Job summary
Join Our Team as a Lead Pharmacy Technician - Clozapine Services
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking Clinical Pharmacy Team at South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).
As a key member of the senior operational team, you will play an integral role in our wider pharmacy service, leading the delivery of high-quality services for patients prescribed clozapine across the Trust. This role offers the chance to use your organisational, communication, and consultation skills to provide outstanding patient care within clozapine clinics, working closely with the multidisciplinary team. You will also have excellent opportunities to develop your leadership, education, and training capabilities.
Main duties of the job
Job Purpose:
To manage and co-ordinate clozapine services to allocated borough(s)
To manage and maintain clozapine processes in the dispensary
To participate in the provision of pharmaceutical care initiatives to ensure the safe, appropriate and cost effective use of medicines
To assist in delivering the targets set out in the pharmacy Business Plan.
To work with the multidisciplinary team in providing an effective and efficient clozapine service to SLaM patients within the allocated borough(s)
To act as a practice supervisor in the training and education of pre-registration pharmacy technicians during their clozapine rotation.
To line manage and supervise senior pharmacy technicians allocated clozapine duties.
To supervise Pharmacy Technicians, Assistant Technical Officers and where appropriate, pre-registration pharmacists.
We welcome applications from pharmacy technicians who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, sound clinical knowledge, and a commitment to improving patient care. You should be an Accredited Checking Technician (ACPT) with experience in medicines management, and possess a solid understanding of clozapine.
About us
In addition to clinical responsibilities, you will have the chance to contribute toteaching, quality improvement projects, and research within a Trust recognised internationally for its work in mental health. SLaM provides the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK and works closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, forming part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.
Our pharmacy department supports inpatient wards and community mental health teams across Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth, and Lewisham, offering clinical, dispensing, and medicines information services to staff and patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post will be based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital pharmacy, with regular support required for clozapine clinics at the Ladywell Unit, Lewisham Hospital.
For full details please see attached job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post will be based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital pharmacy, with regular support required for clozapine clinics at the Ladywell Unit, Lewisham Hospital.
For full details please see attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences or a recognised equivalent
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), with mandatory CPD
- ACT (Accredited Checking Technician)
- HEE Pharmacy Medicines Optimisation accreditation (or working towards) or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Practice Supervisor accreditation
- POCHI user accreditation / certificate
- Management / supervisory qualification / experience
Experience
Essential
- Practicing pharmacy technician with sufficient post qualification hospital experience
- Experience in Mental Health
- Medicines Reconciliation Experience
- Evidence of ability to work independently and proactively with limited supervision
Desirable
- Involvement in specialist projects and/or audit.
- Experience working in clozapine clinics or in CMHT setting
- WellSky (JAC) experience
- Management / supervisory experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to use own initiative and work effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
- Knowledge of hospital pharmacy systems
- Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office operating systems, software applications particularly use of spreadsheets, databases and computerised calendars.
- Basic working knowledge of clozapine both clinically and operationally
- Knowledge of legal requirements and guidance relating to the dispensing, supply, handling and storage of medicines
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of physical health monitoring requirements relating to clozapine
Skills
Essential
- Patient Counselling skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- To be able to use presentational aids
- Leadership skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences or a recognised equivalent
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), with mandatory CPD
- ACT (Accredited Checking Technician)
- HEE Pharmacy Medicines Optimisation accreditation (or working towards) or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Practice Supervisor accreditation
- POCHI user accreditation / certificate
- Management / supervisory qualification / experience
Experience
Essential
- Practicing pharmacy technician with sufficient post qualification hospital experience
- Experience in Mental Health
- Medicines Reconciliation Experience
- Evidence of ability to work independently and proactively with limited supervision
Desirable
- Involvement in specialist projects and/or audit.
- Experience working in clozapine clinics or in CMHT setting
- WellSky (JAC) experience
- Management / supervisory experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to use own initiative and work effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
- Knowledge of hospital pharmacy systems
- Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office operating systems, software applications particularly use of spreadsheets, databases and computerised calendars.
- Basic working knowledge of clozapine both clinically and operationally
- Knowledge of legal requirements and guidance relating to the dispensing, supply, handling and storage of medicines
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of physical health monitoring requirements relating to clozapine
Skills
Essential
- Patient Counselling skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- To be able to use presentational aids
- Leadership skills
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).
