Band 5 Pharmacy Technician

Why might this job interest you? 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Pharmacy Technician Higher Level at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust to join the Pharmacy Department at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford or Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate. You will be responsible for working closely with Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals within the multi-disciplinary team in the Emergency Department to deliver high-quality, patient-focused medicines management services. You will manage the compilation and verification of patient drug histories by communicating with patients, carers, GPs, and other health professionals, ensuring any discrepancies are resolved or appropriately referred. You will also support the team by checking and documenting specified blood results, interpreting medical and nursing notes for medicines reconciliation, and identifying patient-drug or drug-disease interactions, referring as necessary to ensure safe and effective patient care.

As a Pharmacy Technician Higher Level, you will be responsible for documenting patients’ allergies and reactions to medicines, ensuring accurate records are maintained. You will be managing reviews of patients’ own drugs to assess suitability during their hospital stay and supporting discharge planning in collaboration with ward staff and other healthcare professionals across secondary and primary care. You will be responsible for giving out medication to patients, providing counselling on correct usage, dosages, side effects, and device administration, while addressing any questions or concerns. You will also administer medicines within your competence, considering prescriptions, patient conditions, observations, and blood results, document consultations appropriately, and help minimise delays in discharge by ensuring timely availability of medications.

Responsibilities of this job role 

• To dispense prescriptions when required, ensuring all medications are prepared accurately and in accordance with trust guidelines. You will also check for completeness and appropriateness of prescriptions prior to dispensing.
• To assist with the management and movement of medicines between wards, including controlled drugs, to maintain efficient supply chains. You will also identify medicines needing safe return or disposal and coordinate with the pharmacy team.
• To provide medicines-related information and guidance to external healthcare organisations, such as GP surgeries and community pharmacies, to support admission and discharge processes. You will also suggest improvements to communication pathways to enhance patient care.
• To support the training, mentoring, and competency assessment of pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians, junior pharmacy technicians, and pre-registration pharmacists. You will act as a role model and contribute to the development of staff through guidance, education, and feedback.
• To contribute to quality management and service improvement by reviewing procedures, suggesting enhancements, and participating in audits. You will also assist in the writing and maintenance of standard operating procedures for the pharmacy team.
• To maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council and actively engage in continuous professional development (CPD). This includes completing mandatory training, local accreditations, and participating in meetings or learning sessions to ensure up-to-date knowledge and compliance with best practices.

To be successful in applying for this role you will need: 

• NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science (or equivalent).
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Accredited in medicines management and accuracy checking pharmacy technician (ACPT).
• Experience with NHS systems (e.g., PAS, RIS) and Microsoft packages.
• Desirable: hospital pharmacy experience or Medicines Optimisation Programme competence.