Senior Pharmacy Technician - Homecare

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Are you seeking an opportunity to work in a dynamic, supportive environment with a friendly & experienced team? Join us as a Senior Pharmacy Technician in Homecare and take the next step in your career!

This position is ideal for a technician eager to develop or enhance their knowledge & gain valuable experience in homecare & biologics. Comprehensive training & support will empower you to provide high-quality care to our diverse patient population across specialties such as dermatology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, HIV, hepatology, neurology & metabolic disorders.

In this role, you will respond to patient, clinic & homecare queries, support originator to biosimilar switch clinics, help the lipid clinic service, & conduct initiation telephone clinics for patients starting on biologics. You will also collaborate with the wider pharmacy team & other healthcare professionals, ensuring a holistic approach to patient care.

You will be part of a busy but supportive homecare team where continuous professional development is encouraged.

For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact Aiza Mubashir (Principal Pharmacist - Homecare and Biologics), Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail]

Interview date: W/C 14th April 2025

Main duties of the job

• The job role covers several aspects of the pharmacy service and will be split as follows:
  • Supporting the Pharmacy Homecare Service and the Pharmacy Business Manager and Principal Pharmacist for Homecare with High-Cost Drugs - 70%
  • Providing operational activity based on service needs e.g. dispensary, MMPT, cancer service - 30%
• To support and develop the MKUH Pharmacy Homecare Service by providing a specialist technician service to the Pharmacy Homecare team.
• To participate in operational activity based on service needs.
• To supervise the work of the Homecare Clerks.
• To support the Continual Professional Development (CPD) of technical staff, contributing to the education and training initiatives of the Pharmacy and other health professionals in collaboration with the Pharmacy Education Technician.

To succeed in this role, you will need to be enthusiastic, have excellent communication skills, & demonstrate a commitment to developing services and providing the best patient-centered care.

About us

MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trust's values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Job responsibilities

Professional responsibilities:

• To work with the Principal Pharmacist for Homecare and Specialist Technician Homecare to ensure the smooth running of the Homecare service.
• Ensure services reflect the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Standards for Homecare Services.
• To support the specialist technician homecare, multidisciplinary healthcare teams and the Principal Pharmacist for Homecare to implement new Homecare Services.

Operational responsibilities:

• Works with the Pharmacy Business Manager and Homecare Clerk to ensure homecare medicines prices are kept up to date on the JAC Pharmacy system and reflect current regional and local contracts.
• Works with the Pharmacy Business Manager and Homecare Clerk to ensure the prompt payment of invoices and to resolve any invoicing queries with homecare companies.
• Works to support the development and implementation of procedures for Homecare Medicines Management which may include policies that impact on other areas within the pharmacy department.

Educational & Training:

• To contribute to development and training programmes for all staff.
• To act as a role model for the rest of the technical and support staff by promoting a high standard of work and an effective leadership style.
• To research and develop new homecare activities for implementation into the daily routine of the Pharmacy department.

Quality:

• Undertakes research into homecare medicine management services, which may include the trial of novel methods of providing homecare medicines management, or services for medicines previously not managed through homecare.
• Ensure compliance with current homecare medicine management guidance and contributes nationally to the development of homecare medicines management guidance and policy.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• NVQ level 3 or in Pharmacy Services or equivalent.
• Knowledge of pharmacy procedures to degree or equivalent level acquired through training.
• Current professional registration with the GPhC.
• Commitment to CPD.
• Supervisory or management qualification - CMI level 3 or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Homecare Services in relation to Pharmacy.
• Knowledge of High-Cost Drugs and commissioning.
• NVQ (A1) assessor or equivalent.
• Recognised I.T qualification.

Experience

• Hospital Pharmacy or Community Health Services Pharmacy experience.
• Post qualification experience with relevant hospital pharmacy or homecare experience.
• Previous assessable experience of development and formulation of SOPs.
• Demonstrated ability to counsel and give advice on medication to patients from varied social, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
• Experience of Medicines Management and working at ward level.
• Previous experience of working within the Homecare team.
• Previous experience of pre-screening prescriptions and reviewing blood results.
• Previous assessable experience of participation in audit.
• Close working with pharmacists and non-pharmacy healthcare staff.

Skills

• Proven organisational skills.
• Conversant with Microsoft programs.
• Effective customer service skills including the ability to calm aggressive or upset patients and their relatives.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and to agreed deadlines.
• Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need.
• Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to manage change.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Ability to cope with a large and varied workload.
• Ability to maintain and improve quality standards.
• Ability to identify training needs of self and others.

Personal and people development

• Flexible and adaptable.
• Dedicated, professional attitude.
• Polite and courteous.
• Initiative and common sense.
• Lateral thinker.
• Self-motivated and team player.

Communication

• Good Communication skills, written and verbal.
• Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, Clinical staff, Homecare team and Homecare companies and other organisations about medicines management or other technical information.

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.

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.