Job responsibilities
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated Trust providing acute, mental health and community health services for the people of Somerset. The Trust provides services for Community Health and Mental Health from multiple inpatient units and community sites, throughout Somerset. The Trust has 2 acute sites -- Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital.
Pharmacy Service Core Purpose
Our purpose is to provide a unified and patient-centred pharmacy service across Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring equitable access, safety, cost-effectiveness with adherence to evidence-based practices.
Our clinical pharmacy team provides expert advice and support to optimise medication use and enhance patient care, as an integral member of multidisciplinary teams within the Somerset Health System.
Modern aseptic production unit at Musgrove Park Hospital prepare high quality chemotherapy treatments for the population of Somerset.
Job Purpose:
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Technician will support safe, effective and optimised antimicrobial use across Somerset NHS FT. Working within the multidisciplinary AMS team, the postholder delivers audits, data insights, education, ward based interventions and governance support to reduce inappropriate prescribing, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections. The role combines clinical service improvement, data production and presentation, training and policy support aligned to national AMS standards and local priorities.
Approximately 40% of the full time role will involve acting as a senior technician supporting medicines optimisation and dispensary services. Part time and agile working arrangements are encouraged and will be agreed with the successful candidate and reviewed regularly. For part time post holders, the balance between AMS and pharmacy operational duties will be adjusted accordingly and reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communication and Key Working Relationships
This post requires excellent communication skills to provide written and verbal advice and information, including presentations and reports, on complex clinical and organisational issues relating to antimicrobials.
Key working relationships
*Antimicrobial Stewardship MDT: AMS pharmacists, microbiologists/infection physicians, infection control nurses
*Pharmacy staff of all grades
*Doctors of all grades
*Nursing staff of all grades
*Other multidisciplinary staff
*Patients and the public
Responsibilities
*Coordinate AMS activity with microbiology, IPC, clinical teams and medicines management, contributing as a core team member to improve antimicrobial use across the Trust.
*Support ward reviews and MDT rounds, escalating complex cases and communicating sensitive medicines information to clinicians, patients and carers.
*Work collaboratively with pharmacy, medical and nursing colleagues to deliver stewardship objectives, collecting and presenting AMS data with clear recommendations.
*Provide AMS training and induction for clinical staff and represent the service in professional networks at local, regional and national levels.
*Provide medicines optimisation and dispensary services.
Planning and Organisation
*Plan, coordinate and deliver AMS activities across sites, ensuring alignment with Trust priorities and deadlines.
*Organise resources for ward reviews, training and stakeholder meetings, managing and adapting workload to meet timescales.
*Maintain high standards of data quality, documentation and version control while leading AMS projects and service development using QI methodology.
*Maintain ongoing professional development to build AMS expertise and support advanced duties.
Analytics
*Analyse antimicrobial use, maintain accurate prescribing and laboratory datasets, and lead AMS and pharmacy audits to identify trends and improvement needs.
*Produce dashboards and reports summarising KPIs, safety issues and recommended actions, presenting clear insights for clinical and executive teams.
*Evaluate the impact of stewardship interventions using measurable outcomes and continuous improvement methods (e.g., PDSA/QI cycles).
Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
*Support safe prescribing by checking indication, dose, duration, IV oral switch options, confirming allergies and interactions, and providing patient counselling.
*Promote a culture of good stewardship across Pharmacy and the wider Trust through role modelling, education and collaborative working.
*Support dispensary operations including final accuracy checking.
*Provide ward based medicines management support, including medicines reconciliation and on ward problem solving.
*Work within own limitations referring to appropriate colleagues as required.
Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility
*Contribute to the development, implementation and maintenance of Trust wide and departmental antimicrobial policies, procedures, guidance and training programmes.
*Support antimicrobial related research, audits and quality improvement projects within the pharmacy department.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources
*Manage and secure stock across pharmacy and ward areas, supporting accurate inventory control and safe storage.
*Identify and pursue cost saving opportunities, promoting cost effective prescribing and optimisation of high cost antimicrobials.
*Provide data and analysis to inform business cases, formulary decisions and procurement discussions.
*Monitor and report the financial impact of stewardship interventions on antimicrobial spend and resource use, and feed findings into service improvement.
*Use of clinical systems as required to undertake duties, including, but not limited to: dispensing/stock control systems, EPMA, patient records, pathology results.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management
*Lead improvement work including QI projects and PDSA cycles to deliver sustained enhancements in antimicrobial use and patient safety.
*Develop and deliver antimicrobial training for pharmacy, nursing, midwifery and medical staff and produce supporting learning materials.
*Train, supervise and mentor Pre Registration Technicians, Trainee Pharmacists, Rotational Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants; set learning objectives, hold regular progress reviews and conduct formal assessments.
*Act as line manager for agreed staff, provide one to one supervision and career conversations, and support staff wellbeing.
*Undertake risk management activities, ensure adherence to medicines legislation and good practice guidance, and embed learning from incidents.
*Role model Trust values and promote best practice through visible leadership and collaborative behaviours.
Information Resources & Administrative Duties
*Maintain and curate AMS datasets with robust version control, data quality checks and clear documentation to ensure accuracy and traceability.
*Produce and update reporting products including dashboards, templates and reporting packs for clinical teams and executive audiences, delivering timely weekly, monthly and quarterly outputs.
*Manage stewardship IT systems (EPMA, e prescribing, laboratory interfaces), support configuration of alerts and order sets, and troubleshoot data flows to enable reliable surveillance and interventions.
*Analyse trust wide, regional and national antimicrobial usage and audit data, translating findings into actionable insights.
*Develop accessible learning resources to support staff education and embed stewardship practice across the Trust.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
*Undertake other appropriate tasks as required by the Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead Pharmacist, Pharmacy Management Team or Director of Pharmacy, and escalate issues beyond own remit to the Lead, deputy or a senior pharmacist.
*Attend internal and external meetings on behalf of the AMS Lead when required, acting with delegated authority.
*Participate in pharmacy rotas including late nights, weekends and bank holidays, and provide cross site support as needed; ability to travel between Trust sites is required (full UK driving licence).
*Maintain GPhC registration and an up to date CPD portfolio; take responsibility for continuing professional development to keep clinical knowledge and AMS practice current.
*Adhere to all Trust and pharmacy departmental policies and procedures and complete mandatory Trust training.
