
Desirable
- Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of supervising staff
- Understanding of medicines optimisation in a mental health environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
- Flexible and adaptive with positive approach to change
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- NVQ level 3/ BTEC in pharmaceutical sciences or an equivalent recognised Pharmacy Technician qualification
- Registered pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council for Great Britain
Desirable
- Medicines reconciliation experience within primary or secondary care
- SW Medicines Management accredited technician or equivalent including: Managing Patient Medication/Meds Rec/Discharge Facilitation
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of principles relating to good medicines management in a hospital and community setting
- Knowledge of drugs used in the treatment of common chronic conditions
- Experience of working with patients
Desirable
- Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of supervising staff
- Understanding of medicines optimisation in a mental health environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
- Flexible and adaptive with positive approach to change
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
