Pharmacy Technician – Oral SACT

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Main duties

To provide a specialist clinical service to patients attending the oral SACT clinic.

To deliver medicines management services in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.

To provide a specialised patient education and conduct toxicity assessments to patients receiving oral SACT medicines.

To manage, organise and plan workloads to ensure consistent service delivery across the oral SACT team.

To define and establish the role of pharmacy technician services within the SACT clinic through mutual agreement.

Communication

To communicate effectively with clinical and non-clinical staff, patients and carers about medications through both written and verbal means, whether in person or over the phone, including in situations where communication barriers may exist.

Frequently communicates complex and sensitive information to patients about the continuation of their anti-cancer treatment and reassurance regarding the next steps in their clinical pathway and medication management.

Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary professionals within the SACT clinic team to ensure cohesive and patient-centred service delivery.Demonstrates strong teamwork by clearly understanding and fulfilling defined roles and responsibilities.

To engage in daily patient interactions addressing sensitive matters, e.g. treatment continuation, and overcoming communication barriers.Offer specialist guidance to patient and carers on the safe and effective use of their oral SACT treatment and supportive medicines, considering complex or sensitive information and individual needs such as communication barriers, side effects, or appropriate supportive care.

Clinical Knowledge

To have experience of working in a clinical pharmacy setting, encompassing diverse roles across various clinical areas.

To be skilled in conducting thorough clinical assessments through effective questioning to evaluate patients suitability for SACT treatment, utilising standard operating procedures, clinical experience, and professional judgement to defer when necessary.

Proficient in using a range of clinical and non-clinical systems and databases.

Knowledge of the operation and management of SACT clinics.Expert knowledge and comprehensive understanding of SACT regimens.Evaluates multiple information sources, e.g. blood test results, alongside verbal communication with the patient, to assess clinical status and decide whether to proceed with the scheduled SACT treatment cycle.

Recognises when to escalate concerns or seek guidance from a senior colleague during patient and carer interactions.

Applies clinical judgement to assess the appropriateness of treatments based on established patient criteria.

Undertakes clinical screening and validation of specific SACT prescriptions within a governance-approved framework, following Trust-authorised competency-based training and in accordance with NHS England and BOPA guidelines.

Uses clinical data to authorise pre-confirmed SACT treatments via EPMA system, ensuring they meet defined patient parameters and comply with local protocols and governance standards.

Requires frequent, sustained concentration to perform complex drug calculations, accredited checking of prescriptions, and medicines management tasks.

Information Resources

Maintains accurate and timely clinical records across electronic prescribing systems, electronic patient records, and other data capture platforms, ensuring personally generated information is documented in accordance with professional standards, organisational policies, and data governance requirements.

Upholds confidentiality, integrity, and accountability in all aspects of data handling and record-keeping.

Actively contributes to the recording and monitoring of near misses and incidents, supporting a culture of safety, learning, and continuous improvement.

Maintains accurate records of services provided to support audit, service evaluation, and continuous improvement in patient care.

Service Improvement

Contributes to the development, review, and implementation of standard operating procedures, ensuring they are consistently applied and maintained to support safe and effective working practices.

Actively contributes to service development and quality improvement initiatives within the SACT clinic, by proposing, implementing, and evaluating changes that enhance patient outcomes, support team collaboration, and uphold the highest standards of care.

Develops, delivers, and maintains structured training programmes for pharmacy technicians, ensuring alignment with service needs, NHS values, and the professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Promotes continuous learning and safe, high-quality patient care through effective education and support.

Participates in audits to support continuous improvement, ensure compliance with professional standards, and contributes to the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.

Contributes to the design, delivery, and evaluation of ongoing patient feedback initiatives to support service improvement across the department.

To work closely with clinicians and pharmacy staff to assist in horizon scanning and to support new medicines into the Trust with specific interest in the implementation of cost-effective medicines delivery models.

To liaise with the Director of Pharmacy, and the disease group pharmacists, to monitor drug expenditure and cost savings from the utilization of the oral SACT clinics. To identify or any changes in prescribing practices that may potentially impact on the drugs budget (drug forecasting)

To monitor and interpret SACT clinic utilisation and generate reports of drug usage, to use this data to report to the lead clinicians and Director of Pharmacy, implementing agreed policies aimed at improving patient outcomes and containing drug expenditure

To monitor inefficiencies in medicines delivery service including unused medicines to promote cost savings and medicines optimisation.

Clinical Ward Services

To support the Chief Clinical Pharmacy Technician in:

The development, implementation, and monitoring of Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPT) input into the clinical service.

The coordination and management of Clinical Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Assistant and PTPT activities across clinical services to maintain defined service standards, including medicine reconciliation, medication provision and patient counselling.

