Chief Pharmacy Technician - Operational Services, Band 7

Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.

As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.

As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.

By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.

Job overview

With operational teams at 2 hospital sites and an engaged staff group open to development, you will work very closely within the Senior Leadership Team to manage and shape the department.

You will lead a number of excellent Senior pharmacy Technicians working with you to deliver operational services, plan workforce requirements and be responsible for management and development of the technical and support staff within the department, providing vision and direction.

Additional working pattern details: Including weekends on rota basis

The proposed interview date is 16th March

Main duties of the job

To be professionally and managerially responsible for the technical/support staff that work within the pharmacy operational services at both hospital sites; this includes Contracting & Procurement, Stores & Distribution, Dispensary services and automation, environmental and quality management, education and training, and specialist pharmacy technician roles.

To contribute to their strategic development ensuring service provision and quality is of the highest standard and supporting teams through transformational change.

Strategically lead training and education for pharmacy technicians and assistants for the department, advising on national changes to educational programmes. Organise, facilitate and deliver the training and development of various members of pharmacy staff, including but not limited to Pharmacy Technicians, Apprentice Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Foundation Trainee Pharmacists, Pharmacy undergraduates, and others.

To be an active part of senior leadership team within the department.

Working for our organisation

Together with main line rail networks, this puts Gloucestershire within easy reach of many metropolitan areas and airports.

GHT supports staff with access to the well-being hub, exercise and activity classes and membership of our popular hospital choir.

The pharmacy department has over 200 staff across the two sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, both sites provide full dispensary services, medicines information, procurement services and a full clinical service to wards. There is a regular free shuttle bus allowing easy transport between hospitals both of which are located in the city/town centres with access to shops and cafes.

The Pharmacy department is committed to supporting the Trust to deliver its vision of best care for everyone, we strive to provide the whole team with the necessary skills and ongoing support to make a real difference to patient care, include a program to develop all roles within the department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We recognise that a diverse team enhances our ability to provide patients with the best possible care and innovative solutions.

We like members of our team to feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities and we actively promote a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect.

If you require any adjustments or support during the application process or in the workplace, please let us know. We are here to ensure that all candidates and employees can contribute fully and thrive in their roles.

Join us in making a difference—together, we can build a workplace that celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences.

1. Management Responsibility

• To provide professional leadership and management to the technical/ support staff that work within the operational services section of the Pharmacy. Ensuring that working practices meet requirements of medicines legislation, professional, local and national guidelines and that medicines are available in the appropriate quantities, places and times to meet the clinical needs of all patients.
• Organise and Co-ordinate the activity of technical staff to solve operational & clinical service issues concerning all sections, in conjunction with all the section managers, using resources and information available to meet the needs of the service.
• Organise and co-ordinate the weekend rota in conjunction with the Chief Pharmacy Technician for Clinical Services and senior pharmacy technicians within the service.
• Provide expert advice regarding current and anticipated demands on operational services and the staffing capacity required to deliver a safe level of service to patients. Assist in preparing business plans for service development, presenting reports and findings at management meetings as required.
• Complete required reports from the most senior pharmacy team
• To contribute to developing policies, strategies and plans to ensure that pharmacy operational services meet quality standards and KPI’s as defined in the Pharmacy service specification.
• To continually review pharmacy operational services, undertaking analysis and identifying requirements for improvements in service provision and patient care promoting excellence and best practice.
• Playing an active role within the Pharmacy Management Team to develop the Pharmacy strategy by contributing suggestions for improvement and managing associated change.
• To be professionally responsible for adherence to the GPhC, MHRA (WDA), and RPS standards relating to operational services and compliance required for CQC and CD Home Office inspections.
• To ensure that the security of medicines is maintained at a departmental level and promoting good practice regarding the security of medicines during transit
• To ensure the technical team in the department are kept up to date with any relevant information regarding Pharmacy strategy, training strategy, service development and performance.
• Work closely with other Chief Pharmacy Technicians within the department and Senior Pharmacists across the department and sites, in planning human resources at a strategic level to improve & develop Pharmacy Services.
• To work with relevant Senior Pharmacists to ensure that operational Services provided are safe, efficient, cost effective, offer value for money and are achievable within service agreements.
• Ensure the safety of patients is maintained by involvement in PSEG, undertaking Datix investigation, monitoring error auditing and any other safety issues.
• Co-ordinate with service leads the management of staff including recruitment, induction, appraisal, attendance management, performance review and management, discipline & grievance, work and annual leave allocation.
• Ensure requirements for the Wholesalers dealers’ Authorisation and Fraudulent Medicines Directive are met. Work closely with the Responsible person to ensure that the trust retains its Wholesale Dealers Authorisation by ensuring all criteria outlined in the guideline to good Wholesale dealing are met.
• Act as Health & Safety lead for the department, attending departmental and Divisional Health and Safety meetings, deciding and participating in actions to solve health & safety issues and reduce areas of risk within the department.

