Lead Pharmacy Technician – Dispensary in Luton

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Pharmacy Technician to work as a key part of the pharmacy team within our modern automated dispensary. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced registered pharmacy technician to work alongside the Dispensary and Outpatient Services Manager to support and manage the day‑to‑day running of the main dispensary and satellite dispensaries, provide direct staff management and training staff through supervision and monitoring performance and help improve service development in a busy hospital pharmacy department.

The post holder will also participate in the accuracy checking in the main dispensary or satellite units. This position requires a proactive and dynamic individual to work closely with peers and the Dispensary and Outpatient Services Manager to uphold the high standards of patient care and medicines management. You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles, supporting innovation and delivering an excellent patient experience. The successful candidate must be registered with the GPhC and have an accuracy checking qualification, and have management experience. Further training will be provided on staff management. The L&D Pharmacy is a 7 day service and some weekend and late shifts will be required.

Main duties of the job:

• To manage the day‑to‑day running of the dispensary, as delegated responsibility by the Dispensary and Outpatient Services Manager.
• To support the day‑to‑day running of the dispensary as requested by the Dispensary Manager for all activities.
• To manage the day‑to‑day running of the electronic controlled drug management system and related processes, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation and MHRA requirements.
• To act as an Accredited Checking Technician and to facilitate other technicians in becoming accredited to check.
• To dispense and issue prescriptions, providing advice as appropriate.
• To undertake day‑to‑day supervision of junior pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants.
• To provide training in dispensary procedures and pharmacy computer use to all members of staff (this will be a major job responsibility).

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values: We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Knowledge, skills and experience equivalent to BTEC + NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Services.
• Registration with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
• In‑house management training (or willing to undertake).
• ACPT Management study days.

Knowledge:

• Good up to date knowledge of medicine use.
• Understanding of issues involved in stock control.
• Understanding of importance of monitoring quality of service.
• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety at work requirements.

Personal Skills:

• Tact and persuasive skills.
• Ability to plan and organise on‑going service delivery.
• Ability to plan and organise on‑going training programmes.
• Ability to appropriately prioritise competing demands.
• Ability to analyse complex problems.
• Awareness of teaching and learning strategies and ability to put them into practice.
• Use of reporting software.

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.