About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced Pharmacy Technician looking for your next challenge? Do you enjoy developing new ways of working and making a real difference to patient care? Would you like to join a supportive multidisciplinary team where you can develop your skills while helping shape an innovative and expanding service?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our Virtual Ward service within Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership. Working alongside our Virtual Ward Pharmacist, you will play a key role in delivering safe and effective medicines optimisation and supporting direct patient care in the community. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop and embed a new pharmacy service within Virtual Ward.
Our Virtual Ward service supports hospital discharge and admission avoidance pathways, enabling patients to receive high-quality care in their own homes while improving patient flow across the health and care system.
As a key member of the multidisciplinary team, you will use your knowledge and expertise to support medicines reconciliation, medicines optimisation, and seamless transfer of care. Working closely with the Virtual Ward Pharmacist and wider health and social care teams, you will contribute to improving patient outcomes and the ongoing development of this innovative service.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will have the knowledge, skills, and experience to support safe and effective medicines optimisation within the Virtual Ward service. The role includes domiciliary visits and telephone consultations to complete medicines reconciliation, undertake medicines reviews, and facilitate timely access to medicines, supporting patients to receive safe, high-quality care at home.
Working alongside the Virtual Ward Pharmacist and multidisciplinary team, you will liaise across primary and secondary care to ensure seamless transfer of medicines information on admission to and discharge from the Virtual Ward. You will be a registered Pharmacy Technician with Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) status.
The post holder will:
Undertake medicines reconciliation, obtain accurate medication histories, identify discrepancies, and arrange medicines supplies where required. Liaise with GPs, community pharmacies, hospital teams, and other healthcare professionals to support safe transfer of care. Provide clear advice on medicines, including dosage, administration, side effects, and adherence. Carry out medicines assessments by telephone and during domiciliary visits with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients' medicines-related needs are met. Identify and act on medication errors and queries within scope of practice, escalating complex issues as appropriate.
About us
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a full range of hospital and community services for people across East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357K). The Trust provides high quality planned and emergency care, cardiac, critical care,child health,maternity services and intermediate care at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.
The Trust provides over 500 beds and employs over 5,100 members of staff. A comprehensive range of community services is provided across 26 medical centres and schools through ourCentral Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. 92% of our staff, when surveyed in 2020, felt that their role made a difference to their patients, and we are recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives.
The community arm of MCHFT, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), provides a unique local health partnership across a range of community services for people in South Cheshire and Vale Royal.
Take a look at why you should apply to join CCICP!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CepGhzB1AWs
Job description Job responsibilities
The role will encompass:
Medicines reconciliation for patients under the Virtual Ward service.
Completing medication-related assessments to help the MDT determine if medication support is required in the community.
Providing patient education around medication.
Providing advice for patients on administration and handling of medicines.
Support the ordering and supply of medicines for patients being managed by the Virtual Ward service, including communication with primary and secondary care.
Working with the MCHFT and CCICP Multidisciplinary Teams as well as pharmacy colleagues from across the wider system.
Supporting training and education of staff within the Virtual Ward service around medicines management.
Answering medicines-related queries within scope of competence.
Completing audits and participating in service improvement projects.
Ensuring safe practice and reducing medication associated risk.
The successful candidate will be able to use their skills and knowledge to strive to deliver a high-quality pharmacy service within Virtual Ward. This post will be ideal for a pharmacy technician who is motivated by direct patient care, service improvement and innovation, wants to work collaboratively, and who wants to make a positive impact.
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Pharmacy Technician Registered with GPHC Accredited Accuracy Technician (or working towards)
Desirable
Leadership Qualification
Experience Essential
Post Qualification Experience in Hospital, Primary Care or Community Services Experience of Audit
Desirable
Experience of delivering training
Skills Essential
Have to hold full UK Driving License Experience of working in an MDT
Desirable
IT Skills
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Leighton Hospital
Middlewich Road
Crewe
CW1 4QJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)