Specialist Pharmacy Technician

Job summary
Provide safe and effective pharmacy support to the dispensary and adult wards within the Trust. The role combines ward-facing clinical medicines optimisation work with dispensary duties, supporting safe and accurate supply of medicines, medicines reconciliation, patient counselling and discharge processes. The postholder is expected to develop professional, technical and clinical skills through continuing professional development. The post compromises of 4 days per week of clinical ward-facing work and one day per week embedded in the dispensary. Hours are 37.5 per week, with late duties, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.

Main duties of the job
Professional knowledge and expertise

• Apply procedures for dispensing inpatient, outpatient, day-patient and discharge prescriptions, including checking prescription clarity, patient details, labels and Patient Information Leaflets.
• Follow procedures for controlled drugs, including safe storage and handling, daily balance checks, stock control and arranging destruction with the Senior Technician and a Trust Board representative.
• Comply with Trust, directorate and departmental policies, procedures and protocols, legal requirements and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards.
• Maintain competence through continuing professional development and relevant training, including Medicines Optimisation units delivered by Pharmacy Workforce Development South where applicable.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities
Problem-solving and decision-making

• Identify unclear, incomplete or discrepant prescriptions and contact the appropriate pharmacist, prescriber or ward to resolve queries before proceeding.
• Identify and escalate stock shortages, expired stock, controlled-drug discrepancies and other issues affecting the pharmacy service.
• Support clinical pharmacists and medical staff in identifying and resolving medication-related problems; refer matters outside own competence to the appropriate clinician.
• Where qualified in Medicines Optimisation, clinically prioritise ward work and liaise with the multidisciplinary team as appropriate.
• Use professional judgement within the limits of competence, procedures and GPhC standards.

Person specification
Education and qualifications

• Essential: Registered pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Essential: Accredited medicines optimisation technician with a minimum of 6 months ward facing experience
• Essential: Accredited accuracy checking technician
• Essential: Maths and English qualification (GCSE A*-C/Grade 4 or above)
• Desirable: Leadership qualification i.e Edward Jenner leadership course or equivalent

Knowledge

• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good time management skills
• Ability to work alone or in a team
• Computer literate

Experience

• Proven recent hospital experience delivering a dispensing/clinical service as a pharmacy technician
• Previous experience of supporting the training and teaching of others
• Proven ability to dispense medicines accurately without errors
• Previous experience working in a clinical, patient-facing environment
• Desirable: Previous participation in audit or quality improvement work

Personal qualities

• Respectful, supportive, innovative and collaborative approach
• Self motivated
• Flexible and adaptive approach
• Committed to providing a high-quality pharmacy service

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.

Certificate of sponsorship
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).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/

Contact for questions about the job: Pharmacy Distribution/Support Services Manager, Benjamin Bullar, benjamin.bullar@uhbw.nhs.uk, 01173422053