Pharmacy Technician
Job overview
Are you a registered Pharmacy Technician or soon to be qualified? We have an exciting vacancy in our Pharmacy Dispensary, and we’d love to have you join our dynamic team at Northampton General Hospital.
Whether you’re newly qualified or bringing experience, you’ll receive excellent training designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in our thriving NHS hospital setting. We’re looking for candidates who are enthusiastic about the expanding role of Pharmacy Technicians and eager to contribute to the ongoing development of our services.
As a Pharmacy Technician at NGH, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking, well-developed pharmacy service, which includes different pharmacy environments, providing Clinical Pharmacy Services, managing stock and ‘Topping Up’ services, and supporting the Medicines Management Service on specific wards.Our Technician-led licensed Aseptic Service Unit is busy and innovative, preparing TPN, cytotoxics, and radiopharmaceuticals. We also have a Quality Control Unit, Trials Department, and a comprehensive Distribution Service.
If you’re positive, proactive, and ready to take your career to the next level, this is the perfect opportunity for you to grow and thrive in a supportive and progressive environment.
Main duties of the job
The Main duties of this dispensary based job role include:
To accurately and promptly dispense prescriptions for in-patients, out-patients, day-patients and leave/discharge patients.
To issue dispensed medicines to patients and confirm that they know how to use them.
To supply Controlled Drugs and keep appropriate records.
To undertake ‘final-checking’ according to a defined policy when competence has been proven.
To undertake ‘Enhanced Patient Counselling’ following appropriate training.
To partake in the 'late night' and weekend service provided by the Dispensary department.
Working for our organisation
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients. This will include the following tasks:
To accurately and promptly dispense prescriptions for in-patients, out-patients, day-patients and leave/discharge patients.
To issue dispensed medicines to patients and confirm that they know how to use them.
To supply Controlled Drugs and keep appropriate records.
To undertake ‘final-checking’ according to a defined policy when competence has been proven.
To undertake ‘Enhanced Patient Counselling’ following appropriate training.
If required, to take part in the staff rotation system and undertake duties elsewhere in the Pharmacy to maintain the service.
If required, to issue and/or ‘top-up’ supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
To assist in maintaining appropriate storage and stock levels of medicines in Pharmacy Departments to ensure quality, potency and economy.
To help maintain an accurate computerised Pharmacy stock control system; to take part in daily stock checks.
To assess and return medicines for re-use in accordance with the departmental policy.
To maintain necessary records. If required, to collate information and present reports.
To undertake appropriate duties in the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Service.
Other Duties.
This will include the following tasks:
If required, to deputise for Senior Pharmacy Technicians.
To assist in the training of pharmacy and other staff, and the supervision of Pharmacy Dispensers.
To undertake other duties elsewhere in the locality
Person specification
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria- Evidence of accuracy
- Effective communicator , verbal and written
- Ability to work effectively under pressure
- Computer skills (dispensing, stock control)
- Experience of training or mentoring new staff
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria- Technical 'final-check' of dispensed medicines
- How dispensing errors occur
- Experience with computerised stock control system
- Counselling patients in use of their medicines.
- Good manufacturing practice.
- Training of other staff
- Hospital Pharmacy experience
- Knowledge of medicines , including how to handle potentially hazardous medicine / substances.
- Supervisory role within pharmacy.
Education Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria- Qualified Pharmacy Technician or currently enrolled on course to become a qualified Technician within the next 3 months
- Registered Technician with GPhC if qualified.