About this role
Job summary
22.5 hours per week
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to play a key role in the development, optimisation and maintenance of our Electronic Prescribing Systems and Pharmacy IT systems.
We are seeking a highly motivated, committed and dedicated individual who thrives in a collaborative team environment. The successful candidate will possess excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, together with strong attention to detail and the ability to effectively manage competing priorities.
As digital innovation continues to be a key priority across the NHS, this role offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of enhancing electronic systems to improve patient safety, service quality and operational efficiency.
If you are passionate about technology, medicines optimisation and improving patient care through digital transformation, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Amanda Morris [email protected]
Lianne Riley [email protected]
Visa sponsorship under the Health and Care Worker visa route can only be considered if the prorated salary meets the minimum threshold of £25,000, as required by the UK Visas and Immigration. Therefore, sponsorship may not be possible depending on working hours.
This is correct at the time of posting, but subject to change in line with the guidance from the Home Office.
Main duties of the job
Working collaboratively across professional groups, the post holder will use their pharmacy technician expertise to support system improvements that enhance patient safety, service quality and operational efficiency.
The role will be responsible for:
Leading and supporting the ongoing development, maintenance and optimisation of Electronic Prescribing and Pharmacy IT systems.
Providing expert pharmacy technician advice to support the safe and effective use of electronic prescribing systems across the Trust.
Supporting the implementation of electronic systems and digital projects in line with Trust programme plans.
Managing and maintaining electronic formularies, working closely with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), local networks and governance groups to support evidence-based formulary decisions.
Analysing prescribing trends, medicines usage and complex prescribing data to inform service improvement, governance and decision-making.
Producing and presenting reports on medicines usage, system performance, activity and costs to a range of stakeholders.
Identifying opportunities to maximise the use of digital technology to improve efficiency, medicines optimisation and patient safety across pharmacy services.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
KEY RESULT AREAS:
The postholder will:
Support the implementation, maintenance and future development of electronic prescribing systems, working closely with the Pharmacy EPMA team and Trust electronic prescribing project teams.
Be a superuser for electronic prescribing systems, developing routine housekeeping of the system to ensure optimal performance and contributing to the development of business continuity plans.
Support programme plan in areas where electronic systems are being implemented.
Ongoing formulary management, working with ICBs and local networks, understanding prescribing patterns and advising internal governance forums on proposed changes.
Analyse and interpret complex data from the EPMA system to produce reports and communicate this to the wider Trust.
Develop and implement Trust standard operating procedures for the EPMA system.
Liaise with medical, nursing, allied health professionals and support staff to ensure effective use of EPMA.
Assist in the communication of any changes in the prescribing and administration pathways to all affected stakeholders, namely consultants and their teams, nursing staff, pharmacy staff and other health professionals where appropriate.
To offer their knowledge and expertise as a pharmacy technician to support the optimisation and ongoing development of electronic prescribing systems.
1.1Care/service/function provision:
Provide support and timely advice to EPMA users across the organisation.
Collaborate with other healthcare professionals ensuring that EPMA is used efficiently and safely.
Dispensing medication for patients including compliance aids and complex medication regimes.
Perform the final accuracy check of prescriptions
Provides complex information to patients/carers regarding medication including collating medication histories, discussing compliance/adherence issues and providing written information.
Provide clinical support to the pharmacy department where necessary including ward-based activities such as stock top up, supply of medicines, providing clinical advice to patient and/or other healthcare professionals, carrying out medicines assurance audits and completing medicines reconciliation for new admissions.
To undertake clinical audits involving the electronic prescribing systems
To gather feedback from end users to further optimise the system configuration and processes
1.2 Working as part of a Team:
Work alongside the EPMA and systems team in the development, implementation and maintenance of electronic prescribing systems.
Work closely with pharmacy colleagues to support the department to deliver person centred care whilst meeting the service standards and objectives.
Support the pharmacy department through providing accuracy checking cover and clinical support when necessary.
Participate in error reporting, identifying areas where EPMA could prevent reoccurrence.
Support the pharmacy department in attaining the Trusts sustainability agenda through use of digital systems to enable us to move to paper light.
Be a member of the EPMA project board, adhering to robust clinical and operational governance structures and processes around the EPMA system(s).
Support the weekend and bank holiday rota.
