Job summary We are looking to appoint a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Senior Pharmacy Technician (Clinical Services). Your role will involve working with the Chief Pharmacy Technician (Clinical Services) to manage and develop our technical ward services team. This role requires excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, alongside sound knowledge of clinical ward services. Relevant experience and good written and verbal communication skills are also essential. You will also support the Chief Pharmacy Technician (Clinical Services) to manage and co-ordinate the technical staff on wards, implement omnicell systems at ward level and manage the satellite dispensaries on wards. In addition, you will be required to provide medicines management cover to clinical ward services; completing medicines reconciliation, discharge planning and final accuracy checking of prescriptions. The department operates a 7 day service to the Medical Care Group. Participation in the late night working, weekend and Bank Holiday rotas will also be required. Interview Date - Week Commencing 25th November 2025 Main duties of the job To support the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to develop and manage the clinical pharmacy technical ward services. To support the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services, manage the ward-based dispensers, students, technicians, and accuracy checking pharmacy technicians To support the Senior Technician Training and Education Clinical Services to deliver training to ward based dispensers, students, technicians, and accuracy checking pharmacy technicians' teams for clinical ward services. To provide a specialist clinical technical service/specialist advice to patients at ward level including medicines optimisation To complete audits and procedures for technical clinical ward services To support the Chief Pharmacy Technicians management of the Omnicell systems at ward level To participate in the department rota to ensure a pharmacy service is provided efficiently over 7 days About us Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care. Our services: Acute Care Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites. Primary Care Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital. Community Services Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre. Specialist Regional Services We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales. Achievements: Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018 Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal) National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme Date posted 05 November 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year Per Annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 409-6749741 Job locations Whiston Hospital Warrington Road Prescot L35 5DR Job description Job responsibilities KEY DUTIES To work under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to manage the operational provision of pharmacy services to wards and provide cover in their absence. Plan and manage own workload working independently. To work with the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to performance manage band 5 pharmacy technicians and other staff allocated to ward services within the department including: - The recruitment and selection process of pharmacy technicians and assistants - Ensure all direct line reports have an annual appraisal and appropriate personal development plan which is in line with the strategic objectives of the department, ensure this is reviewed and updated in regular 1:1s - The conducting and recording of return to work interviews and managing sickness absence for band 5 technicians according to the Trust sickness absence policy. - To liaise with the Human Resource Department concerning disciplinary and grievance matters for staff in ward services. - To organise and conduct disciplinary meetings with ward services staff in accordance with Trust procedures. Provide pastoral and emotional support to the team when necessary. To supervise and support pre-registration pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students allocated to ward services. To collate performance data for the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to present to the Pharmacy Leadership Team. To write procedures for pharmacy ward technical services Assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician in the investigation of complaints including providing suitable responses and ensuring remedial action is taken where appropriate. To manage annual leave, time owing and related issues forward based technical staff. Prepare weekly rotas for the band 5 technicians and ward services dispensing staff to ensure adequate service provision. To re-assess and adjust staffing according to irregular or unpredictable workloads, whilst aiming to keep the service within acceptable limits. To be responsible for the organisation of staffing for the ward technical staff when emergency or voluntary rota staffing is required and in the case of additional activity during the weekend and/or evenings, relating to ward services. To liaise with medical, nursing, portering and other staff regarding the pharmacy service and any related problems. Approval of bank and agency staff hours worked on e roster. To be responsible for developing and delivering detailed information to inform decisions on configuration of the Omnicell systems. To be responsible for the installation, training, and operation of the Omnicell drug vending machines based on wards. CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES To perform final accuracy checking on prescriptions and inpatient requisitions which have been clinically verified by a pharmacist in accordance with Trust procedures and ensure dispensing errors are corrected by the appropriate member of staff. Labelling and dispensing of medication as required including the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system, extemporaneous dispensing, and blister packs. To provide a specialist clinical technical service to a designated ward, in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies. This will include: - the taking of a comprehensive medication history for new patients as soon as possible after admission using multiple sources of information - Close liaison with external organisations e.g. nursing homes/community pharmacies, other hospitals, and GP practices - Assessment of patients own drugs for reuse. - Accurately transcribe medicines from EPMA to ICE discharge identifying any discrepancies to the ward doctor and ward pharmacist - Processing of TTOs at ward level in a timely manner to maintain patient flows in the Trust. - Ordering medication in a timely manner to