Pharmacy Technician in Norwich

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking a GPhC‑registered Pharmacy Technician to join our expanding Medicines Optimisation Team on a part‑time basis (26.5 hours per week), maternity cover. Our small, friendly, ward‑based team is growing as we develop patient‑facing roles across the Trust. You will play a key part in delivering our medicines optimisation strategy, working closely with ward teams and our Pharmacy provider to deliver high‑quality, patient‑centred care.

Applicants should hold an accreditation in Medicines Management that meets the National Medicines Management Framework, or be willing to work towards this. Working hours are Monday to Friday, with flexible options available. Joining our evolving service at such a pivotal moment means you'll help shape how medicines optimisation is delivered across our wards, contributing to the development of an innovative and high‑quality clinical service in partnership with our clinical pharmacists.

Main duties of the job:

• Work closely with our clinical pharmacists to support the delivery of high‑quality clinical pharmacy services across all community hospital wards.
• Contribute to medicines optimisation, ensure the safe and effective supply of medicines, and help minimise risks associated with medicines use.
• Communicate confidently with patients, carers and healthcare professionals to ensure that patients are safe and well supported with their medicines.
• Ensure timely medicines reconciliation on the designated in‑patient unit as appropriate to facilitate a smooth admission to services.
• Appropriately refer interventions to the clinical pharmacists or liaise with other members of the MDT within scope and experience.
• Ensure the appropriate management and administration of medications in accordance with Legislation, Trust Policy and Professional Standards.
• Assess, use and destroy patients' own drugs and encourage patients' relatives/carers to use patients' own medicines.
• Destroy expired or unwanted medicines as per trust procedure.
• Ensure wards have appropriate stock rotation, stock lists and medicines storage and review regularly with the ward pharmacist and ward manager.
• Initiate requests for ward non‑stock and when relevant ward stock items.
• Facilitate resolution of medicines supply problems when requested.
• Assist in training of ward staff involved in medicines management and administration as appropriate.
• Record all patient interventions and medicines management activity in the patient record.
• Provide patient counselling on the use of medicines to selected patients as identified by the MDT.
• Participate in team meetings, service away days and service development initiatives as required.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 - pharmacy services / BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent.
• Accredited checking technician status or likely to achieve within 3 months.
• Post registration clinical/foundation credential qualification and/or significant relevant medicines optimisation experience.
• Medicines related patient consultation skills accreditation.
• Supervisory skills.
• Member of APTUK.

Experience:

• Medicines optimisation knowledge and experience.
• Experience of working in ward, community services or primary care environment.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Basic knowledge of primary care.
• Digital pharmacy experience.
• In depth post qualification experience of pharmacy.
• Hospital based experience.
• Experience of POD scheme.
• Experience working in community services.
• Evidence of team role and multidisciplinary work.
• Experience of clinical audit.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge:

• Knowledge of a ward‑based technicians role including reuse of patients' own drugs, one stop dispensing, self‑administration and discharge of patients.
• Ability to work as an individual and as part of a team.
• Ability to organize and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines and targets.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to recognise personal limits and when it is appropriate to seek advice.
• Good clinical, pharmaceutical and health promotion knowledge.

Communication:

• Good written and verbal communication.
• Able to relate well to a wide range of people.
• Good patient counselling skills.

Personal Attributes / Behaviours:

• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Effective role model, demonstrating NCHC values of People, community, compassion & creativity.

This position will have a degree of autonomy to act on individual patient medicine pharmaceutical care, to bring improvements to safety to the patient as discovered. There is an expectation that the post holder will practice within safe limits and always refer to designated clinical ward pharmacist and Head of Medicines Optimisation when unsure or when there is a need to resolve complex or more challenging situations.