Job summary
Specialist Pharmacy Technician - Emergency Department
Department: Pharmacy
Full-time, Band 6 - £37,338 - £44,962 per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
The Pharmacy Department at MKUH has seen exceptional growth & investment over recent years, both in staff and facilities. As a result, we are excited to offer a new speciality role.
As a Specialist Pharmacy Technician, you will focus on the identification & optimisation of medicine related issues to improve both patient quality of care & safety. Working with the Principal Pharmacist - Acute Medicine and the Emergency Dept multidisciplinary team, you will ensure accurate & complete Medicines reconciliation is performed as close to admission as possible & will be instrumental in preventing delays in patients receiving essential treatment. You will also be involved in preventing unnecessary admissions and expediting discharges from the Emergency Dept.
We arelooking for an outstanding Pharmacy Technician who is enthusiastic, self-motivated and committed to forging excellent communication between primary and secondary care teams and drive the pharmacy team forward.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Matt Burnett (Pharmacist Manager - Medicine) on matthew.burnett@mkuh.nhs.uk for an informal discussion.
Interview date: w/c 05.05.2025
Main duties of the job
You will be passionate about helping patients get the best from their medicines, keen to use your initiative & drive to take opportunities to create an outstanding service & demonstrate leadership around optimal & safe medication use within the MDTs.
This role is an excellent opportunity to expand your pharmacy service within the Emergency Dept. You will provide a pharmacy service in the form of medicines management, medication reviews & advice to MDT & work across the interface of care to ensure optimal use of medicines.
The Emergency Dept. provides assessment & care to the most acute patients. This role will aim to prevent delays in patients receiving essential treatment, reduce unnecessary admissions and expedite discharges.
This post will require:
o Enthusiasm, self-motivation and commitment to forge excellent communication between primary and secondary care teams and drive the pharmacy team forward.
o Close work with the MDT and other primary and secondary care organisations to optimise the safe and effective use of medicines
o Work with other health and social care organisations across Milton Keynes to implement and co-ordinate medicines optimisation principles to support patients in the safe and effective use of medicines.
o Support a multi-disciplinary team working across the health economy with the implementation and delivery of high quality, evidence based and cost-effective use of medicines to patients.
About us
"We care we communicate we collaborate we contribute"
"A staggering 93% of colleagues in the Additional Clinical Services Group feel trusted to do their job and always know their responsibilities" (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible workingopportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main duties & responsibilities:
- To lead the day-to-day operational management of the specialist/divisional activities to ensure the safe and efficient medicines reconciliation, management of Patients Own Drugs and the supply of pharmaceutical products for patients, and to support ward-staff in the effective management of medicines.
- To take part in the implementation of medicines optimisation initiatives, objectives and complex changes to bring about quality improvements and better outcomes for patients including reducing patient harm & improving medication safety.
Management & leadership:
- To define, lead and optimise the Pharmacy service to the Emergency Department
- Line management and leadership of allocated Pharmacy Technicians and pharmacy assistants, setting direction, objectives, ensuring all team members have clarity of purpose.
Planning & organisational:
- Produce timely reports and papers, updating databases on benefits/outcomes of services, using relevant appropriate IT packages.
- To lead and develop clinical audit, including relevant quality improvement work in a field of special interest.
Management:
- Ensuresthe effective and efficient use of resources within their own sphere of responsibility.
- To workto ensure best value for money and avoidance of waste in relation to medicines and contribute to the reduction in fraud related to medicines consistent with the post holders position in the organisation.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main duties & responsibilities:
- To lead the day-to-day operational management of the specialist/divisional activities to ensure the safe and efficient medicines reconciliation, management of Patients Own Drugs and the supply of pharmaceutical products for patients, and to support ward-staff in the effective management of medicines.
- To take part in the implementation of medicines optimisation initiatives, objectives and complex changes to bring about quality improvements and better outcomes for patients including reducing patient harm & improving medication safety.