avoid missed doses, particularly of critical medicines. - Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit yellow cards to the CSM where appropriate. - Counselling and educating patients on how to correctly take their medicines including advice on side effects and appropriate storage. - Identify unintentional nonadherence to medicines and intervene where appropriate. - Follow up patients to ensure interventions put in place have been successful. - Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit yellow cards to the CSM where appropriate. - To participate in patient counselling and communicate complex information effectively to other grades of staff and patients and if appropriate use demonstrational techniques in the use of medicines to patients, carers, and other health care professionals, ensuring they understand fully any advice or instructions provided. To provide appropriate advice to doctors, nurses and other professionals as required. Report any drug errors you detect to the Head of Pharmacy or their deputy. Ensure that the appropriate error form is completed. Return unwanted or patients own Controlled drugs from the wards in accordance with the departmental policy and the Misuse of Drugs Act To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per department policy and national guidelines from the General Pharmaceutical council TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES To provide induction training on ward services for newly recruited staff. To deliver training and education forward-based pharmacy technical services staff, including assessing their competence in the following: - Assessment of patients own drugs for suitability to reuse. - Medication history taking - Transcribing of discharge prescriptions - Patient counselling - Accuracy checking of discharge prescriptions. - Ward based training for pharmacy student technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. To assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services in the development and management of the satellite dispensaries ensuring all staff are appropriately trained and competent to undertake their duties to ensure safe and effective working practices to improve patient flows within the Trust. To assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to provide training for the use of the Omnicell systems to both pharmacy and ward-based staff. To comply with the GPhc requirements for continuing professional development RESEARCH & AUDIT To collate ward services audits, including planning, collating results, writing reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders. To work with the Chief Pharmacy Technician analysing the ward services key performance Indicators. To participate in locally any regional / national audits relating to ward services To ensure risk assessments are carried out within the ward technical services and to act on any Risk Management issues highlighted. Job description Job responsibilities KEY DUTIES To work under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to manage the operational provision of pharmacy services to wards and provide cover in their absence. Plan and manage own workload working independently. To work with the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to performance manage band 5 pharmacy technicians and other staff allocated to ward services within the department including: - The recruitment and selection process of pharmacy technicians and assistants - Ensure all direct line reports have an annual appraisal and appropriate personal development plan which is in line with the strategic objectives of the department, ensure this is reviewed and updated in regular 1:1s - The conducting and recording of return to work interviews and managing sickness absence for band 5 technicians according to the Trust sickness absence policy. - To liaise with the Human Resource Department concerning disciplinary and grievance matters for staff in ward services. - To organise and conduct disciplinary meetings with ward services staff in accordance with Trust procedures. Provide pastoral and emotional support to the team when necessary. To supervise and support pre-registration pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students allocated to ward services. To collate performance data for the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to present to the Pharmacy Leadership Team. To write procedures for pharmacy ward technical services Assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician in the investigation of complaints including providing suitable responses and ensuring remedial action is taken where appropriate. To manage annual leave, time owing and related issues forward based technical staff. Prepare weekly rotas for the band 5 technicians and ward services dispensing staff to ensure adequate service provision. To re-assess and adjust staffing according to irregular or unpredictable workloads, whilst aiming to keep the service within acceptable limits. To be responsible for the organisation of staffing for the ward technical staff when emergency or voluntary rota staffing is required and in the case of additional activity during the weekend and/or evenings, relating to ward services. To liaise with medical, nursing, portering and other staff regarding the pharmacy service and any related problems. Approval of bank and agency staff hours worked on e roster. To be responsible for developing and delivering detailed information to inform decisions on configuration of the Omnicell systems. To be responsible for the installation, training, and operation of the Omnicell drug vending machines based on wards. CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES To perform final accuracy checking on prescriptions and inpatient requisitions which have been clinically verified by a pharmacist in accordance with Trust procedures and ensure dispensing errors are corrected by the appropriate member of staff. Labelling and dispensing of medication as required including the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system, extemporaneous dispensing, and blister packs. To provide a specialist clinical technical service to a designated ward, in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies. This will include: - the taking of a comprehensive medication history for new patients as soon as possible after admission using multiple sources of information - Close liaison with external organisations e.g. nursing homes/community pharmacies, other hospitals, and GP practices - Assessment of patients own drugs for reuse. - Accurately transcribe medicines from EPMA to ICE discharge identifying any discrepancies to the ward doctor and ward pharmacist - Processing of TTOs at ward level in a timely manner to