Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic and dedicated Pharmacy Technician looking for your next challenge?Do you want to use your skills to make a real difference to patients' lives?
If so, we'd love to welcome you to HPFT's dynamic Mental Health Pharmacy team!
Based in our award-winning, modern building in Radlett (near Watford)--complete with free parking--you'll be part of a friendly, close-knit team that values collaboration, professional growth, and high-quality patient care.
Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) has now been implemented across all inpatient wards, so this is an exciting time to join as we innovate and evolve our services
We are passionate about developing our staff and will support you to continue growing in your role.
Main duties of the job
The candidate will be expected to:
- Supporting our dispensary with the ordering, receiving, dispensing, and checking of medication for wards and departments
- Travelling to a variety of wards and units across Hertfordshire
- Conducting medicines reconciliations to ensure safe and effective care
- Assessing patients' own drugs and transcribing for supply
- Providing clear and compassionate counselling to patients about their medicines
- Getting involved in pharmacy-related audits, stock reviews, and service development
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Expert Practice
The post holder will:
- Provide a comprehensive, high-quality, and cost-effective pharmaceutical service in line with Trust and national guidelines.
- Work according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure timely and safe medication supply.
- Support medicines reconciliation and optimisation initiatives.
- Assist in providing medication education and counselling to service users and carers.
2. Leadership
The post holder will:
- Act as a professional role model within the pharmacy team
- Promote a positive culture of medicines optimisation to help the Trust achieve local and national medicines-related objectives.
- Participate in service improvement initiatives to enhance pharmacy services across Inpatients and community settings.
3. Education and Development
The post holder will:
- Support the training and development of Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants.
- Promote an active learning environment, supporting staff to develop knowledge and skills.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary training on medicines optimisation.
4. Research, Evaluation, and Service Development
The post holder will:
- Participate in audits and surveys to assess and improve pharmacy services.
- Support ongoing research into medicines use and optimisation.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines-related policies and procedures.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Expert Practice
The post holder will:
- Provide a comprehensive, high-quality, and cost-effective pharmaceutical service in line with Trust and national guidelines.
- Work according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure timely and safe medication supply.
- Support medicines reconciliation and optimisation initiatives.
- Assist in providing medication education and counselling to service users and carers.
2. Leadership
The post holder will:
- Act as a professional role model within the pharmacy team
- Promote a positive culture of medicines optimisation to help the Trust achieve local and national medicines-related objectives.
- Participate in service improvement initiatives to enhance pharmacy services across Inpatients and community settings.
3. Education and Development
The post holder will:
- Support the training and development of Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants.
- Promote an active learning environment, supporting staff to develop knowledge and skills.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary training on medicines optimisation.
4. Research, Evaluation, and Service Development
The post holder will:
- Participate in audits and surveys to assess and improve pharmacy services.
- Support ongoing research into medicines use and optimisation.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines-related policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Education/Training
Essential
- BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a pharmacy technician (with no restrictions)
- Accreditation in Medicines Management
- Accreditation in Accuracy Checking
- Demonstrates own CPD record/ or documented CPD
Desirable
- Practice educational supervisor qualification (or willing to work towards)
- Leadership Qualification (or willing to work towards)
Experience
Essential
- Significant and demonstrable experience of working as a registered pharmacy technician in hospital pharmacy setting
- Experience handling straightforward Medicines Information queries
- Ability and understanding of how to correctly and efficiently obtain accurate medication histories and complete medicines reconciliation
- IT competency in standard Microsoft Office packages (or equivalent) and able to quickly understand and use other IT systems
- Experience of working within Standard Operating Procedures
Desirable
- Experience in Mental Health
- Experience of training, supervising and managing staff
- Experience in using Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) systems
- Experience of using the Ascribe Pharmacy Dispensing System
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to work under pressure accurately within departmental SOPs to maintain quality standards
- Highly developed physical skills in dispensing, preparing, and checking of medicines involving a high level of accuracy
- Demonstrate attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Able to demonstrate initiative and problem-solving abilities.
Desirable
- Ability to appraise performance and identify training needs
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of medicines optimisation and medicines management principles
- Knowledge in pharmacy stock management
Physical Skills
Essential
- Able to use IT equipment
- Able to travel using own vehicle to various Trust and other locations across Hertfordshire. *Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
Person Specification
Qualifications/Education/Training
Essential
- BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a pharmacy technician (with no restrictions)
- Accreditation in Medicines Management
- Accreditation in Accuracy Checking
- Demonstrates own CPD record/ or documented CPD
Desirable
- Practice educational supervisor qualification (or willing to work towards)
- Leadership Qualification (or willing to work towards)
Experience
Essential
- Significant and demonstrable experience of working as a registered pharmacy technician in hospital pharmacy setting
- Experience handling straightforward Medicines Information queries
- Ability and understanding of how to correctly and efficiently obtain accurate medication histories and complete medicines reconciliation
- IT competency in standard Microsoft Office packages (or equivalent) and able to quickly understand and use other IT systems
- Experience of working within Standard Operating Procedures
Desirable
- Experience in Mental Health
- Experience of training, supervising and managing staff
- Experience in using Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) systems
- Experience of using the Ascribe Pharmacy Dispensing System
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to work under pressure accurately within departmental SOPs to maintain quality standards
- Highly developed physical skills in dispensing, preparing, and checking of medicines involving a high level of accuracy
- Demonstrate attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Able to demonstrate initiative and problem-solving abilities.
Desirable
- Ability to appraise performance and identify training needs
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of medicines optimisation and medicines management principles
- Knowledge in pharmacy stock management
Physical Skills
Essential
- Able to use IT equipment
- Able to travel using own vehicle to various Trust and other locations across Hertfordshire. *Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
