Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proactive and forward-thinking pharmacy technician to join our Out-Patient Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) pharmacy team at University Hospitals Birmingham. We are seeking an individual with a passion for driving change and improving patient care through the safe and effective use of antimicrobials.
In this pivotal role, you will coordinate and evaluation the provision of antimicrobial therapy to patients managed out of the hospital environment ensuring outcomes are communicated effectively both within the Trust and to external partners.
You will work closely with the wider OPAT teams, the on-site pharmacy dispensary teams and external service providers to support the day-to-day delivery of technical pharmacy services to the speciality.
This role requires a collaborative team player who can also work independently, with excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills to engage stakeholders and drive meaningful improvements in the OPAT service.
Main duties of the job
To work with the OPAT senior management and Pharmacy senior management team in planning the strategic development of pharmacy specialist services.
To support OPAT in achieving objectives set by the Trust, the National Patient Safety agency or equivalent body, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, the Department of Health (including the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency) and others to meet clinical governance targets, develop patient care, improve clinical outcomes & ensure compliance with all standards expected.
To support the development of Trust wide standard operating procedures (SOPs) within designated area relating to patient services which can be implemented across the Trust.
To support the communication of changes in the way the pharmacy service is provided to hospital management, nursing staff, pharmacy staff and patients via formal meetings, presentations, reports and discussion.
Actively participate in the delivery of clinical governance accordance with the agreed UHB strategy, working with pharmacy staff and other hospital colleagues.
To provide specialist support to a team of registered and support staff, ensuring regular and effective communication regarding safe and secure handling of medicines, patient services, compliance to standards and education and training.
To help plan and coordinate the work in OPAT, including prioritising and reprioritising activities to respond to changing circumstances and providing sufficient resources and support.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *GCSEs -- Mathematics and English (Grade B/5) and four other subjects including Science (Grade C/4)
- Or
- *GCSEs: Mathematics, English and Science (Grade C/4 or equivalent) and two other GCSEs (Grade C/4) and successful achievement of the pharmacy service skills Level 2 NVQ qualification (or equivalent)
- Or
- *Three A levels, one of which is a relevant science subject and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- Or
- *Degree in science or humanities and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- *Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
- Or
- *BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills
- or equivalent as defined by the General Pharmaceutical Council
- *Dispensing Accuracy Accreditation, West Midland's scheme or equivalent
- *Evidence of Continued Professional Development
- *Professional Registration with the GPhC
- *Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Desirable
- *Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Experience
Essential
- *Two years' work experience in Pharmacy pre-qualification
- *Currently practicing as a band 5 pharmacy technician / equivalent or above with post-qualification experience within an acute setting
- *The ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge and the relevant practical experience for the post
- *Significant experience within a pharmacy setting
- *Experience of the specialist function for area of responsibility
- *Experience of organising other grades of staff and their workload
- *Experienced in working to policies and procedures
- *Significant experience within a hospital pharmacy setting
- *Understanding of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
- *Health and Safety at Work and COSHH
- *Understanding of dispensing, stock control, supply and I.T systems and processes
- *Knowledge of Code of Practice / Customer Care
- *Knowledge of medicines, side effects and where to find further information
- *Knowledge of practices, policies and procedures associated with the job
- *Understands the need for delivering a cost effective service and the required work practices to reduce waste
Desirable
- *Experience working as a Clinical Pharmacy Technician or similar capacity
- *Deputising for senior personnel, co-ordinating daily work flow including situational staff management
- *Experience in setting up new working practices or procedures
- *Participation in the training and mentoring of staff
- *Understanding of ward environment
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Able to demonstrate clear thinking, assess and solve simple problems
- *Takes responsibility for own work/actions and contribution to the team success
- *Able to communicate at an appropriate level complex information verbally, written or electronically as required
- *Able to manage own time and tasks effectively to achieve objective
- *Able to identify customer needs and deliver service to required level
- *Demonstrates IT and keyboard skills including e-mail, word-processing
- *Able to set work objectives for others supporting with training and mentoring. Managing deviation from objectives and timescales
- *Demonstrates suitable interpersonal skills to work with other healthcare professionals and meet patient needs
- *Motivates self and others
- *Has knowledge and skills to advise patients on use of medicines at an appropriate level to support their treatment/care
- *Recognises when issues/activities fall out of their scope and/or ability refers appropriately
- *Demonstrates initiative
- *Able to assess staff performance and provide constructive feedback
- *Understands need for and is able to work to defined procedures
- *Demonstrates ability to guide, support and train other members of staff
