Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Pharmacy Technician - Accuracy Checker

The closing date is 11 August 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a GPhC registered Pharmacy Technician Accuracy Checker to join our Pharmacy Department at St Helens Hospital.

We are looking for a Pharmacy Technician accuracy checker with a proactive approach and a passion for providing excellent patient care.

It is vital that applicants are adaptable and prepared to work with us to help deliver the best possible service.

The role will be based at St Helens Hospital, Monday to Friday, ( with participation in the weekend and bank holiday rotas at Whiston Hospital which is approximately 1 in 6 weekends )

There are established automated dispensing systems within the dispensaries at both sites, and the Trust has a long-standing reputation for being a rewarding place to work.

JD/PS are subject to change and currently under review

Main duties of the job

To participate in the Pharmacy service to all patients of the Trust,

You will be working within the dispensary at St Helens Hospital, providing an accuracy check on all dispensed items, supporting the workflow of the department and ensuring all prescriptions are completed in a timely manner.You will also be providing advice directly to patients on the safe and effective use of their medicines.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

  • Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-7270649

Job locations

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • To final accuracy check dispensed prescriptions, including one stop dispensing items in accordance with departmental procedures.
  • To dispense prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
  • To provide a one stop dispensing service to inpatients at ward level. This will require taking patient medication histories, counselling patients, inspection of patient own drugs for re-use and dispensing for discharge.
  • To participate in the dispensing process of all prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices and departmental procedures, including;
  • Inpatient
  • Outpatient
  • TTOs
  • Controlled Drugs
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cytotoxic Drugs
  • Unlicensed medicines
  • To be responsible for the stock control of dispensed medicines on wards, departments and clinics.
  • To assist in the maintenance of the stock control of non-dispensed medicines on wards.
  • To liaise with appropriate medical staff, clinical pharmacists, ward staff, GPs, Primary Care Trust staff, community pharmacies and other professional bodies regarding any issues with patients medication.
  • To order stocks and special line items to fulfil prescriptions.
  • To provide individual dose dispensing and blister packing services for patients who have difficulty with normal medicines packaging.
  • To assist in the preparation, assembly and final accuracy check of emergency resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
  • To assist the Chief Technician in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels.
  • To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7 day service?
  • To participate in Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday, late night and on-call rotas as necessary in response to the changing needs of the service.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
  • To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
  • To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in their role.
  • To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the dispensaries in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
  • To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under their control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To assist in the receipt of prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
  • To be responsible for making appropriate records in the Controlled Drug Register.
  • To be responsible for organising own daily workload within allocated areas.
  • To carry out prescription charge transactions accurately, including Chip and pin, handling cash, cheques and be able to cash-up in the dispensaries as necessary, according to departmental procedures.
  • To train and counsel patients on their suitability for the use of compliance aids eg blister packs, breath activated inhalers/spacers, containers and other formulations such as liquids and assess their understanding.
  • To extemporaneously dispense medicines using specific equipment (e.g. fume cupboards and weighing balances) and taking protective measures. Weighing and measuring must be accurate as there are narrow margins for errors.
  • To assist other members of staff in the performance of their duties.
  • To co-operate with the provision of staffing within the Pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to 2 Trust sites (e.g. Whiston, St Helens) when the need arises.
  • To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
  • To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g. labelling, ordering and stock control

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • To assist in the training and development of all grades of staff in the systems used including other professionals e.g. discharge planning and the efficient operation of dispensing for discharge.
  • To assist in the training and support of ATOs and pre-registration pharmacy graduates in dispensing training manual requirements and provide witness statements for NVQ students
  • To assist in the training and development of other members of staff in patient services and to ensure complete training records are maintained

FINNCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • To co-operate in the provision of an efficient and cost effective service

RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To carry out and assist in audit research projects to improve and develop the service provision.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • To final accuracy check dispensed prescriptions, including one stop dispensing items in accordance with departmental procedures.
  • To dispense prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
  • To provide a one stop dispensing service to inpatients at ward level. This will require taking patient medication histories, counselling patients, inspection of patient own drugs for re-use and dispensing for discharge.
  • To participate in the dispensing process of all prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices and departmental procedures, including;
  • Inpatient
  • Outpatient
  • TTOs
  • Controlled Drugs
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cytotoxic Drugs
  • Unlicensed medicines
  • To be responsible for the stock control of dispensed medicines on wards, departments and clinics.
  • To assist in the maintenance of the stock control of non-dispensed medicines on wards.
  • To liaise with appropriate medical staff, clinical pharmacists, ward staff, GPs, Primary Care Trust staff, community pharmacies and other professional bodies regarding any issues with patients medication.
  • To order stocks and special line items to fulfil prescriptions.
  • To provide individual dose dispensing and blister packing services for patients who have difficulty with normal medicines packaging.
  • To assist in the preparation, assembly and final accuracy check of emergency resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
  • To assist the Chief Technician in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels.
  • To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7 day service?
  • To participate in Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday, late night and on-call rotas as necessary in response to the changing needs of the service.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
  • To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
  • To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in their role.
  • To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the dispensaries in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
  • To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under their control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To assist in the receipt of prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
  • To be responsible for making appropriate records in the Controlled Drug Register.
  • To be responsible for organising own daily workload within allocated areas.
  • To carry out prescription charge transactions accurately, including Chip and pin, handling cash, cheques and be able to cash-up in the dispensaries as necessary, according to departmental procedures.
  • To train and counsel patients on their suitability for the use of compliance aids eg blister packs, breath activated inhalers/spacers, containers and other formulations such as liquids and assess their understanding.
  • To extemporaneously dispense medicines using specific equipment (e.g. fume cupboards and weighing balances) and taking protective measures. Weighing and measuring must be accurate as there are narrow margins for errors.
  • To assist other members of staff in the performance of their duties.
  • To co-operate with the provision of staffing within the Pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to 2 Trust sites (e.g. Whiston, St Helens) when the need arises.
  • To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
  • To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g. labelling, ordering and stock control

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • To assist in the training and development of all grades of staff in the systems used including other professionals e.g. discharge planning and the efficient operation of dispensing for discharge.
  • To assist in the training and support of ATOs and pre-registration pharmacy graduates in dispensing training manual requirements and provide witness statements for NVQ students
  • To assist in the training and development of other members of staff in patient services and to ensure complete training records are maintained

FINNCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • To co-operate in the provision of an efficient and cost effective service

RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To carry out and assist in audit research projects to improve and develop the service provision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practices for Pharmacy Technicians or GPhC recognised equivalent'
  • BTEC professional diploma in dispensing checking or GPhC recognised equivalent which must meet the APTUK standard for accuracy checking (1000 item log with checking test). The APTUK standard must be met within 3 months of starting role.
  • Registered as a practising Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant post-qualification experience working in a pharmaceutical environment
  • Experience of dispensing for discharge and medicines management

Desirable

  • Experience in using the JAC pharmacy computer system
  • Knowledge of LEAN principles

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
  • Good verbal communication skills both face to face and using telephones
  • Ability to talk to patients, staff and other senior health care professionals
  • Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and able to work under pressure
  • Ability to work accurately and efficiently with good attention to detail
  • Well organised with good time management skills
  • Good administration skills including accurate record keeping

Desirable

  • Good negotiation skills

Other

Essential

  • Ability to participate in the department evening and weekend rota for 7 day working.
  • Supportive of colleagues of all grades
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practices for Pharmacy Technicians or GPhC recognised equivalent'
  • BTEC professional diploma in dispensing checking or GPhC recognised equivalent which must meet the APTUK standard for accuracy checking (1000 item log with checking test). The APTUK standard must be met within 3 months of starting role.
  • Registered as a practising Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant post-qualification experience working in a pharmaceutical environment
  • Experience of dispensing for discharge and medicines management

Desirable

  • Experience in using the JAC pharmacy computer system
  • Knowledge of LEAN principles

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
  • Good verbal communication skills both face to face and using telephones
  • Ability to talk to patients, staff and other senior health care professionals
  • Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and able to work under pressure
  • Ability to work accurately and efficiently with good attention to detail
  • Well organised with good time management skills
  • Good administration skills including accurate record keeping

Desirable

  • Good negotiation skills

Other

Essential

  • Ability to participate in the department evening and weekend rota for 7 day working.
  • Supportive of colleagues of all grades

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Pharmacy Technician, Dispensary and Stores

Gill Eddleston

gillian.eddleston@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

01512904289

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-7270649

Job locations

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Supporting documents

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