Job summary Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region (Halton, Warrington, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and St Helens) and is also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. We are looking to appoint an experienced candidate with drive and aptitude to become part of a dynamic and developing Pharmacy Team. We are committed to developing and training our staff and you will work in a supportive environment with training opportunities, to build on your foundation skills and develop your expertise. This post is open to all internal and external staff who work within the Medicines Management and meet the essential criteria. You will join our dynamic, Trust wide medicines management quality and governance team in providing medicines optimisation, quality improvement and support safe use of medicines across the Trust. This post is a fixed term post to cover maternity leave. The postholder will work within the Medicines Information and Formulary compliance team but also outreach to support medicines management colleagues working in clinical services. Main duties of the job You will be joining the experienced medicines information service based in the pharmacy department at Maghull Health Park. You will be expected to work as part of the multidisciplinary team to support completion of key Medicines Information and Formulary work including answering queries in a timely way using the Medicines Information reference system, supporting complex clinical queries and supporting the Trust with formulary compliance. You will have the opportunity to develop your practice in a wide range of clinical areas in a large organisation but as part of smaller supportive medicines management teams. You will be supported in any ongoing studies relevant to the role. You will be expected to co-ordinate work plans, complete audits, develop training and SOPs, write reports; and lead meetings that are relevant to your role. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We call this continuous improvement in quality and sustainability, 'striving for perfect care'. Our aim is to play a full part in the health and social care economies we serve, by promoting and driving greater integration between mental and physical health and social care. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. About us Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. Date posted 17 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours Reference number 350-TWS6937067 Job locations Medicines Management Building Maghull Health Park Maghull L31 1HW Job description Job responsibilities To provide technical support to the Trusts medicines management team, as the dedicated technician for the medicines information and clinical trials services. In accordance with local procedure, to provide detailed clinical and pharmaceutical information in response to queries from pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals, service users and their carers. To perform literature, database and internet searches, and contact external agencies (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, other NHS trusts) as required in order to provide appropriate answers to enquiries. To take an active role in the training and development of medicines management staff with regard to medicines information. To provide detailed written information to support pharmaceutical care planning. To develop and implement policies and procedures relating to the trust medicines information service. To liaise with the regional medicines information unit, with regard to service development. To develop and maintain medicines information related databases. To provide statistics to the regional medicines information unit. To oversee distribution of medicines information literature within the trust. Refer to the job description and person specification for full details Job description Job responsibilities To provide technical support to the Trusts medicines management team, as the dedicated technician for the medicines information and clinical trials services. In accordance with local procedure, to provide detailed clinical and pharmaceutical information in response to queries from pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals, service users and their carers. To perform literature, database and internet searches, and contact external agencies (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, other NHS trusts) as required in order to provide appropriate answers to enquiries. To take an active role in the training and development of medicines management staff with regard to medicines information. To provide detailed written information to support pharmaceutical care planning. To develop and implement policies and procedures relating to the trust medicines information service. To liaise with the regional medicines information unit, with regard to service development. To develop and maintain medicines information related databases. To provide statistics to the regional medicines information unit. To oversee distribution of medicines information literature within the trust. Refer to the job description and person specification for full details Person Specification Qualifications Essential BTEC/ NVQ level 3 in pharmaceutical science, or equivalent qualification BTEC/ NVQ Level 3 in pharmacy service skills, or equivalent qualification Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council BTEC/ NVQ Level 4 in dispensing accuracy checking (or willingness to work towards) UKMi Accredited Medicine Information Technicians Training Scheme (AMITTS) (or willingness to work towards) Desirable Good clinical practice (GCP) training Knowledge/Experience Essential Experience of working within pharmaceutical services knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures within the specialist areas of medicines information and clinical trials, acquired through training Experience of CPD Experience or knowledge of medicines management services within an NHS context Clear understanding of relevant legislation and guidance Experience of dealing with complex enquiries knowledge of the evidence base relating to the prescribing of medication in mental health services Desirable Understanding of the working of organisations Values Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented Skills Essential Excellent organisational skills Excellent IT skills, including the use of databases and online information resources Excellent communication skills: - written - verbal - listening Ability to understand, interpret and respond appropriately to complex information requests Ability to undertake effective literature searches Ability to explain information verbally in a way that is understood Ability to present written information clearly, concisely and accurately Excellent interpersonal skills Problem-solving skills Ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively to meet specified deadlines Ability to work individually and to work as a team leader Ability to work flexibly Self-motivated and able to use initiative Ability to work under pressure Recognition of own limitations and ability to ask for support when necessary Professional manner Ability to travel between different sites Person Specification Qualifications Essential BTEC/ NVQ level 3 in pharmaceutical science, or equivalent qualification BTEC/ NVQ Level 3 in pharmacy service skills, or equivalent qualification Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council BTEC/ NVQ Level 4 in dispensing accuracy checking (or willingness to work towards) UKMi Accredited Medicine Information Technicians Training Scheme (AMITTS) (or willingness to work towards) Desirable Good clinical practice (GCP) training Knowledge/Experience Essential Experience of working within pharmaceutical services knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures within the specialist areas of medicines information and clinical trials, acquired through training Experience of CPD Experience or knowledge of medicines management services within an NHS context Clear understanding of relevant legislation and guidance Experience of dealing with complex enquiries knowledge of the evidence base relating to the prescribing of medication in mental health services Desirable Understanding of the working of organisations Values Essential Continuous Improvement Accountability Respectfulness Enthusiasm Support High professional standards Responsive to service users Engaging leadership style Strong customer service belief Transparency and honesty Discreet Change oriented Skills Essential Excellent organisational skills Excellent IT skills, including the use of databases and online information resources Excellent communication skills: - written - verbal - listening Ability to understand, interpret and respond appropriately to complex information requests Ability to undertake effective literature searches Ability to explain information verbally in a way that is understood Ability to present written information clearly, concisely and accurately Excellent interpersonal skills Problem-solving skills Ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively to meet specified deadlines Ability to work individually and to work as a team leader Ability to work flexibly Self-motivated and able to use initiative Ability to work under pressure Recognition of own limitations and ability to ask for support when necessary Professional manner Ability to travel between different sites 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. 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 Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Address Medicines Management Building Maghull Health Park Maghull L31 1HW Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)