Senior Pharmacy Technician 6 views

Liverpool Women’s NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities – from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.

We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

Liverpool Women’s has an excellent reputation and is a centre of excellence. It is an exciting environment to work in and a great place to develop your career for many years to come.

We invite you to review why Liverpool Women’s Hospital is a great place to work:  https://vimeo.com/556197652 

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Job overview

Are you looking for an opportunity to join a friendly and enthusiastic pharmacy team?

Are you keen, committed and looking for a challenging role to develop and expand your skills and knowledge?

Then why not come and join us at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. We are a small team providing a specialist pharmacy service to one of the largest women’s hospitals in the country.

We are looking for candidates who have completed an accuracy checking qualification with excellent knowledge and skills in hospital pharmacy. The candidates must be interested in developing themselves and medicines management services including the potential for developing the role of pharmacy technicians to support the administration of medicines at ward level.

Main duties of the job

Candidates will co-operate in providing a comprehensive, high quality and cost effective pharmaceutical service to the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, adhering to policies and procedures and delivering services in an efficient, courteous and professional manner, with responsibility to develop and provide a Patient’s Own Medication (POM) scheme in the Trust.

Candidates will be involved in a range of duties both in the dispensary and at ward level, with a high focus on medicines management and medicines safety.

The post holder will be supported by a team of pharmacy technicians and assistant technical officers (ATOs) employed within the department.

Working for our organisation

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm new-borns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.

The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving its services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.

Check out why Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:

Video: https://vimeo.com/556197652

 Online brochure: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/4121/recruitment-pack-great-place-to-work-16pp-v4-final.pdf

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To maintain and develop Patients Own Medicine (POM) scheme on identified wards in accordance with policies, procedures and safe systems of work, which prevail at the time.

To liaise with clinical pharmacists and nursing staff to enable development of the service.

To participate in audit of scheme enabling improvements and development of service as appropriate.

To carry out and check, if appropriate, the dispensing and issuing of medicines from the pharmacy department in accordance with the policies, procedures and safe systems of work which prevail at the time.

To check for prescribing and other errors within those limits compatible with technician training and bring these to the attention of the supervising pharmacists via the agreed procedures and when required liaise with GP’s, Nursing Homes and ward staff.

To assess POM’s for suitability for continued use and ensure sufficient supplies of medication are available on ward for individual patients.

To ensure that appropriate instructions, demonstrations and counselling of patients with regard to their drug therapy, is offered and delivered in a professional manner as advised or directed by the supervising pharmacists and according to the prevailing departmental policies and procedures.

To check the accuracy of technical aspects of the dispensing, manufacturing and assembly processes after satisfactory completion of the departmental (or other approved) training programme.

General responsibilities

To deputise as required in the absence of  the Technical Services Manager

To mentor and manage pharmacy technicians and assistant technical officers (ATOs) employed within the department.

To participate in and co-operate fully with the training of work experience students, clerical officers, HCAs, ATOs, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and staff undergoing induction, and when necessary and appropriate to supervise and check their activities.

To fully use the Meditech electronic prescribing module training all prescribers both medical and non-medical in its safe and effective use and also ensuring other pharmacy members stay up to date with their training.

To fully co-operate with senior managers in the timely and accurate collecting and collating of information.

To participate in and fully co-operate with project work, and carry out developmental projects in the line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.

To participate in and fully co-operate with individual personal assessment and continuing education programmes in order to maintain and improve standards of practice and facilitate personal development.

To fully co-operate with the overall provision of a high quality, efficient and cost effective pharmacy service.

To work in all sections of the department as required by the Technical Services Manager.

Together with other members of staff, to ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH, and that other pertinent recommendations and standards are complied with.

To uphold Trust and Pharmacy Directorate policies and procedures at all times.

To participate in and fully co-operate with Bank Holiday, Statutory Holiday, weekend, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.

To undertake such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time.

To adapt and adhere to changes that may occur, which affect the current practices within the pharmacy directorate, such as the introduction of new equipment, policies and hours of working, after discussion and reasonable notice.

To ensure that total confidentiality throughout the Trust is upheld at all times.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

Ability to understand role and service priorities

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent time management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability and willingness to adapt to change

Ability to future plan

Qualifications & Learning

B/TEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences + NVQ 3 in Pharmacy services (or equivalent)

Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Accredited Technical Checking

Experience

Demonstrable Dispensary experience

Patient counselling

Experience of working on wards

Ability to train staff

Personal Attributes

Ability to suggest developmental change

Attention to detail

Ability to work accurately

Ability to empathise with patients

Works on own initiative

Works as team player

Flexible

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• B/TEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences + NVQ 3 in Pharmacy services (or equivalent)
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable criteria

• Accredited Technical Checking

Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable Dispensary experience

Desirable criteria

• Patient counselling
• Experience of working on wards
• Ability to train staff

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Ability to understand role and service priorities
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability and willingness to adapt to change
• Ability to future plan

Personal attributes

Essential criteria

• Ability to suggest developmental change
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work accurately
• Ability to empathise with patients
• Works on own initiative
• Works as team player
• Flexible

Posts advertised to ‘internal staff’ are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust has a responsibility and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and for ensuring that they are protected from harm. Every employee of the Trust has a responsibility and is duty bound always to act in the best interest of a child or adult about whom we may have concerns.

Trust policy requires the cost of DBS applications be recovered via salary. The amount of £21.50(standard) or £41.50(enhanced) can be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement in post. DBS applications submitted from 2nd December will be subject to the new DBS fee of £26.40 (standard) and £54.40 (Enhanced).

The Trust is committed to creating a well-managed,flexible working environment that supports staff & promotes welfare & development. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity;we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community.We operate Zero Tolerance to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment.We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure our recruitment & selection process is accessible to all.Flexible Working applications will be considered.

If you are disabled and have special support needs in applying for a job, attending for an interview or in undertaking any tests as part of a selection process, please contact the Trust’s recruitment team on 0151 7064666 and someone from that team will ensure that the recruiting manager is aware of your particular needs.

Please Note: new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first paypoint of the relevant band.

LWH has a responsibility & is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children, young people & vulnerable adults & for ensuring that they are protected from harm. Every employee of the Trust has a responsibility & is duty bound always to act in the best interest of a child or adult about whom we may have concerns.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital is committed to having a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. To this end, we particularly welcome applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds, who have a disability, or are members of the Armed Forces, Reservists or Veterans.