Job summary
Please note interviews for this post will take place 1st & 2nd April 2026 face to face only
In CDDFT Pharmacy, we pride ourselves in working at the
leading edge of clinical pharmacy practice andmedicines management with our teams achieving national
recognition for innovative, high-quality patient care.
We have an exciting development opportunity for Pharmacy
Technicians to join our team.
You must be registered, or in the process of being
registered, with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and hold a L3
Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians or an
equivalent, recognised GPhC qualification.
The posts provide an opportunity to progress from a Band 4
Technician to a Band 5 Technician, after completing a training and competency
framework over a maximum period of 1 year. For the 1 year training period you
will be paid 75% of the top of Band 5 pay scale. On successful completion of
the training, the pay reverts to the bottom of the Band 5 pay scale and you
will work through the pay grades as normal.
There is also an opportunity to transfer
directly onto the Band 5 pay scale for those applicants with the relavant
qualifications , experience and competencies.
Main duties of the job
To work under the management of the lead pharmacy technician
and the supervisory pharmacist to ensure a safe and efficient service is
maintained.
To liaise with pharmacy staff and other healthcare
professionals to ensure a patient orientated medicines management service is
provided.
To work closely with pharmacists, technicians,
pharmacy assistants, pharmacy admin staff and ward staff to adopt a team
approach to medicines management.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years
of as a HCA Band 3 within the NHS for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Medicines Management/Medicines Optimisation
The post holder will:
Provide a
medicines reconciliation service to designated wards and community hospitals.
This will include compiling medication histories by checking with patients,
patients GPs (including the Summary Care Record), patients notes and other
appropriate sources of information.
Ensure
that the medication history obtained is reconciled with the electronic
inpatient medication chart and any discrepancies are communicated with the
pharmacist and/or ward team and documented in the patients notes according to
Trust policy.
Provide a
medicines management service to designated wards, including the ordering and
issue of relevant drugs. This will include responsibility for the assessment of
prescriptions or inpatient medicines charts for completeness and legality,
highlighting any problems to the pharmacist or medical staff as appropriate.
Support
the nursing and ward staff in the delivery of an effective and efficient
medicines management service.
Participate
actively in ward and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Assess
patients own drugs (PODs) for re-use in accordance with Trust criteria. This
requires a sound knowledge of medicines management.
Carry out
and feedback appropriately relevant risk assessments and safe and secure
handling of medicines audits.
Work
alongside the ward pharmacists in planning and prioritising workload to ensure
a timely and efficient medicines management service is provided.
Provide
advice to patients on the use of the medications and to ensure they understand
why they are taking their medication to aid compliance.
Undertake
six monthly stock reviews and controlled drug audits with senior nursing staff
to ensure that stock levels are set to an appropriate level.
Ensure
appropriate safe and secure handling of medicines.
Dispensary
The post holder will:
Prioritise
work according to the demands of the service.
Take
responsibility for the receipt, issue, dispensing, and safe storage of
medicines according to SOPs and legal requirements. This may include the
dispensing of clinical trials, oral cytotoxic regimes and controlled drugs.
Dispense
accurately to fulfill their duty of care to the patient, using the pharmacy
computer system.
Use their
knowledge and skills to check allergy status, and updating on computer systems
in line with Trust procedures.
Ensuring
that accurate documentation and records are maintained to comply with legal
requirements.
Check the
payment status of the patient on receipt of an outpatient prescription and,
where appropriate, calculate the prescription charge due and accept payment
according to Trust Standard Financial Instructions.
Use
prescription tracking database where applicable.
Issue
prescriptions to outpatients (where appropriate) and to advise on the correct
and safe use of medicines. To counsel patients on their medication to ensure
that the patient understands how to take and why they are taking the medicines
and to aid compliance. The counselling of patients will be undertaken within
the post holders level of competency.
Provide
information to other healthcare professionals within the limits of knowledge.
Ensure
expiry dates within the pharmacy department are checked on a regular basis and
book out expired stock from Ascribe and highlight items that are close to their
expiry date.
Participate
in regular stock checks, reporting discrepancies to the Lead Technician.
Dispose of
pharmaceutical waste according to local and national waste guidelines.
Develop
their own robust self-checking technique to ensure accurate dispensing and
calculation of doses are carried out prior to passing for a final check.
Ensure the
accuracy of non-stock requisitions supplied directly to wards and departments
Ensure
stock is booked out under the correct label-type to the correct patient,
consultant and ward to aid accurate financial reporting through the pharmacy
computer system and that stock levels are correct and sufficient.
To act as
an accuracy checking technician. The post holder will be responsible for the
final check of prescriptions that have been professionally checked by a
pharmacist as outlined in departmental SOPs. They will have a duty of care and
professional responsibility to refer back to the pharmacist any prescription
that requires clarification.
To provide
information to other healthcare professionals within the limits of their
knowledge.
Ensure
that all emergency and critical medications including emergency boxes/cupboards
are supplied/replenished in a timely manner.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Medicines Management/Medicines Optimisation
The post holder will:
Provide a
medicines reconciliation service to designated wards and community hospitals.
This will include compiling medication histories by checking with patients,
patients GPs (including the Summary Care Record), patients notes and other
appropriate sources of information.
Ensure
that the medication history obtained is reconciled with the electronic
inpatient medication chart and any discrepancies are communicated with the
pharmacist and/or ward team and documented in the patients notes according to
Trust policy.
