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
Employer heading
NHS AfC: Band 4
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, supported by the Trust's 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, recognized 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 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 our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. While COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment at this time, we encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
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 busy pharmacy department. This 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 in delivering pharmaceutical services within a pharmacy environment. Total flexibility of working hours is necessary. 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 candidates awaiting registration, an interim contract will be issued until registration is finalized 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, accreditation to final check dispensed medicines before release to patients and wards is required. 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.
We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from some 60 sites including Health Centres and GP surgeries. Covering Walsall and beyond, our multidisciplinary services include rapid response in the community and home-based care, so that those with long-term conditions and the frail and elderly can remain in their own homes.
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, including:
1. Dispensary services
2. Ward based medicines management
3. Aseptic preparation
4. Pharmacy Procurement
5. Pharmacy distribution
6. 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 using a computerized automated dispensing system.
To undertake the receipt of prescriptions direct from patients, operating the cash register and receiving 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:
1. Cytotoxic reconstitution
2. ad hoc
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:
1. The top up service
2. 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:
1. Drug histories
2. Patients Own Drugs (PODs) assessment
3. Medication supply for patient specific medicines
4. Locker checks
5. Replenishment of stock medicines
6. 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 by the Senior, Lead, and Operational Technician(s).
To participate in the provision of extended hours of service, including late night working, Saturdays, 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, organizing 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 particularly in light of further developments in pharmaceutical services.
Person specification
Registration
1. GPHC registration or the ability to register in September/October 2025
2. Accuracy Checking Accreditation Certificate
Desirable criteria
1. Relevant current experience in a pharmacy setting
Skills
1. Able to accurately label and dispense medicines
Desirable criteria
1. Experience of working in a healthcare/pharmaceutical setting
Qualifications
1. NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Service Skills
Dispensing of complex prescriptions
1. 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 recognized by NHS Improvement.
** Please Note that this post may be identified as suitable and a preference given for Internal at Risk Employees.**
We 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.
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. Candidates should be aware that, regardless of country of origin, their ability to communicate in written and spoken English to the standard required to carry out the post will be assessed during the selection process. Referee email addresses should be provided on your application form. Following the closing date, if you have not heard from us within 6 weeks you may assume your application has been unsuccessful. We reserve the right to close this job early. Interested applicants are therefore advised to apply as early as possible. If a large number of applicants meet the essential criteria, then random selection will be applied. We are committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible and committed to equal opportunities.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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