Bank Medicines Optimisation Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will support the delivery of medicines optimisation across community healthcare services by providing technical expertise, prescribing support, and medicines governance. Working as part of the Medicines Management team, the role ensures the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines through audit, data monitoring, and process improvement.

The Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician will:

Provide straightforward advice to colleagues on pharmaceutical products and supply processes.

Maintain the Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP) database, ensuring accurate records and compliance with governance requirements.

Monitor prescribing activity, identify trends and variances, and provide feedback to prescribers and managers where appropriate.

Order, record, and manage prescription pads securely in line with organisational policy.

Support prescribers and clinical teams in implementing prescribing changes, promoting best practice, and improving compliance with formulary and safety standards.

Deliver medicines-related training to staff and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.

Work autonomously to manage workload, prioritise tasks, and ensure timely delivery of accurate information and governance processes.

This role is integral to medicines governance, prescribing support, and service development, working closely with pharmacists, prescribers, managers, and wider clinical teams to enhance patient safety and optimise medicines use.

Dimensions

Scope of Role: Provides technical and governance support for medicines optimisation across community healthcare services, influencing safe and cost-effective prescribing practices.

Budgetary Responsibility: No direct budget management; contributes to cost-efficiency through prescribing data review and implementation of agreed changes.

Staff Responsibility: No direct line management; acts as a key point of contact for medicines-related queries within agreed competencies and supports prescribers, managers, and clinical teams.

Geographical Coverage: Supports multiple community sites and services within the organisation.

Governance and Compliance: Maintains accurate records and audit trails for prescription pads, NMP processes, and medicines governance activities; ensures compliance with organisational, local, and national policies.

Decision-Making: Works autonomously within SOPs and professional standards, prioritising workload and escalating risks appropriately.

Impact: Contributes to patient safety, regulatory readiness, and quality improvement through medicines governance, audit, and prescribing support.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Governance

Maintain compliance with organisational, local, and national medicines and prescribing policies to ensure safe and effective care.

Contribute to governance assurance through accurate record-keeping, audit trails, and regulatory readiness (e.g., CQC).

Investigate and resolve medicines management issues.

Develop, review, and implement medicines-related policies, procedures, and SOPs.

Support organisational objectives to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

NMP Governance & Prescription Pad Management

Maintain and update the Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP) register/database.

Coordinate NMP registration, deregistration, and amendments to NMP details.

Submit required documentation to NHS Business Services Authority and liaise with managers/clinical leads.

Monitor adherence to NMP governance processes and escalate concerns appropriately.

Order, record, reconcile, securely store, and distribute prescription pads in line with organisational policy.

Investigate discrepancies, losses, or incidents relating to prescription pads and escalate as required.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Analyse prescribing and medicines usage data from multiple sources to identify trends, formulary compliance, and cost-saving opportunities.

Prepare reports and summaries for pharmacists, managers, and external stakeholders.

Support implementation of prescribing improvement actions to enhance cost-effectiveness and patient safety.

Monitor, log, and report incidents, near misses, complaints, and safety alerts to senior pharmacists.

Medicines Safety

Manage medicines safety alerts, recalls, and other patient safety notifications, ensuring timely and appropriate action.

Coordinate immediate response actions for safe handling, storage, and distribution of medicines.

Contribute to incident learning and service improvements to reduce future risk.

Research, Audit & Quality Improvement

Undertake and support audits of medicines management systems across sites to improve services.

Develop and maintain audit tools and quality assurance processes.

Record, track, and review incidents, actions, and outcomes to support shared learning.

Participate in quality improvement projects and service development initiatives.

Promote evidence-based practice, clinical effectiveness, and continuous quality improvement.

Planning & Organising

Maintain accurate medicines management databases and governance records, including NMP registers, prescription pad logs, audit trackers, and action plans.

Coordinate own workload and support medicines management and governance meetings (agenda prep, minute-taking, action tracking, and follow-up).

Support day-to-day administrative processes underpinning safe and effective medicines management.

Assist in delivering the medicines management work plans.

Communication & Partnership Working

Act as a point of contact for medicines-related queries within agreed competencies.

Communicate effectively with pharmacists, prescribers, managers, and wider healthcare teams.

Provide feedback to medicines optimisation pharmacists and service leads.

Work in partnership with staff across all work-streams of the medicines management service.

Workforce Development

Provide medicines management training and advice within scope of the role.

Support the development, mentoring, and training of staff.

Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development across the team.

Professional Practice

Work autonomously within agreed SOPs, professional standards, and scope of practice.

Maintain GPhC registration and complete CPD relevant to the role.

Prioritise workload effectively and contribute to service resilience

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of medicines optimisation or medicines management
• Experience of safe storage, handling, and stock control of medicines
• Experience of audit activity, data collection, logging incidents, and record keeping
• Experience of implementing or supporting medicines-related policies, SOPs, or guidelines
• Experience of training and supporting staff within agreed competencies
• Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams and partner organisations
• Experience of supporting or contributing to service change or development initiatives

Desirable

• Experience of analysing prescribing or medicines usage data
• Experience of supporting Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP) governance processes
• Experience of managing prescription stationery or other controlled medicines documentation
• Experience of quality improvement projects
• Experience of supporting meetings, including agenda preparation, minute-taking, and action tracking
• Experience of supporting regulatory readiness and inspections (e.g., CQC)

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service
• Full driving licence or the ability to travel between locations.

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 / BTEC Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Services (or equivalent)
• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Knowledge of medicines optimisation principles
• Knowledge of NHS medicines governance structures and medicines optimisation priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate complex or sensitive information
• Strong organisational and workload management skills
• Ability to work independently within policies, procedures and professional standards, and as part of a wider team
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines across multiple workstreams
• Ability to work effectively under pressure with changing priorities
• Ability to recognise when advice, supervision, or escalation is required
• Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of medicines safety systems, alerts, and incident management processes
• Knowledge of primary care systems and processes, including SystmOne
• Knowledge of prescribing data and reporting systems (e.g., ePACT)
• Ability to support and influence change in practice within agreed scope
• Ability to analyse, interpret, and present audit or prescribing data
• Report writing and presentation skills
• Experience of delivering training and identifying learning needs

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC

Address

Bullwell Riverside Health Centre and Aspect House

108 Coventry Road

Bullwell

Nottingham

NG6 8PS

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamcitycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)