Pre registration Pharmacy Technician

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

In order to continually improve all aspects of our patient experience, we rely upon having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.

Stockport Foundation Trust is one of four ‘specialist’ hospital sites in Greater Manchester. Being a ‘specialist’ hospital will enhance our general surgery, anaesthetics, critical care and emergency medicine for the benefit of people in Stockport, High Peak, Cheshire and across Greater Manchester.

Our values ‘We Care, We Respect, We Listen’ are at the heart of everything we do, and come from our promise: ‘Making a difference every day.’ They drive the behaviour and actions for everyone in our organisation.

In your application for this post, please describe how your experience and skills align with 'Our values-based behaviours' ( see additional documentation) and provide examples.

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

If you currently work for one of the above organisations and successfully apply for a post with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, please ensure the Recruitment team are aware so that this service is reflected in your contract of employment.

Our Values:

We Care

About each other

Our patients and their families

The communities we serve

The environment

We support them and deliver on their promises

We Respect

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We are kind and helpful, and we expect the same in return

We Listen to

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We act and learn from what we hear

Job overview

FULL TIME POST - 37.5 HOURS A WEEK

The student will use an online training programme supported by an in house mentor.

This is a training post and the course will be over two years and will result in the Buttercups Level 3 Pharmacy Technician with ACTP qualification.

Main duties of the job

Full training is provided including study time to do the online course.

Applicants must posses 4 GCSEs at Grade C (level 4) or above in English, Mathematics, Chemistry and ONE other science (dual science would be accepted). Equivalent qualifications are accepted.

This post is to start September 2025.

The Pre Registration Pharmacy Technician will be rotational through the varied roles over the two years being assessed in each area .

Working for our organisation

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance – for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union– for local financial advice

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Participates in any new arrangements that may involve flexible working.
• Ensures that the requirements for Health and Safety are met
• Ensures that the dispensary is maintained in a tidy condition and cleaning schedules are maintained.
• Participates in extended hours, weekend and Bank Holidays working as required.
• Be familiar with and follow health and safety policy and procedures and be aware of individual responsibilities under legislation, drawing any areas of potential risk to the attention of managers.
• Observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
• Maintains confidentiality and abides by the Data Protection Act.
• Undertakes any other duties which is deemed appropriate to the grade when requested by Senior Staff
• As a member of a clinical team your personal contribution to reducing healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) requires you to be familiar with the Trust’s Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps. You are required to attend mandatory training in Infection Prevention and Control and be compliant with all measures known to be effective in reducing HCAIs.

Communications

§ To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.

§ To liaise with various members of the pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients.

§ Communicates with patients/carers when receiving prescriptions e.g. checking patient’s details, payment or proof of exemption, promise to pay forms, further supplies of medicines etc.

§ To be patient and understanding when dealing with new members of the pharmacy team.

§ To be responsible for the accurate completion of all dispensary documentation.

• Interprets and dispenses prescriptions for inpatients and discharged patients.
• Assists in the provision of verbal and written information to patients.
• Liaises with various members of the pharmacy team when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients
• Concentrates while dispensing prescriptions/calculating doses/quantities for supply whilst dealing with occasional interruptions.

• Organises and prioritises own workload and when necessary assists other members of the pharmacy team.

• Assists in annual stock checks
• To be responsible for checking expiry dates, correct storage and turnover of stock in a designated section of the pharmacy each month.
• Sorts, identifies, credits and recycles where appropriate, returned medicines.
• Participates in all aspects of the extemporaneous preparation of medicines
• Repackages and overlabels items for stock to pre-determined levels
• Issues medicines to wards, departments, peripheral hospitals and community clinics
• Replenishes stocks and non-stocks in wards and departments to an agreed level (topping up).
• Checks that medicines are being stored correctly in the wards and departments and do not exceed their expiry date.
• Replenish the emergency stock room and emergency drug boxes

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation

§ Implements all procedures, policies, and guidance documents and dispensary standards provided by the department.

§ Assist in the integration of new guidance documents and procedures into working practices.

§ Suggest ways of improving working practices in the dispensary and ward areas and when needed implement these changes.

• Will work through the Buttercups Level 3 Pharmacy Technician with ACTP course for Pharmacy Technicians to gain competence in all areas to develop the skills required to become a pharmacy technician
• To organise own workload from Buttercups to ensure assignments are completed at the appropriate time and adequate preparation is allowed for assessments and examinations.
• Identify own training requirements within the pharmacy and bringing then to the attention of the specialised pharmacy technician (Training and Education)

• To assist the Specialist Pharmacy Technician – Education and Training to provide mentoring, induction and training of pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support workers and other relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• To gain competence in patient locker replenishment and ordering via the electronic prescribing/ordering system.
• Identifies own training needs, annual objectives and personal development plan in line with Departmental and Trust objectives.
• Ensures all transactions using the Ascribe/Emis, ARX and Advantis Ward are correct.

Responsibilities for data and information resources

§ Uses the computer system to its full potential including patient information details.

§ Ensures that all documentation relating to the issue of medicines is maintained and the required information is available for statistical purposes.

Research, Development and Audit

§ Participates in projects of a research nature

§ To participate in dispensary/ward based audit under the direction of the chief pharmacy technician

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

• If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £41.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience in a stock control environment
• Experience of a Pharmacy Environment

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the post and college course

Education and Qualification

• At Grade c (level 4) or above (or equivalent) English Language, Maths, Two Sciences or Science Dual Award

• NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy service skills or equivalant

Skills and Abilitites

• Ability to follow detailed instructions
• Ability to work as part of a large team
• Professional attitude
• Neat, tidy and professional appearance
• Respect for working colleagues, other disciplines and the public
• Positive, pleasant and cheerful
• Excellent communication skills
• Organisational skills, able to priortise work and meet deadlines
• Self-motivation and initiative
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Able to maintain confidentiality

Work Related Circumstances

• Prepared to work extended hours, lates, weekends and bank holidays
• Able to move heavy boxes
• Flexible in approach to duties
• Good Timekeeping

Applicants are encouraged to read the documents attached to this vacancy before applying, including the job description and person specification and the information for applicants which includes useful information to assist you in completing your application.

From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Please also note that Stockport NHS Foundation Trust are unable to refund Interview expenses or re-location costs.

Our "two tick" kite mark guarantees a candidate with a disability, who fulfills the essential criteria, an interview at the Trust. We can make reasonable adjustments, and offer support and advice in a variety of ways on request.