Pharmacy Technician (Various Locations) in Brighton

The Pharmacy Technician will support the delivery of patient care within the clinical pharmacy caseload as a member of the Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) across various settings, including hospices, mental health hospitals, and occasionally diagnostic services. They will provide technical pharmacy support to healthcare professionals, contribute to the development and delivery of safe and effective medicines management, and ensure compliance with all relevant standards. Full training and induction will be provided.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct medication reconciliation and evaluate patients’ personal medications to ensure their suitability for use during inpatient care.
• Arrange the efficient and prompt supply of medicines where needed by assisting with ordering medication, stock top‑ups and TTOs.
• Communicate with patients regarding medication compliance, addressing concerns and escalating issues to the senior pharmacy technician, clinical pharmacist, or relevant team members.
• Support discharge through working as part of the ward‑based team, including checking and processing TTOs and assessing/incorporating patient’s own drugs for use on discharge.
• Prioritise urgent requests for in‑patient or urgent discharge medication.
• Manage and maintain safe and efficient stock levels of pharmaceuticals and order replacement stock from Ashtons where applicable.
• Dispose of and collect ongoing data on returned and wasted medicines.
• Ensure the clinic rooms are clean, tidy, and a safe place to work.
• Assist with medicines management (monitor expiry dates, assemble stock, collection/deliver to wards, update relevant paperwork).
• Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals.
• Assist with the destruction of Controlled Drugs in accordance with regulations alongside trained staff.
• Carry out audits including Clinic Room Audit, Medicines Management Audit, Controlled Drugs Audit and Clozapine Audit (where applicable).
• Manage pharmacy documentation to ensure records are fully maintained.
• Participate in initiatives designed to improve the efficiency of medicine management activities as necessary and in line with competencies.
• Identify good practice in medicines management which could then be used to improve services to patients.
• Provide support to colleagues during absences by performing tasks at other hospitals or the Brighton dispensary as required.
• Assist the Pharmacy team to deliver Medicines Management training.
• Maintain and update professional knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD).
• Complete mandatory training requirements and attend relevant educational sessions.
• Ensure all medication incidents are reported in accordance with local policy.
• Assist where appropriate in investigating errors in prescribing, dispensing or drug administration.
• Assist the team in ensuring compliance with CQC standards for medicines management.
• Attend meetings with the multi‑disciplinary team to report audit findings/new guidance where applicable.
• Be competent in using basic computer programmes.
• Use the internet regularly to ensure access to up‑to‑date information on medicines related issues and to access work emails.
• Be competent in using relevant parts of electronic care record systems to effectively carry out the job.
• Ensure stock levels are maintained, stock is rotated, and waste is kept to a minimum.
• Highlight and make suggestions to ensure best use of hospice finances in relation to cost effective use of medicines.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with GPhC or equivalent.
• NVQ 3 in Pharmacy (or equivalent).
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional working relationships between various Health Care Professionals.
• Able to work within a stressful environment.
• Ability to work within a palliative care environment.
• Ability to strive and aspire to delivering high quality care and to improve care for patients and their families.

Interpersonal skills:

• Positive attitude.
• Self‑motivated and proactive.
• Ability to work on own initiative.

Education:

• Accuracy checking technician.
• Excellent knowledge of the English language essential.
• Excellent general knowledge desired.

Skills:

• Advanced in Word and Outlook.
• Competent in Pharmacy IT systems.

Key Relationships:

• Ashtons Lead Pharmacist, Senior Clinical Pharmacists, Clinical Pharmacists and People Team.
• Hospice teams including the medical and IPU Nursing staff.
• Community Clinical Nurse Specialists, GPs, community pharmacists and healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care.

This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and may be reviewed in the future depending upon operational requirements and staffing. Consultation will occur before any such changes take place.