- *Adaptable to change
- *Ability to work in a team
- *Enthusiastic, reliable and trustworthy and displays a mature attitude
- *Good time management
- *Careful and accurate in work
- *Able to demonstrate discretion and diplomacy
- *Fair and objective
- *Flexible to the demands of the post, the needs of the pharmacy service and other staff
- *Good team player and able to motive others
- *Self-motivated and sound use of own initiative
- *Keen to improve and develop the pharmacy service and committed to the concept of technician-led services
- *Keen to develop own person skill and use these for the benefit of others
- *Able to demonstrate timely referral to senior staff appropriately
- *Ability to travel to other Trust sites
- *Flexible to work in accordance with service needs
- *Committed to abide by the Trust Vision and Values
Desirable
- *Capable of developing and implementing SOPs in conjunction with the line manager
- *Able to assess staff performance and provide constructive feedback
- *Demonstrates ability to undertake a variety of tasks
- *Demonstrates ability to instruct junior staff on dispensing of complicated drug regimens / clinical trials dispensing and unlicensed products
- *Awareness of future developments within Pharmacy
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *GCSEs -- Mathematics and English (Grade B/5) and four other subjects including Science (Grade C/4)
- Or
- *GCSEs: Mathematics, English and Science (Grade C/4 or equivalent) and two other GCSEs (Grade C/4) and successful achievement of the pharmacy service skills Level 2 NVQ qualification (or equivalent)
- Or
- *Three A levels, one of which is a relevant science subject and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- Or
- *Degree in science or humanities and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- *Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
- Or
- *BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills
- or equivalent as defined by the General Pharmaceutical Council
- *Dispensing Accuracy Accreditation, West Midland's scheme or equivalent
- *Evidence of Continued Professional Development
- *Professional Registration with the GPhC
- *Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Desirable
- *Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Experience
Essential
- *Two years' work experience in Pharmacy pre-qualification
- *Currently practicing as a band 5 pharmacy technician / equivalent or above with post-qualification experience within an acute setting
- *The ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge and the relevant practical experience for the post
- *Significant experience within a pharmacy setting
- *Experience of the specialist function for area of responsibility
- *Experience of organising other grades of staff and their workload
- *Experienced in working to policies and procedures
- *Significant experience within a hospital pharmacy setting
- *Understanding of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
- *Health and Safety at Work and COSHH
- *Understanding of dispensing, stock control, supply and I.T systems and processes
- *Knowledge of Code of Practice / Customer Care
- *Knowledge of medicines, side effects and where to find further information
- *Knowledge of practices, policies and procedures associated with the job
- *Understands the need for delivering a cost effective service and the required work practices to reduce waste
Desirable
- *Experience working as a Clinical Pharmacy Technician or similar capacity
- *Deputising for senior personnel, co-ordinating daily work flow including situational staff management
- *Experience in setting up new working practices or procedures
- *Participation in the training and mentoring of staff
- *Understanding of ward environment
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Able to demonstrate clear thinking, assess and solve simple problems
- *Takes responsibility for own work/actions and contribution to the team success
- *Able to communicate at an appropriate level complex information verbally, written or electronically as required
- *Able to manage own time and tasks effectively to achieve objective
- *Able to identify customer needs and deliver service to required level
- *Demonstrates IT and keyboard skills including e-mail, word-processing
- *Able to set work objectives for others supporting with training and mentoring. Managing deviation from objectives and timescales
- *Demonstrates suitable interpersonal skills to work with other healthcare professionals and meet patient needs
- *Motivates self and others
- *Has knowledge and skills to advise patients on use of medicines at an appropriate level to support their treatment/care
- *Recognises when issues/activities fall out of their scope and/or ability refers appropriately
- *Demonstrates initiative
- *Able to assess staff performance and provide constructive feedback
- *Understands need for and is able to work to defined procedures
- *Demonstrates ability to guide, support and train other members of staff
- *Adaptable to change
- *Ability to work in a team
- *Enthusiastic, reliable and trustworthy and displays a mature attitude
- *Good time management
- *Careful and accurate in work
- *Able to demonstrate discretion and diplomacy
- *Fair and objective
- *Flexible to the demands of the post, the needs of the pharmacy service and other staff
- *Good team player and able to motive others
- *Self-motivated and sound use of own initiative
- *Keen to improve and develop the pharmacy service and committed to the concept of technician-led services
- *Keen to develop own person skill and use these for the benefit of others
- *Able to demonstrate timely referral to senior staff appropriately
- *Ability to travel to other Trust sites
- *Flexible to work in accordance with service needs
- *Committed to abide by the Trust Vision and Values
Desirable
- *Capable of developing and implementing SOPs in conjunction with the line manager
- *Able to assess staff performance and provide constructive feedback
- *Demonstrates ability to undertake a variety of tasks
- *Demonstrates ability to instruct junior staff on dispensing of complicated drug regimens / clinical trials dispensing and unlicensed products
- *Awareness of future developments within Pharmacy
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