1.3 Managing Self:
To work independently and with a level of autonomy on allocated workstreams
Apply clinical knowledge and understanding to help support ongoing use of electronic systems.
Participate in clinical supervision, staying up to date with changes in practice and GPHC standards.
1.4 Management Supervision and Support:
Oversee day-to-day activity when working within pharmacy services
Provide leadership and support and act as a role model to other staff.
Support the training and development of others.
Deliver specific EPMA training to different cohorts of staff, occasionally presenting to large groups.
Support in the recruitment of other pharmacy team members
Deliver first line management responsibilities such as appraisal, performance management and sickness management.
1.5 Financial Responsibility:
Ongoing formulary management of EPS system, identifying areas where formulary switches can be made that are cost effective and clinically appropriate for patient group.
Preparation of reports for costing and usage. Inputting and interpreting prescribing data and proposing recommendations to internal governance forums on proposed changes.
Approval of e-expenses for direct reports
1.6 Trust Values:
The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:
We put the person first and in the centre We know that families and carers matter We are respectful, honest, open and transparent We improve and aim to be outstanding We are relevant today and ready for tomorrow
1.7. Safeguarding:
Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.
Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
1.8 Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:
All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:
ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;
maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;
understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;
comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;
receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;
understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;
recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;
ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;
comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);
demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;
abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;
work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.
adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;
being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;
Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;
In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
Person Specification
Training Essential
Accredited Checking Pharmacy technician. Additional degree level, specialist knowledge and/or training demonstrated through in house approved frameworks and national training in: Pharmacy medicines management systems through medicines optimisation frameworks (in house or NHS England school of medicines optimisation). Health and safety including knowledge of medicines storage and medicines handling i.e. COSSH. Mental Health including monitoring requirements and knowledge of specialist mental health drugs such as clozapine/lithium. Willingness to undertake further training.
Desirable
NVQ Assessor/Facilitator status NVQ Internal verifier status. Wakefield Post Graduate Certificate of psychiatric therapies. Recent IT qualification/ training. CMHP Psych 1/Psych 2 certificate.
Physical Attributes Essential
Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience Essential
Demonstrable and substantial post registration experience of working in a hospital pharmacy environment. Experience of managing staff and recruitment processes. Experience in the use of IT packages available for pharmacy & patient information systems. Experience of working with electronic prescribing systems. Experience in conducting audits and interpreting data/producing action plans. Understanding of the Patient monitoring requirements and pharmacy role for the supply of Clozapine. Experience of writing and reviewing SOPs both for dispensary processes and safe medicines management on ward areas. Experience/Knowledge of cost-effective prescribing.
Desirable
Experience of working with Service level agreements across organizations Experience of electronic incident reporting systems such as Datix Previous experience of delivering training. Experienced in the supply of Clozapine. Experience of presenting to other disciplines on pharmacy-based subjects. Experience of working in a mental health setting.
Qualifications Essential
Registered with GPhC as practicing pharmacy technician, holding appropriate qualification. NVQ/BTEC level 3 in pharmaceutical science or equivalent. Leadership and Management qualification i.e. ILM level 3, Mary Seacole etc. Post graduate clinical diploma in clinical pharmacy services NVQ level 4 (or equivalent). OR to undertake within first year. OR IM&T qualification at equivalent level.
Special Knowledge/Skills Essential
Recent experience of dispensing and checking prescriptions within a hospital disensary. Ability to produce both written and data reports. Experience of incident reporting system and associated reporting. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work independently and manage priorities and deliver to deadlines. Ability to manage information systems. Ability to manage difficult and hostile or emotive situations calmly & effectively. Team player. Self-motivated and enthusiastic. Excellent IT skills.
Desirable
Up to date knowledge of psychotropic medications.
Personal Attributes Essential
Empathy with mental illness and understanding of mental health issues, illnesses and treatment. Able to use initiative. Team player with effective leadership skills. Ability to cope with emotional distressing situations. Excellent organisational ability. Attention to detail. Aptitude to learn new skills. Experience of managing change and supporting others through the process. Ability to work in a secure forensic setting. Ability to maintain concentration despite interruptions in a busy environment. Commitment to CPD. Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
Desirable
Previous experience of working systems within a medium or high secure healthcare environment.
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 South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)