Specialist Pharmacy Technician (Lakeside)

Job summary

At Lakeside Mental Health Unit, the Health Based Place of Safety (HBPOS) has been substantially redesigned and improved. In addition, the in-patient wards, Crisis Team, Clozapine Clinic and community-based teams are caring for increasing numbers of Service Users with needs of increasing complexity. We are excited to be planning a Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS). Therefore, we are excited to recruit two Specialist Pharmacy Technicians to develop highest quality medicines management to the benefit of the Service Users.

The successful candidates will work with the pharmacists who are based at Lakeside Mental Health Unit, the wider pharmacy team and the wider multidisciplinary teams to develop and innovate the role of Pharmacy Technician in acute Mental Health wards and specialist Mental Health services and teams. The successful candidates will be involved in the wider clinical governance agenda.

The successful candidates will be highly motivated with good communication skills and a keen interest in mental health who derives satisfaction from developing both the service and pharmacy colleagues. The applicant should be able to work well both in a team and autonomously.

In recent years, the Pharmacy team in West London NHS Trust has expanded significantly and there is team focus on growth and development with multiple opportunities for staff.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will work together with the pharmacists based at Lakeside Mental Health Unit (LMHU), the Lead Pharmacist Local Services Tri-Borough and Lead Pharmacy Technician to continue to develop and shape the role of a Specialist Pharmacy Technician within the wards and teams based at LMHU, ensuring the best use of medicines for service users. The candidate will be pivotal in planning, establishing and continuing to develop medicines management services to new wards and teams within LMHU.

The candidates will work to promote and develop optimal medicines management processes within LMHU. Working with pharmacy colleagues, the candidate will share learning across the Trust to support excellence in medicines management Trust-wide.

The candidates will provide training and development on medicines management in mental health to junior and trainee staff. The candidate will act as an educational supervisor to trainee staff as necessary and appropriate.

The candidates will work in collaboration with the rest of the West London NHS Trust pharmacy team to provide pharmacy services across the Trust. Where necessary, the candidate may be asked to cover colleagues' leaves of absence

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.