About this role
Job summary 18-month fixed term contract ending 31st December 2027
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward-thinking Pharmacy Technician to join our Acute Hospital Pharmacy Team as a Lead Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician.
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled pharmacy professional to play a key leadership role in delivering high-quality medicines optimisation services across the Trust. Working closely with pharmacists, multidisciplinary teams, and operational pharmacy services, you will lead on initiatives that improve patient outcomes, medicines safety, and the effective use of medicines throughout the patient journey.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence service development, support implementation of digital systems including EPR and electronic prescribing, and contribute to strategic medicines optimisation projects across organisational boundaries.
Main duties of the job
To provide professional and operational leadership for the Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality clinical pharmacy and medicines optimisation services across the Trust.
You will be joining a supportive and innovative pharmacy team, with opportunities for leadership and career development and access to further education and training.
The Great Western Hospital is based close to the M4 with good transport links. Situated in the South West you have easy access to both the surrounding countryside as well as fast links to Bristol, London and Oxford.
The trust is moving to a new electronic patient record in 2027 which aims to improve the delivery of patient care.
About us
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people. We are creating a heath and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.
Job description Job responsibilities
Lead and coordinate medicines optimisation pharmacy technician services across inpatient and clinical areas Support safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines within the Trust Work collaboratively with pharmacists, nursing teams, medical staff, and wider MDT colleagues Lead on medicines reconciliation, transfer of care, and discharge optimisation initiatives Contribute to the implementation and ongoing development of electronic prescribing and EPR systems Support governance, audit, quality improvement, and medicines safety programmes Line manage and mentor pharmacy technicians and support staffDevelop and deliver training and competency assessments for pharmacy staff Participate in service improvement and transformation projectsSupport operational pharmacy services where require See attached job description for full details.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Training Essential
Currently Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council Knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures acquired through training, NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent Accredited to clinical prioritisation module or equivalent clinical qualification or be eligible or willing to work towards Additional training for checking dispensed prescriptions, supervising a technical area within the pharmacy to degree or equivalent level Knowledge of medicines management, including relevant legislation and policies acquired through NVQ3 or BTEC equivalent level qualification plus specialist training and experience to degree or equivalent level
Desirable
Evidence of Leadership and Management training equivalent to post-graduate diploma or equivalent level or equivalent experience
Experience Essential
Significant broad experience in a hospital pharmacy with experience of leading and managing teams Experience working within a role involving multi-disciplinary communication Experience of staff appraisal and objective setting Experience of developing and training staff Experience of recruitment and selection Evidence of Policy and procedure development Managing own workload to meet the needs of a service Successful project or change management Good knowledge of the legal requirements (Law and Ethics) for dispensing and supplying medicines, including CDs Aware of risk and Health and Safety issues and their implications for staff Knowledge of statutory regulations, including Medicines Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act and Regulations Managing meetings Knowledge and clear understanding of Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01), and other relevant regulations, guidance and quality standards Regular formal refresher training on EU GDP at least annually if no changes in legislation have occurred
Desirable
Evidence of Audit and/or research experience and implementation of findings Knowledge of national reports on development of pharmacy services
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 Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Great Western Hospital
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6BB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)