About this role
Job summary
Ready to lead medicines safety and make a real difference?
We are looking for an ambitious and motivated Senior Pharmacy Technician to join our innovative Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation Team at HPFT.
This is an exciting opportunity to take a key leadership role in medicines safety, governance, and procurement, helping shape safer systems and improve outcomes for people using our mental health and learning disability services.
If you are passionate about patient safety, service improvement, and leading change -- this role is for you.
Main duties of the job
We're seeking a confident, proactive pharmacy professional who:
Is a GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician Holds Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) status Has significant post registration experience in hospital pharmacy Demonstrates strong interest/experience in medicines safety, audit or procurement (appropriate training will be provided) Has excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills Is passionate about continuous improvement and patient safety For full details of role, please read through job description and person specification.
Base & travel: Based at Kingsley Green, Radlett, with travel to HPFT sites across Hertfordshire, Norfolk and North Essex. Ability to travel is required; reasonable adjustments will be considered where applicable.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job description Job responsibilities
Support Medicines Safety & Governance
Support the Trusts medication safety agenda, including incident investigations and learning Work with Datix data to drive improvements and assurance Lead and support audits (e.g. CD, FP10, safe storage) and ensure compliance with CQC, GPhC, MHRA standards Drive Procurement & Medicines Optimisation
Manage medicines procurement ensuring best value and continuity of supply Respond to medicine shortages, recalls and national alerts Work with contracts (NHS CMU, discount schemes) to optimise cost and quality Develop People & Capability
Support training, supervision, and development of pharmacy staff Act as a role model and mentor Contribute to workforce development and succession planning Deliver Clinical & Operational Excellence
Support ward-based medicines optimisation activities Contribute to patient-focused care including reconciliation and counselling Help improve systems, SOPs, and service delivery across the Trust Lead & Influence
Line manage and support junior staff Deputise for the Team Manager - Operations as required Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners
Person Specification
Qualifications/Education/Training Essential
BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacy technician (with no restrictions) Accredited Checking Technician status Accreditation in Medicines Management Evidence of and commitment to CPD
Desirable
Additional training (leadership, management) Practice educational supervisor qualification
Experience Essential
Significant and demonstrable post-qualification experience working in secondary care hospital pharmacy Experience of staff education and training Experience of working within, writing and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures Ability to manage workload independently and work under pressure Evidence of audit activity and service improvement
Desirable
Knowledge of Ascribe (Optum) Pharmacy stock and dispensing system Experience in using Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) systems Demonstrable experience in medicines safety Demonstrable experience in pharmacy procurement Experience of team management, including appraisals and supervision and performance management Experience of carrying out clinical supervision
Skills/Communication Essential
Good written and verbal communication skills Ability to prioritise, plan, delegate, and manage workload for self and others Advanced IT skills and comprehensive use of Microsoft office including power point and excel Highly developed physical skills in dispensing, preparing, and checking of medicines involving a high level of accuracy. Confident, able to influence and assertive when dealing with other professionals. Able to prioritise and meet deadlines Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy, and numeracy skills English language competency sufficient to communicate effectively with all staff and deliver education sessions in appropriate form Effective interpersonal skills Demonstrates empathy Shows initiative and has well-developed problem solving skills
Desirable
Working knowledge of regulations and legislation relating to pharmaceutical procurement and distribution Knowledge of Wholesale Dealers Authorisation (WDA) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of medicines optimisation and medicines management principles Good knowledge of all medicine's legislations relating to the supply and storage of medicines
Desirable
Knowledge in pharmacy stock management
Ability Essential
Ability to work under pressure. Able to deal with conflicting demands on workload and frequent interruptions Able to communicate with service users
Physical Skills Essential
Able to travel using own vehicle to various Trust and other locations across Hertfordshire to meet the needs of the service. *Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving) Able to use IT equipment
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Kingfisher Court
Kingsley Green, Harper Lane
Radlett
WD79FB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)