Monitor and appraise the standards of professional work undertaken by Clinical Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and PTPTs in accordance with local and any national competency frameworks.Maintain a Clinical Pharmacy Technician role for designated wards, advocating patient centred care.

Attend relevant internal and regional meetings to network, develop standards for clinical pharmacy practice and participate in benchmarking and regional audit.

Develop and implement new systems of working to improve service quality and efficiency.

To actively participate in the MHRA drug recall process, in conjunction with the third-party provider, regarding clinical service implications and resulting communications with the Trust.

General

To build strong working relationships with regular two-way communication with other Lead Pharmacy Technicians within the clinical service and provide support during periods of absence.

To assist in the investigation of incidents related to technical pharmacy services in accordance with Trust policies and assess processes to mitigate risk of future incidents.

To deputise for the Chief Clinical Pharmacy Technician in all aspects of the clinical service as required.

Can use Microsoft office applications and healthcare software, e.g. electronic SACT prescribing systems, EPMA and scheduling software including proficient and accurate keyboard and computer skills to provide relevant documentation and report generation.

To participate in weekend working and bank holiday rotas as required by the clinical pharmacy service to meet the needs of the Trust.

To actively contribute and participate in regular training and development opportunities to maintain continuing professional development.Manages responsibilities independently within defined protocols.

To be fully aware and have a working knowledge of COSHH regulations including the handling of cytotoxic, SACT and clinical trial materials to interpret and provide guidance to relevant members of the multidisciplinary team.

Managerial responsibilities

To oversee the management of Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and PTPTs within the clinical pharmacy service.

To participate in the recruitment of staff in accordance with recruitment and selection policies and induction programmes.

Ensure staff have at least one performance and development review annually.

Ensure staff have their sickness managed in accordance with Trust policies, particularly the Management of Attendance Policy.

Ensure staff have their education and training needs regularly assessed.To support and assist the planning and development of clinical service rotas including weekend and bank holiday rotas.

Assess and approve annual leave requests for technical clinical staff.Lead, direct and motivate staff, acting as a role model and mentor for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Foundation Year Pharmacists and PTPTs.

To contribute to the provision, coordination, and on-going audit of safe, high quality medicines optimisation services to directorates.To act independently within the broad framework of the Medicines Practice Operational Policy.

To actively contribute to service improvement initiatives and projects within the clinical pharmacy service including assessment of budgetary considerations regarding staffing models. To contribute to the development of business cases to support service developments.

Qualifications

Essential

• BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent (C/A)
• NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services (C/A)
• GPhC registration (A)
• BTEC Level 4 Professional Diploma in Dispensing Checking or equivalent (C/A)
• BTEC Pharmacy Clinical Services Professional Diploma Level 4 or be willing to work towards (C/A)
• Management qualification or be willing to work towards (C/A)
• Evidence of continuing professional development (A)

Desirable

• Educational Supervisor accreditation or A1 Assessor or equivalent (C/A)
• BOPA SACT Passport (A)
• Member of APTUK (A)
• Member of BOPA (A)

Experience

Essential

• Suitable post qualification experience (A)
• Experience within the oncology setting (A)
• Experience of working within hospital pharmacy (A)
• Experience in managing teams and people (A)

Desirable

• Experience in supervision of other staff (A)
• Experience of attending regional & national meetings (A)
• Experience of presenting at departmental meetings (A)
• Knowledge of Human Resources policies and procedures and how to apply them consistently and effectively (A)

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written (A/I)
• Effective listening skills (I)
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team (A/I)
• Ability to resolve difficult problems with a positive outcome (I)
• Experience in implementing changes within a pharmacy, including updating policies and procedures (A)
• Good organisation and time management skills (A/I)
• Ability to work under pressure, methodically, calmly, and work to deadlines (A/I)
• Fully computer literate in programmes such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (A)
• Ability to influence and negotiate with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff (A/I)
• Ability to recognise own limitations (A)

Desirable

• Presentation skills (I)
• Reporting skills through Microsoft office and other tools (A)

Knowledge

Essential

• Good working knowledge of medicine optimisation (A/I)
• Good knowledge of clinical use of medicines (A)
• Experience of medication use in an oncology setting (A/I)

Values

Essential

• Able to deal with varied situations with tact and diplomacy (I)
• To show empathy and understanding to staff and patients (I)
• To treat people with dignity and respect (I)
• Professional approach (A/I)
• Ability to adapt to change and to develop services and systems to meet changing need (A)
• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

• Participation in weekend working (Saturdays & Sundays) rotas (A)
• Participation in Bank holiday working rotas (A)
• Flexible working hours as required (A)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).