Cheswold Park Hospital
Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician
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Job Summary
37.5 hours per week - fixed term for nine months
Thank you for taking the time to look at this role, we are a close knit, supportive team, looking for individuals who want to make a difference and be a part of something meaningful.
We are looking to recruit an experienced pharmacy technician to support our medicines optimisation services at Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield on a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.
If you are somebody who is enthusiastic and motivated, a strong communicator, works well within a team and independently, who acts with integrity and autonomy, we would love to hear from you.
Standard working pattern is 9am until 5pm with weekend commitment. This post is being offered as full time 5 days per week.
This role will be based at Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield with some occasional cross cover at our other Pharmacy bases.
We know how important work life balance is and support flexible working, this can be discussed upon appointment.
If you're curious or have any questions, just reach out to Lianne Riley (lianne.riley@swyt.nhs.uk), I am happy to chat before you apply.
While this role meets the eligibility requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship, due to the short-term nature of the contract, the Trust will not be offering sponsorship for this post.
We welcome applications from individuals who already have the right to work in the UK or are on a visa route that permits employment without sponsorship.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work with the specialty pharmacists and all members of the MDT to coordinate all aspects of the patient's medicines-related journey, communicating effectively to ensure a safe, seamless and integrated transfer of care for our patients.
Key Result Areas Include:
- Supporting clinical teams with the supply, storage, and management of medicines within inpatient areas.
- Complete medicines history/reconciliation when patients are admitted into our care.
- Provide information to patients and carers about their medicines and support adherence and understanding.
- Work closely with clinical teams to plan and support timely leave and discharge, utilizing near-patient dispensing process to ensure medicines are received in a timely manner where appropriate.
- Support with transfer of care into other settings.
- Work closely with our primary care team to support service users with their medicines on discharge.
- Accuracy checking medication for leave/discharge.
- Support the training and development of trainees.
- Participate in the weekend and bank holiday rota.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
About Us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health, and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families, and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
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Being a Foundation Trust means we're accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical, and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Details
Date posted
17 July 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
9 months
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9378-QA01495
Job locations
Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
United Kingdom
Job Description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
- To provide a ward pharmacy service to allocated units within the SWYPFT remit
- To provide technical support to the mental health pharmacy services including checking patients' own medication on admission, the dispensing and supply of medication to specific patients
- Co-ordinate and manage the day-to-day workload in the dispensary.
- Ensure all staff are up to date on the dispensary competencies
- Provide immediate line management support for allocated staff (pharmacy technicians band 4, pharmacy assistants, or student technicians)
- Maintain SOPs for the pharmacy stock control systems (PSC) & dispensary processes updating as appropriate and ensuring they fit with national and local guidance.
- Following SOPs investigate and where appropriate correct stock discrepancies
- Maintain the drug and label files on the PSC following standard operating procedures
- Be the point of contact for queries relating to the use of PSC.
- Process & match month-end paperwork from wholesalers ready for paying. Investigate and where possible correct any mistakes following SOPs
- Extract data from PSC using SOPs. Upload data required for national submissions.
- Assist with the production of business continuity plans and testing of the PSC
- Provide day-to-day line management for allocated dispensary staff
- To accuracy check completed prescriptions and maintain technical competency for this maintain competencies that enable working across the trust.
The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
- To improve the access to medicines for allocated units and in particular to assist in ensuring medicines are available: For leave, for discharge, and for self-medication in a timely manner.
- To participate in the operation of the Medicines Management Service at ward level maintaining competencies in all aspects including:
- Providing a supply and topping-up service at ward/team base level, to the allocated units to ensure adequate stocks are maintained for patient care.
- Assessing suitability of patients' own drugs on admission for continued use and arranging the safe disposal of those drugs which are not.
- Complete pharmacy profiles ready for clinical checking by the ward pharmacist.
- Drug transcription error reporting.
- Preparation of reports for costing and usage.
- With ward pharmacists and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists ensure the correct paperwork is completed
- To assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the safe and secure storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.
- Specialized medication counselling, e.g., inhaler use.
- Medicines reconciliation against home medicines and GP records
- Support and participate in extended technician roles as they develop in the trust
- To cover for all technicians within the service having the appropriate knowledge to dispense and accuracy check for all units
- To cover the technicians' role in other areas of the trust having the appropriate knowledge to provide technical services to all areas of the trust.
- Assist in the distribution to all wards and departments of approved policies and procedures by the Drug and Therapeutics Trust Action Group.
- Ensure the appropriate receipt, processing, storage, and stock control of medicines and other supplies.
- Participate in the supply of Clozapine to a specific group of patients ensuring compliance with the standard operating procedures (e.g., blood tests have been taken, results obtained, valid prescriptions received, and medication dispensed and collected in a timely manner).
- Ensure compliance with the self-administration of medicines and compliance policy in relation to the allocated wards and departments.
- Respond to enquiries and requests from staff, patients, and carers, in accordance with individual competence and departmental policy.
- Assist the pharmacy management team in the development and monitoring of SOPs.
- Train others in the routine duties of the department and to provide services to your allocated wards/departments in your absence.
- Provide support and act as a mentor for junior staff as required. Report incidents both within the pharmacy team and any witnessed on the wards/departments using the computerized reporting system.
- Use of pharmacy and other computer systems in the course of performing these duties.
- Comply with the Trust's Medicine Code.
- Dispense medication, for in, out, day, and hostel patients ready to receive a final accuracy check including compliance aids.
- Maintain accreditation, and perform the final accuracy check of prescriptions according to departmental protocol.
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General
- To observe the principals of Clinical Governance in general and, in particular, be able to demonstrate participation in Continuing Professional Development. This will include attendance at appropriate training courses.
- To participate in the Trust's Appraisal system.
- To assist in the bank holiday provision of pharmacy services
- To be involved in both the Saturday morning and bank holiday rota at Fieldhead.
- To work in other areas of the Trust (by previous agreement)
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.
For full details of the role, please see the supporting documents attached.
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