Management & leadership:
- To define, lead and optimise the Pharmacy service to the Emergency Department
- Line management and leadership of allocated Pharmacy Technicians and pharmacy assistants, setting direction, objectives, ensuring all team members have clarity of purpose.
Planning & organisational:
- Produce timely reports and papers, updating databases on benefits/outcomes of services, using relevant appropriate IT packages.
- To lead and develop clinical audit, including relevant quality improvement work in a field of special interest.
Management:
- Ensuresthe effective and efficient use of resources within their own sphere of responsibility.
- To workto ensure best value for money and avoidance of waste in relation to medicines and contribute to the reduction in fraud related to medicines consistent with the post holders position in the organisation.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent plus additional knowledge or experience to degree level or equivalent.
- Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
- Foundation Degree Medicines Management & Pharmacy Services or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience of hospital pharmacy
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Working knowledge of the function within a large and complex organisation
- Experience of participation in multi-disciplinary meetings
- Evidence of patient facing experience
- Experience of working to and achieving tight deadlines
- Experience of influencing others
- Experience of change management
- Working knowledge of the NHS and healthcare settings including the importance of maintaining confidentiality
- Knowledge of medicines optimisation including legislation and policy
- Experience of working in Primary Care/Medicines Optimisation
- Understanding and knowledge of the workings of the NHS, the challenges it faces and of the reform agenda.
Desirable
- Working in the NHS, including community pharmacy and the acute trusts
- Experience of analysing prescribing data and using this to effect change
Skills
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use major computer programmes e.g. Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, Excel
- Data analysis and interpretation skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust their communication style and content to suit the audience.
- Able to 'think on their feet' when dealing with issues and problems.
- Evidence of personal and professional development
- Willingness to undertake training.
- Attention to details, able to work accurately, identify errors quickly and easily, medicines reconciliation skills.
- Presentation skills
- Ability to recognise own limitations.
Desirable
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload in order to meet strict deadlines.
Personal & health
Desirable
- Experience of clinical systems e.g. eCARE, SystmOne, EMIS or a willingness to undertake training
- Report writing skills.
- Understanding of budget setting and importance of financial monitoring within the NHS
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of significant personal development, professionally and managerially
- Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work.
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Positive and enthusiastic approach
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
- Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and ensure a stakeholder focussed response.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent plus additional knowledge or experience to degree level or equivalent.
- Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
- Foundation Degree Medicines Management & Pharmacy Services or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience of hospital pharmacy
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Working knowledge of the function within a large and complex organisation
- Experience of participation in multi-disciplinary meetings
- Evidence of patient facing experience
- Experience of working to and achieving tight deadlines
- Experience of influencing others
- Experience of change management
- Working knowledge of the NHS and healthcare settings including the importance of maintaining confidentiality
- Knowledge of medicines optimisation including legislation and policy
- Experience of working in Primary Care/Medicines Optimisation
- Understanding and knowledge of the workings of the NHS, the challenges it faces and of the reform agenda.
Desirable
- Working in the NHS, including community pharmacy and the acute trusts
- Experience of analysing prescribing data and using this to effect change
Skills
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use major computer programmes e.g. Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, Excel
- Data analysis and interpretation skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust their communication style and content to suit the audience.
- Able to 'think on their feet' when dealing with issues and problems.
- Evidence of personal and professional development
- Willingness to undertake training.
- Attention to details, able to work accurately, identify errors quickly and easily, medicines reconciliation skills.
- Presentation skills
- Ability to recognise own limitations.
Desirable
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload in order to meet strict deadlines.
Personal & health
Desirable
- Experience of clinical systems e.g. eCARE, SystmOne, EMIS or a willingness to undertake training
- Report writing skills.
- Understanding of budget setting and importance of financial monitoring within the NHS
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of significant personal development, professionally and managerially
- Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work.
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Positive and enthusiastic approach
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
- Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and ensure a stakeholder focussed response.
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.
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).
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.
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).