Provide a
medicines management service to designated wards, including the ordering and
issue of relevant drugs. This will include responsibility for the assessment of
prescriptions or inpatient medicines charts for completeness and legality,
highlighting any problems to the pharmacist or medical staff as appropriate.
Support
the nursing and ward staff in the delivery of an effective and efficient
medicines management service.
Participate
actively in ward and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Assess
patients own drugs (PODs) for re-use in accordance with Trust criteria. This
requires a sound knowledge of medicines management.
Carry out
and feedback appropriately relevant risk assessments and safe and secure
handling of medicines audits.
Work
alongside the ward pharmacists in planning and prioritising workload to ensure
a timely and efficient medicines management service is provided.
Provide
advice to patients on the use of the medications and to ensure they understand
why they are taking their medication to aid compliance.
Undertake
six monthly stock reviews and controlled drug audits with senior nursing staff
to ensure that stock levels are set to an appropriate level.
Ensure
appropriate safe and secure handling of medicines.
Dispensary
The post holder will:
Prioritise
work according to the demands of the service.
Take
responsibility for the receipt, issue, dispensing, and safe storage of
medicines according to SOPs and legal requirements. This may include the
dispensing of clinical trials, oral cytotoxic regimes and controlled drugs.
Dispense
accurately to fulfill their duty of care to the patient, using the pharmacy
computer system.
Use their
knowledge and skills to check allergy status, and updating on computer systems
in line with Trust procedures.
Ensuring
that accurate documentation and records are maintained to comply with legal
requirements.
Check the
payment status of the patient on receipt of an outpatient prescription and,
where appropriate, calculate the prescription charge due and accept payment
according to Trust Standard Financial Instructions.
Use
prescription tracking database where applicable.
Issue
prescriptions to outpatients (where appropriate) and to advise on the correct
and safe use of medicines. To counsel patients on their medication to ensure
that the patient understands how to take and why they are taking the medicines
and to aid compliance. The counselling of patients will be undertaken within
the post holders level of competency.
Provide
information to other healthcare professionals within the limits of knowledge.
Ensure
expiry dates within the pharmacy department are checked on a regular basis and
book out expired stock from Ascribe and highlight items that are close to their
expiry date.
Participate
in regular stock checks, reporting discrepancies to the Lead Technician.
Dispose of
pharmaceutical waste according to local and national waste guidelines.
Develop
their own robust self-checking technique to ensure accurate dispensing and
calculation of doses are carried out prior to passing for a final check.
Ensure the
accuracy of non-stock requisitions supplied directly to wards and departments
Ensure
stock is booked out under the correct label-type to the correct patient,
consultant and ward to aid accurate financial reporting through the pharmacy
computer system and that stock levels are correct and sufficient.
To act as
an accuracy checking technician. The post holder will be responsible for the
final check of prescriptions that have been professionally checked by a
pharmacist as outlined in departmental SOPs. They will have a duty of care and
professional responsibility to refer back to the pharmacist any prescription
that requires clarification.
To provide
information to other healthcare professionals within the limits of their
knowledge.
Ensure
that all emergency and critical medications including emergency boxes/cupboards
are supplied/replenished in a timely manner.
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Meets GPhC requirements for CPD
- Record of personal development
- IT Literate good knowledge of MS Excel and Word; Pharmacy dispensing software.
- Excellent customer care skills
Desirable
- Evidence of self-development
- Evidence of change management
- Awareness of Ascribe/ Isoft/ePMA systems
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a qualified pharmacy technician in a hospital environment
Desirable
- Medicines reconciliation experience
- Experience of Project or developmental work
- Experience of problem solving
- Experience of Policy and or Procedure writing
Qualifications
Essential
- 4 GCSEs at grade C (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science.
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
- Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
- The post holder must meet at least one of the following requirements and will be expected to have commenced another within 12 to 18 months of employment:
- CPPE: Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Programme or PETO: Northern Sector Course for Technician Checking of Dispensed Items (PETO Accuracy checkers must be on the northern sector regional technician register)
- North East and North Cumbria Framework for Medicines Management Level 3 Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Supervisory/management qualifications or training
Special Requirements
Essential
- Team player able to demonstrate own initiative.
- Motivated, enthusiastic
- Good communication and organisation skills
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- Good time management
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Meets GPhC requirements for CPD
- Record of personal development
- IT Literate good knowledge of MS Excel and Word; Pharmacy dispensing software.
- Excellent customer care skills
Desirable
- Evidence of self-development
- Evidence of change management
- Awareness of Ascribe/ Isoft/ePMA systems
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a qualified pharmacy technician in a hospital environment
Desirable
- Medicines reconciliation experience
- Experience of Project or developmental work
- Experience of problem solving
- Experience of Policy and or Procedure writing
Qualifications
Essential
- 4 GCSEs at grade C (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science.
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
- Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
- The post holder must meet at least one of the following requirements and will be expected to have commenced another within 12 to 18 months of employment:
- CPPE: Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Programme or PETO: Northern Sector Course for Technician Checking of Dispensed Items (PETO Accuracy checkers must be on the northern sector regional technician register)
- North East and North Cumbria Framework for Medicines Management Level 3 Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Supervisory/management qualifications or training
Special Requirements
Essential
- Team player able to demonstrate own initiative.
- Motivated, enthusiastic
- Good communication and organisation skills
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- Good time management
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
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).
Employer details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
