Main area Pharmacy
Grade NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract Permanent: Includes late working and bank holidays and weekends on rotation
Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Late nights, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.)
Job ref 407-WCCSS-6998643
Employer Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Walsall Manor Hospital, Pharmacy Department
Town Walsall
Salary £26,530 - £29,114 per annum pro rata
Salary period Yearly
Closing 09/04/2025 23:59
NHS AfC: Band 4
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust provides integrated acute and community Healthcare in the West Midlands serving a population of 260,000 residents. Walsall Manor Hospital houses the full range of district general hospital services. The £170 million development was completed in 2010 and we are continually upgrading. Construction of the new integrated critical care unit was completed in 2018, extension of a Neonatal Unit and an approved plan to build a brand new, state of the art Emergency Department which commenced in 2021.
We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from multiple sites covering Walsall. Our multidisciplinary services include rapid response and home-based care, so that those with long term conditions and the frail elderly can remain in their own homes.
We are recommended by colleagues as a place to work which is supported by the trusts values to work as part of a team, being respectful, compassionate and professional. We are committed to investing in our workforce.
Following our recent CQC visit the Trust was rated as outstanding for care and this has been recognised by NHS Improvement.
The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including: salary sacrifice scheme; car leasing scheme; on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability); the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme; and the opportunity to develop and implement your expertise in an encouraging yet challenging environment.
We would particularly welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and from people with a disability; these groups are currently under-represented at senior level, we value diversity within our Trust and are working to achieve equality in our recruitment.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment at this time, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. We will be checking the vaccination status of all new starters so that we can manage individual and environmental risks, and so that we can support those who may be undecided about vaccination.
Job overview
Must be a qualified pharmacy technician and have GPHC registration or the ability to register in September/October 2025.
Undertake further education and training to advance the role of Pharmacy Technicians within the department.
Support the work of the main dispensary including controlled drug dispensing and daily running of supplies to external customers.
To support in the provision of an extended hour's service.
Main duties of the job
A pharmacy technician is required to support the rotational pharmacy team in our very busy pharmacy department. This challenging position combines the duties of in-patient dispensary and out-patient dispensary, ward work, procurement of medicines, aseptic production and the supervision and training of assistants and students.
All applicants must have proven experience and ability of delivering pharmaceutical services within a pharmacy environment. Total flexibility of working hours is a necessity. Applications from community pharmacy technicians with the relevant qualifications and those awaiting registration will be considered as full training and support will be given. For any candidates awaiting registration an interim contract will be issued until registration is finalised with the GPHc.
Qualifications necessary are NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services, BTEC (Pharmaceutical Science) or equivalent, and registration or the ability to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council is essential.
As part of the role is the requirement for accreditation to final check dispensed medicines before release to patients and wards. Candidates not holding this certification are expected to complete an Accredited Checking Course.
Working for our organisation
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 286,700, providing inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To participate in the rotational pharmacy technician rota within the department and provide technical pharmaceutical services in all areas, to include:
* Dispensary services
* Ward based medicines management
* Aseptic preparation
* Pharmacy Procurement
* Pharmacy distribution
* Receipt of orders from wholesalers
To operate at all times within the local Standard Operating Procedures relevant to the area of work.
To receive, interpret, validate, dispense and issue routine and non-routine prescriptions for in-patients and out-patients, external hospices, controlled drug dispensing, seeking advice from senior staff where appropriate.
To dispense and self-check medications both manually and with the use of a computerised automated dispensing system.
To undertake the receipt of prescriptions direct from patients, operating the cash register and receiving monies and card payments from the general public.
To take all appropriate action to ensure that patients receive the correct medication, with advice and counselling and that all directions associated with medicines are fully understood.
To prepare aseptic products after training and completion of a broth test. This will require manipulation within an isolator to produce:
* Cytotoxic reconstitution
* Other aseptically prepared products on an ad hoc basis
To participate in the work in pharmacy stores, including the ordering of pharmaceuticals, goods receipt, invoice reconciliation and the maintenance of the Homecare Patient service.
To participate in the supply, distribution and return of stock to and from wards, departments and community clinics including:
* The top up service
* Automated cupboard replenishment
To provide a ward based stock control service as necessary, working with the appropriate ward pharmacist, technician and nursing staff to ensure efficient ward stock control.
To dispense and record appropriate details, according to written protocols for unlicensed and named patient medicines within pharmacy.
To dispense and replenish controlled drugs completing the necessary legal documentation.
To work on wards completing the following tasks:
* Drug histories
* Patients Own Drugs (PODs) assessment
* Medication supply for patient specific medicines
* Replenishment of stock medicines
* Participation in audits
Completing in-house Medicines Management Training pack.
Post qualification and with significant experience working within the dispensary, to work towards gaining Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician status (ACPT) and complete the final accuracy of medicines prior to issue to patient.
To dispose of medicines if unsuitable for use according to SOPs working under the supervision of a technician or pharmacist.
To arrange for medicines to be re-labelled where necessary working to local SOPs under the supervision of a registered technician or pharmacist.
To demonstrate on request appropriate tasks to unqualified and support staff.
To participate in education and training programmes when appropriate and ensure that accurate records are kept of Continuous Professional Development, to ensure continued registration.
To develop skills and knowledge in order to extend the professional service offered by pharmacy technicians to patients and staff within the Trust.
To undertake the in-house rotational technician training programme, passing competencies proving ability in each area.
To provide feedback on procedures when requested to by the Senior, Lead and Operational Technician(s).
To participate in the provision of extended hours of service, including late night working, Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays, according to formal rota arrangements.
To report any suspected or observed defects in medicinal products and equipment to the appropriate person.
To be familiar with, and maintain, safe standards of work and adequate records of all processes.
To have due regard for, and to conform at all times with, those aspects of the General Pharmaceutical Council Code of Professional Ethics that apply to registered professionals.
To have due regard for all statutory guidance applicable to the pharmacy, including Health and Safety at Work, Manual Handling and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
To maintain at all times the rules relating to patient confidentiality.
To maintain a clean and tidy department, organising the removal of waste to designated areas and transferring them for incineration.
To have due regard for the Trust policies on discrimination.
This list of duties is not exhaustive, and is subject to review at all times and in particular in the light of further developments in pharmaceutical services.
Person specification
Registration
* GPHC registration or the ability to register in September/October 2025
* Accuracy Checking Acreditation Certificate
* Relevant current experience in a pharmacy setting
Skills
* Able to accurately label and dispense medicines
* Experience of working in a healthcare/ pharmaceutical setting
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Service Skills
Dispensing of complex prescriptions
* Able to translate complex instructions to patients from prescriptions and counsel patients on the use of their medicines
Please note your application will be transferred from the NHS Jobs system to internal Walsall Healthcare Trac System. All correspondence will be sent via Trac
Following our recent CQC visit the Trust was rated as outstanding for care and this has been recognised by NHS Improvement.
** Please Note that this post may be identified as suitable and a preference given for Internal at Risk Employees**
IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM
References from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. When completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover this period. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please review the attached Job description and person specification carefully before applying to ensure that you meet the essential job requirements.
Availability Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
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