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The closing date is 05 January 2026

Pharmacy Technician - Accredited Checking & Medicines Optimisation, Band 5

We are looking for experienced and enthusiastic registered Pharmacy Technicians who embrace the challenge of working in a busy environment as part of a multi‑disciplinary team and are keen to further develop their skills and focused on delivering high quality pharmaceutical care that has a valuable impact on patients.

The successful applicants will work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation/discharge facilitation on the wards, and working in the dispensary final accuracy checking prescriptions and providing support to the dispensary manager in the co‑ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary.

With this post, you will join a supportive and friendly pharmacy team, and be provided with numerous opportunities for personal and professional development.

For further details or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Kerry Lacy, Chief Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Services (kerry.lacy@nhs.net)

0300 422 6843/4787

This role will involve working both at ward level and in dispensary where you will provide an admissions and discharge service. You will also gain experience in the following areas:

• Ward based clinical services (including surgery, cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology, Paediatrics, Renal and care of the elderly)
• Patient Services providing dispensing & ACT cover and supervision to junior staff

You will need to be organised and highly motivated with the ability to think on your feet with great communication & interpersonal skills. This post is stimulating, exciting and comes with responsibility that will appeal to career‑minded individuals who want to work in hospital pharmacy and really make their mark.

Both hospitals are located within walking distance to the town/city centres with access to shops and cafes.

The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff and operates across two main sites; Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal, this role is based on either site and offers cross‑site working dependent on organisational and departmental requirements. The 2 sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards; the on‑site aseptic and manufacturing services are centralised at CGH.

At GHNHSFT Pharmacy, we are committed to delivering the very best care for our patients and we strive to provide the whole team with the necessary skills and ongoing support to make a real difference to patient care.

Come and join us, and see for yourself what a difference you can make to patient care.

JOB PURPOSE

Undertake general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a Section Manager or deputy, assisting in the provision of a safe and effective Pharmacy service in line with current policies, procedures and legal requirements.

Work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation/discharge duties on the wards, improving the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines optimisation system. This will include undertaking medicines reconciliation, assessing patients’ own medicines ensuring they are suitable for use in hospital, one‑stop dispensing to wards in preparation for patients discharge, maintaining and ordering non‑stock medicines for patients and counselling patients on use of their medicines and providing information where required.

Work in the dispensary final accuracy checking prescriptions and provide support to the dispensary manager and lead technician in the co‑ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary.

All Pharmacy staff involved in all aspects of the Pharmacy supply chain has a personal responsibility to ensure that all activities undertaken within our hospital Pharmacy are compliant with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and all relevant department procedures are followed effectively.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy.

Work with minimal supervision to provide an admission, supply and discharge service to nominated wards. Liaising directly with pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff over clinical issues as appropriate.

On admission, checking that the medicines prescribed for each patient conform with information from the patient, SCR, GP letter and/or Nursing Home, carrying out medicines reconciliation for individual patients, operating the patient’s own drug scheme at all levels, assessing whether any medicines brought in by the patient are fit for use and removing (with patients permission) any medicines not needed.

Participate and develop a one stop dispensing pharmacy service, ward based including the education of training of nurses and ward staff in the systems operated.

Initiate & accurately supply medication labelled ready for discharge and medicines needed on an individual basis for patients on the ward, counsel patients to use their medication and providing written information as required, prioritising and organising daily workload to ensure that all required tasks are completed within allocated timescale.

Aid discharge planning in conjunction with ward pharmacist and ward staff.

Liaise with GP surgeries, Community Pharmacies, Patients and Carers to ensure that continuing supply of medicines are provided in compliance aids at discharge.

Check transcriptions of discharge prescriptions and check medications before bagging up for discharge involving checking the accuracy of the take‑home prescription against the drug chart and locker contents.

The post holder will be responsible for the general medicinal housekeeping of the wards, e.g.: 3 monthly CD balance checks (stock & patients own), returning unwanted medicines into stock, keeping control of general ward stock levels, and the cost effective use of medicines.

Participate in the audit of the medicines management service through quality standards and robust auditing methods and to maintain such documentation and records of work as may be required.

Share best practice, seeking out new developments, informing other staff and implementing new practices where appropriate.

Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre‑registration pharmacists and junior pharmacists concerning the medicines management role on the wards.

Dispensary

Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy.

Final accuracy check prescriptions, orders and Controlled Drugs carrying out all tasks required to maintain checking technician status. To ensure the ward based one stop service and the dispensary develop and grow together and to contribute to policies as such.

Accurately dispense prescriptions for patients (inpatients, outpatients or discharge), liaising with medical & nursing staff where clarification is required and also when there are drug supply problems.

Accurately dispense controlled drug orders for wards & departments, and patients, making register entries, checking stock balances and reporting discrepancies that cannot be resolved to the Senior Pharmacy Technician. To receive prescriptions and fees from the general public at the front hatch and process the payment through the till.

To answer the staff hatch to other hospital staff, dealing with their requests. To answer the telephone if required, dealing with queries regarding work in progress, dealing with the enquiry to the callers satisfaction or passing the call on to the most relevant person.

Use the prescription tracking system to book in and track prescriptions at each stage in the process.

Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre‑registration pharmacists & junior pharmacist concerning the technician checking role or other dispensary roles & duties.

General

Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.

Foster & maintain good relationships with pharmacy, medical & nursing staff. Promote positive & effective communication within the department & service users.

Be pro‑active in risk assessment and ensuring safe systems of work. Contribute to policies & procedures.

Be willing to re‑arrange duties and prioritise according to service need if required to cover for absence and assist in ensuring that wards have adequate cover during absence.

To be actively involved in instruction, mentoring, training and appraisal of technicians undertaking the regional medicines management course, and students, junior technicians and assistants within the dispensary. Participate in internal audit & surveys of service delivery as required, gathering reliable data and being able to collate it into a report if required to do so.

Provide Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday cover as per rota. Comply with the code of expectations & values that the trust expects.

• Professional registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (registration number required)
• Accredited Medicines Optimisation qualification or willing to work towards accreditation
• Accredited Checking qualification or willing to work towards accreditation

• Managing own workloads to meet the needs of the service
• Knowledge of dispensary procedures acquired through training and experience
• Provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development to comply with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) requirements
• Working in a busy dispensary
• Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills with the ability to listen and undertake instruction
• Proficient in the use of a wide range of standard IT programmes including MS Word, Excel and Outlook
• Adaptable to the changing needs of the service and capable of working in a demanding environment with frequent interruptions
• Proficient in the uses of the electronic prescribing and pharmacy systems - EPR and EMIS

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.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£31,049 to £37,796 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)