1. Dispensary, Procurement, Distribution and Stores Management

• Act as line manager of the Senior Pharmacy Technicians within organisational structure outlined.
• Fulfil ACT commitment to the dispensary as per operational requirements and job plan, which will include full ACT range of work, and occasional dispensing as required.
• Communicate with the Senior Pharmacy Technicians and operational Pharmacists about the day-to-day management of technical staff, and dispensary and distribution activities
• Report, monitor and act upon sickness, annual leave and time off in lieu according to trust guidelines ensuring staff re-directed to cover as required.
• Help and support with disciplinary issues – lead on where required
• Organise and delegate where appropriate rotas for dispensary cover alongside the top up cover, taking account of the skill mix available.
• Ensure that top up standards are followed and upheld.
• Participate in discussions and actions concerning a strategy for safe use of medicines & education about Datix incidents trust wide.

1. Education & Training Management

• Act as line manager to the Senior Pharmacy technicians for Education and Training and oversee technical/ support staff training requirements for the Pharmacy department as a whole.
• To ensure the training needs of technical/support staff are met by co-coordinating/delivering suitable training to enable them to safely and confidently perform their duties.
• To organise, and facilitate the training and development of: Pharmacy Technicians and their roles as MOTs and ACTs; Pre-registration trainee pharmacy Technicians and their QCF (NVQ) 3 assessment; Pharmacy assistants and their NVQ 2 programmes.
• To manage the provision of training and the competency of all operational staff within the facility.
• To make recommendations and take an active part in the development of training packages
• Maintain up to date records of all Pharmacy staff training, including direct reports.
• Provide education and information to patients and their carers on safe and effective use of medicines working in partnership to achieve concordance.
• To perform the role of Educational Supervisor
• To undertake all relevant personal training to support this role, demonstrate and maintain commitment to CPD and be informed of current issues in Pharmacy practice. Support staff to be aware of CPD requirements with the GPhC, and circulate any developments.
• To design and implement audits related to training services - collect data, analyse and present findings/recommendations.
• Leading on looking into possible future roles of technical staff in all sections of the department and training required. Attend courses & training, meetings & seminars to ensure skills, knowledge & pharmacy practise are current and up to date. This may be identified at appraisal and/or CPD.
• Member of the countywide Pharmacy education & training group, planning the education & training strategy across the trust looking at future requirements.

1. Medicines Management / Optimisation (as per agreed job plan if required)

• Work with minimal supervision to provide an admission, supply and discharge service to nominated wards. Liaising directly with pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff over clinical issues as appropriate.
• On admission, checking that the medicines prescribed for each patient conform with information from the patient, SCR, GP letter and/or Nursing Home and taking detailed medication histories
• Assessing whether any medicines brought in by the patient are fit for use and removing (with patient’s permission) any medicines not needed
• Ordering all medication that the patient has not brought into hospital
• Counselling patients to use their medication and providing written information as required
• Prioritising and organising daily workload to ensure that all required tasks are completed within allocated timescale

Contact Details

Bilal Topia (Associate Pharmacy Director)

[email protected]

07977 021218 or ring landline 0300 422 6290

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• ACPT Qualification
• Management Training

• Medicines Management/Optimisation Technician Qualification
• Leadership Qualification
• APTUK Member

Experience

• Significant relevant experience and knowledge of working in Hospital Pharmacy
• Line management of staff
• Proven evidence of process improvement & management of change

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability to work across professional teams and organisational boundaries
• Excellent managerial, leadership and organisational skills
• Ability to lead and work in a team
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Professional and positive demeanour
• Confident and assertive when needed

The health and wellbeing of our staff and patients remains the priority of the Trust. Vaccination remains the best chance we have of conquering COVID and the Trust encourages everyone to take up this offer.

Please note, this vacancy may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested. The Recruitment Team are unable to accept any applications after the position has closed on NHS Jobs.

Committed to safeguarding our community

Please contact [email protected] for further information.

As part of the organisation's commitment to Safer Recruitment, candidates may request copies of relevant policies and procedures by contacting the Recruitment Team at [email protected]

Committed to supporting service personnel

To qualify for a guaranteed interview, candidates must meet the essential criteria for the post and be either a current member of the Armed Forces, or be within the two year period of resettlement. If this applies to you please email the job reference number and your AR number to the Recruitment Team at [email protected]

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