Lead Technician Medicines Optimisation
| Posting date: | 29 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,682.00 to £46,580.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £38682.00 - £46580.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 August 2025 |
| Location: | Darlington, DL3 6HX |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9439-2425-0094 |
Summary
Service Development & Delivery The post holder will: Work with the care group lead pharmacists, lead pharmacy technicians across site (Medicines Management, Medicines Safety and Education & Training) to support the development of medicines optimisation services across the Trust including: - facilitating the provision of medicines optimisation services at ward and department level as necessary - developing and implementing policies, procedures and guidance for medicines optimisation pharmacy technicians to support best practice in medicines optimisation at ward level - developing, reviewing and maintaining ward-based training accreditation programmes for pharmacy technicians working within ward-based medicines optimisation services - providing supervision for ward based pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians working in wards and departments - monitoring and evaluating the practice and competency of pharmacy technicians working in wards and departments - performing audits of workload as necessary to streamline quality of service on a regular basis. Working with the Medication Safety Team, identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning safe and secure handling of medicines are required within the department or at ward level if appropriate, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards and departments. Identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning controlled drugs are required on wards, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards. Organise projects and training in relation to ward-based optimisation as required. Provide the Care Group Lead Pharmacists with details of output, performance and activity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist. Liaise and work closely with the Chief Pharmacy Technician, Care Group Lead Pharmacists and Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training). Patient Care The post holder will: Participate in the front-line provision of clinical services as appropriate and when required. Actively provide technical support to pharmacists on wards in order to support the pharmacy ward-based medicines optimisation service. This includes undertaking and supporting the following activities in accordance with departmental procedures: - Medicines Reconciliation - Assessment of Patients Own Drugs - Ordering of medicines (that are clinically screened by a pharmacist) - Supporting implementation of self-administration by patients and/or carers where possible - Dispensing of discharge prescriptions to facilitate timely discharges Participate in the efficient management and review of ward stocks. Communicate with community pharmacies, where necessary, as part of the discharge processes. Promote cost-effective and appropriate use of medicines in the best interest of the patient. At times of significant bed pressures, act as a discharge co-ordinator for the department and implement efficient systems for discharge when necessary. Staff Management The post holder will: Line manage pharmacy staff across the Trust where needed and take responsibility (directly for senior staff and delegated to senior staff for more junior staff) forl the following, according to Trust procedures: - Appraisals and objective setting - Sickness absence - Disciplinary and grievance matters - Recruitment and selection - Personal development - Departmental workload allocations In conjunction with other lead pharmacy technicians, be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants, ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department. Work alongside the Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to identify the training and development needs of all pharmacy staff involved in the medicines optimisation service. Facilitate the training and development of medicines optimisation pharmacy staff on wards in line with service needs and personal development plans. Work with the Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to support the lead pharmacist with responsibility for education & training in co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff as required. Co-ordinate and provide advice on continuing professional development (CPD) for all technical staff within Pharmacy. Education & Training The post holder will: Support, co-ordinate and deliver training to the pharmacy team on issues associated with medicines optimisation & in-house service developments as necessary. Support the provision of training regarding ward-based pharmacy services to nursing and medical staff, ranging from one to one communications to more formal presentations in order to promote medicines optimisation services and practice. Evaluate and develop own management and professional knowledge competencies by attendance at in-house training programmes, external training programmes, self-education and practice research. Support the Chief Pharmacy Technician to co-ordinate and deliver pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant training across the department to ensure students receive the vocational training required. This will be by providing appropriate support and delivery of underpinning knowledge sessions to complete the qualification within the timescale. Research & Development The post holder will: Support the publication of practice research in medicines optimisation. Support the integration of research evidence into practice. Identify gaps in evidence base and, working with the Lead Pharmacist with responsibility for Practice Research, develop potential plans to research specific areas of practice. Governance, Information & Data Management The post holder will: Support the collation of quantitative and qualitative performance measures, co-ordinate their use and be involved in disseminating and acting on the information gathered, as relevant for the medicines optimisation service. Collate and review audit data relating to outcome measures associated with medicines optimisation services and utilise available information to influence and develop services in the Trust. Support the investigation of medication related incidents and the formulation and delivery of actions plans across the Trust to address problems identified where appropriate. Ensure that the principles of safe and secure handling of medicines are adopted and to take part in quality assurance systems for pharmacy services.