About this role
Job summary
The role will support healthcare and operational colleagues to maximise the contribution of community pharmacies, enhance the quality of pharmacy-delivered interventions, and promote the safe and effective use of medicines for people accessing our services. The successful candidate will be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and have experience in medicines management, harm reduction, partnership working, and improving outcomes for service users.
You will focus on developing and maintaining effective partnerships with community pharmacies and other stakeholders, supporting the delivery of supervised consumption, needle exchange, naloxone provision, and other pharmacy-based interventions. The successful candidate will act as the key pharmacy link across Sunderland, supporting community pharmacy engagement, medicines governance, service development, data analysis, audit activity, training delivery, and incident management.
This role will require regular travel across the designated area to visit operational services, community pharmacies, and partner organisations.
Details
Location: Sunderland, with flexibility to work across local operational sites
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and any associated payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.
Main duties of the job
Act as the primary point of contact for community pharmacy contractors and the LPC, ensuring regular, high-quality communication with these partners.Attend meetings with the LPC and Controlled Drugs Local Intelligence Network (CDLIN) as required.Promote the work of Change Grow Live across the Service, maximising the use of community pharmacies to support positive health outcomes for service users. Ensure that community pharmacies are providing a range of interventions including supervised consumption, needle exchange, and naloxone.Use PharmOutcomes and other systems to collect, collate and analyse data.Provide specialist advice on medicines governance and the management of pharmaceutical products and controlled stationery in line with organisational policies and procedures.Support the prescribing of cost-effective pharmacotherapies in line with best practice and organisational policies.Provide medicines-related advice and recommendations, within scope of practice and competency, to prescribers and other healthcare professionals.. This could include, but is not limited to, optimal prescribing doses, reviewing medication suitability (e.g. contra indications, interactions and cautions such as QT interval prolongation).Support the response to relevant organisational directives and drug alerts overseen by the Central Pharmacy Team.Dispense and administer medicines within onsite dispensaries, including under and Patient Group Directions (PGDs), where appropriate.
About us
Believe in people
At Change Grow Live, above all else we believe in people. It's the one thing that acts as a foundation for all our work.
If you use our services: we understand what you're going through. We won't judge. We believe you can make positive changes in your life.
If you work or volunteer for us: we believe in your potential. We believe you can do brilliant, life-changing work.
Our mission and vision
Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
The vision we're working towards is to develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.
We believe that having diverse people working as part of our team makes us the organisation that we are.
We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and to make Change Grow Live a great place to work.
The safety of vulnerable children, young people and adults is our absolute priority. We will support you in your role to make sure that you are equipped to support the safety of people who use our services and those around them, to the highest standard possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role-specific responsibilities
Act as the primary point of contact for community pharmacy contractors and the LPC, ensuring regular, high-quality communication with these partners.Attend meetings with the LPC and Controlled Drugs Local Intelligence Network (CDLIN) as required.Promote the work of Change Grow Live across the Service, maximising the use of community pharmacies to support positive health outcomes for service users. Ensure that community pharmacies are providing a range of interventions including supervised consumption, needle exchange, and naloxone.Use PharmOutcomes and other systems to collect, collate and analyse data.Provide specialist advice on medicines governance and the management of pharmaceutical products and controlled stationery in line with organisational policies and procedures.Support the prescribing of cost-effective pharmacotherapies in line with best practice and organisational policies.Provide medicines-related advice and recommendations, within scope of practice and competency, to prescribers and other healthcare professionals.. This could include, but is not limited to, optimal prescribing doses, reviewing medication suitability (e.g. contra indications, interactions and cautions such as QT interval prolongation).Support the response to relevant organisational directives and drug alerts overseen by the Central Pharmacy Team.Dispense and administer medicines within onsite dispensaries, including under and Patient Group Directions (PGDs), where appropriate.Provide advice and oversight on the safe storage, handling, and management of medicines, pharmaceutical products, and controlled stationery.Support staff training and development to ensure safe medicines management practices and compliance with organisational policies and procedures.Monitor stock management processes, including stock rotation, storage suitability, and adherence to health and safety requirements.Ensure controlled drugs and controlled stationery are stored, managed, and recorded securely in accordance with legal, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
At least 2 years experience as a registered Pharmacy Technician. Experience of multi-agency working, with the ability to build effective partnerships across professional groups (e.g. mental health services, criminal justice agencies, and community groups) to achieve positive outcomes for service users. Experience working in an outcomes-focused environment, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and demands effectively. Computer literate with Microsoft packages; proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel. Ability to assess and recovery plan service users and formulate written reports as necessary. Experience of contributing to project development. Ability to interpret relevant medical test results. Motivational interviewing techniques. Can demonstrate competence to undertake physical examinations relevant to their prescribing role. Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties. Clinical auditing skills to inform evaluation of the service and identify areas for development. Ability to communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing. Full driving licence and access to own transport, or ability to demonstrate easy movement between services, if necessary. Knowledge of local services and geography. A commitment to engaging with, understanding and promoting Change Grow Live's values and vision. An understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best practice. An understanding of the importance of professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals. A responsibility for your own health, safety and wellbeing as well as those around you (e.g. colleagues and service users). An understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion best practice with a particular focus on engagement with hard to reach and marginalised service users. An understanding of and commitment to treating all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential, both during and after employment ends. An understanding of information governance processes and a commitment to follow and apply all necessary safeguards. A commitment to seek learning opportunities to improve and broaden your own professional knowledge and skills and where relevant oversee the learning of others.
Desirable
Experience of working within substance misuse or a related field. Experience of using ePACT data Experience in Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Audit experience / experience of undertaking Medicines Management Audits Experience in Clinical Informatics / Digital Health Experience of benchmarking, reviewing and implementing change following policy / guideline updates.
Qualifications Essential
GPhC-approved pharmacy technician course/qualification Current registration with GPhC Commitment and evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)
Desirable
Current registration with APTUK. CMHP member CMHP Foundation Certificate/Credentialed Completion of CPPE Substance use and misuse course, optionally RCGP Drugs Part 1 Certificate
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Essential
Demonstrates a clear understanding of Change Grow Lives mission, vision, and values. Maintains up-to-date clinical knowledge within the substance misuse field. Possesses a good understanding of the Community Pharmacy NHS Contract and the PharmOutcomes system. Demonstrates a broad understanding of pharmacy practice and NHS systems, including prescribing and medicines management. Understands the importance of effective communication and engagement with service users, the public, the workforce, and key stakeholders. Able to communicate complex information clearly and confidently to both individuals and groups. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with partner agencies to support service delivery. Capable of leading specific workstreams and providing clear guidance to staff and partner organisations to deliver high-quality services. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, supported by a high level of IT proficiency. Able to maintain accurate records and meet deadlines for reporting and information submission. Financially literate, with the ability to review, interpret, and use financial information to inform decision-making. Highly competent in analysing data and effectively communicating insights and outcomes. Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and work independently. Demonstrates the ability to work autonomously and make professional decisions within scope of practice. Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, building strong working relationships with colleagues. Ability to travel regularly across the designated area to support multiple sites, community pharmacies and partner organisations. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
Desirable
Good understanding of Electronic Prescribing systems
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 Change Grow Live
Address 25, 26 and 27 Laura Street
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear,
SR1 1PT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.changegrowlive.org/ (Opens in a new tab)