Rotational Service Lead Pharmacy Technician

Visiting restrictions at St Richard's Hospital due to an increased number of norovirus cases. Read full details.

Band 6

Main area: CSS Grade Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working
• Compressed hours

Job ref: 279-6723762-MAR25

Employer: 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Royal Sussex County Hospital
Town: Brighton
Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 per annum pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 09/04/2025 23:59

About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

This is a substantive role which has a major contribution to the management of medicines and the welfare of patients and the efficiency of the organisation. The post is rotational and designed in such a way as to provide a breadth of experience and training which will equip the post holder for further career progression.

Should some of the essential criteria for this post not be met, you may be offered a progression band 5-6 post. Once set objectives are met successfully within an agreed timeframe, then you will progress to a band 6. The details for the progression position including details of the objectives and timeframes will be provided if you are successfully offered this.

Main duties of the job

• To provide senior leadership in the provision of pharmacy services to University Hospitals Sussex with the inclusion of services provided to Brighton University.
• The successful post holder will be expected to undertake duties within specialist areas including, medicines optimisation and dispensary services.
• The post holder will co-ordinate and be responsible for the training and development of trainee pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacy technicians with respect to clinical and dispensary services.
• The post holder will be expected to contribute to the development of services including but not limited to the provisions of services to fulfil current deficiencies in current provision and develop services around counselling, adherence, flow co-ordination, and transfer on discharge.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide expert leadership and knowledge in clinical and technical forms at both pharmacy and ward level.
• To substantively participate and create weekly clinical rotas, including providing medicines optimisation services to designated divisions.
• To provide accurate medicines optimisation services to patients and wards in the form of drug history taking, medicines reconciliation, patient own drug assessments and supply and reordering assessments including those required prior to admission for those with planned admissions and in pre-operative clinics.
• Accurately re-label medicines for patients where dose/frequencies have changed.
• Organise timely supplies of new, additional or absent medicines and accurately transcribe for individual patients for use in hospital and at discharge.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Minimum Requirements

• NVQ Level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Experience in implementing/co-ordinating ward and dispensary based services
• Experience of hospital pharmacy practice as a Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician or equivalent.
• Training experience
• Ward based/dispensary training experience to other pharmacy staff.
• Experience of training other members of pharmacy or Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to work well as a team member.
• Must be able to recognise and overcome barriers to understanding e.g. language, deaf, learning difficulties.
• Demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Implement changes to pharmacy services.
• Implement and recommend SOPs and divisional changes.
• Use of pharmacy computer system
• Word processing skills for audit and financial report
• Experience of supervising pharmacy staff within a pharmacy dispensary setting or at ward level.
• Daily management of staff and HR policies and processes.
• Work independently as part of MDT but liaise with the specialist pharmacist(s), refer non-routine enquiries.
• Demonstrate time management skills for self and others.
• Nationally accredited for medicines management, i.e. MOPs or AIMMs
• Educational/practice supervisor for MM and ACPT
• Educational/practice supervisor for NVQ 2 & 3 assistants and technicians
• Proven ability in MDT working
• Evaluate data from audits, make recommendations for service improvement and communicate findings (verbally and written report)
• Planning and organisational skills for daily management of staff and HR policies and processes
• Implement and support the delivery of medicines management savings plans
• Document and report savings plans for the divisions
• Knowledge of CMM pharmacy computer system
• Experience of Recruitment and Selection of other technical staff

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Important information for applicants:

Please note, the use of AI generated applications will be closely monitored. It is at the manager's discretion to reject your application if they feel the majority has been created through the use of AI tools.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigration eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Alex Barber
Job title: Deputy operational lead pharmacy technician
Email address: alexandra.barber@nhs.net
Telephone number: 01273 696955
Additional information: Ext: 64165