maintain patient flows in the Trust. - Ordering medication in a timely manner to avoid missed doses, particularly of critical medicines. - Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit yellow cards to the CSM where appropriate. - Counselling and educating patients on how to correctly take their medicines including advice on side effects and appropriate storage. - Identify unintentional nonadherence to medicines and intervene where appropriate. - Follow up patients to ensure interventions put in place have been successful. - Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit yellow cards to the CSM where appropriate. - To participate in patient counselling and communicate complex information effectively to other grades of staff and patients and if appropriate use demonstrational techniques in the use of medicines to patients, carers, and other health care professionals, ensuring they understand fully any advice or instructions provided. To provide appropriate advice to doctors, nurses and other professionals as required. Report any drug errors you detect to the Head of Pharmacy or their deputy. Ensure that the appropriate error form is completed. Return unwanted or patients own Controlled drugs from the wards in accordance with the departmental policy and the Misuse of Drugs Act To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per department policy and national guidelines from the General Pharmaceutical council TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES To provide induction training on ward services for newly recruited staff. To deliver training and education forward-based pharmacy technical services staff, including assessing their competence in the following: - Assessment of patients own drugs for suitability to reuse. - Medication history taking - Transcribing of discharge prescriptions - Patient counselling - Accuracy checking of discharge prescriptions. - Ward based training for pharmacy student technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. To assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services in the development and management of the satellite dispensaries ensuring all staff are appropriately trained and competent to undertake their duties to ensure safe and effective working practices to improve patient flows within the Trust. To assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services to provide training for the use of the Omnicell systems to both pharmacy and ward-based staff. To comply with the GPhc requirements for continuing professional development RESEARCH & AUDIT To collate ward services audits, including planning, collating results, writing reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders. To work with the Chief Pharmacy Technician analysing the ward services key performance Indicators. To participate in locally any regional / national audits relating to ward services To ensure risk assessments are carried out within the ward technical services and to act on any Risk Management issues highlighted. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Practising Pharmacy Technician registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain BTEC/NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services or an equivalent approved qualification BTEC Level 4 Pharmacy Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification. Desirable Certificate in Management to a supervisory level Knowledge & Experience Essential Substantial post registration experience within hospital pharmacy Working with pharmacy computer systems e.g. JAC, ePMA Knowledge of current developments in pharmacy and key drivers for the NHS Experience of providing clinical services to wards e.g. medicines reconciliation, counselling patients on discharge Experience of managing change within a clinical environment Experience of managing a team Experience of completing appraisals Experience of procedure writing Skills Essential Staff development and empowerment Good communication skills Good organisational skills Ability to work unsupervised Ability to concentrate for long periods of time Demonstrable time management, written and oral communication skills Visionary and able to motivate and influence others Computer literate Desirable Demonstrable problem identification and solving skills with an ability to prioritise effectively Other Essential Manage complex and competing issues staying calm under pressure Able to cope with and diffuse stressful situations Able to evaluate and benchmark quality care Tenacious with good attention to detail Ability to manage own on-going personal and professional development Track record of delivering high standards of care Patient centred approach to care Demonstrate personal & professional pride in pharmacy and the NHS Flexibility Person Specification Qualifications Essential Practising Pharmacy Technician registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain BTEC/NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services or an equivalent approved qualification BTEC Level 4 Pharmacy Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification. Desirable Certificate in Management to a supervisory level Knowledge & Experience Essential Substantial post registration experience within hospital pharmacy Working with pharmacy computer systems e.g. JAC, ePMA Knowledge of current developments in pharmacy and key drivers for the NHS Experience of providing clinical services to wards e.g. medicines reconciliation, counselling patients on discharge Experience of managing change within a clinical environment Experience of managing a team Experience of completing appraisals Experience of procedure writing Skills Essential Staff development and empowerment Good communication skills Good organisational skills Ability to work unsupervised Ability to concentrate for long periods of time Demonstrable time management, written and oral communication skills Visionary and able to motivate and influence others Computer literate Desirable Demonstrable problem identification and solving skills with an ability to prioritise effectively Other Essential Manage complex and competing issues staying calm under pressure Able to cope with and diffuse stressful situations Able to evaluate and benchmark quality care Tenacious with good attention to detail Ability to manage own on-going personal and professional development Track record of delivering high standards of care Patient centred approach to care Demonstrate personal & professional pride in pharmacy and the NHS Flexibility 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 and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Address Whiston Hospital Warrington Road Prescot L35 5DR Employer's website https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)