Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

Band 5 Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 30 June 2025

Job summary

At Defence Primary Healthcare we are an inclusive, dedicated organisation working to provide outstanding care to our entitled personnel. Are you a Band 5 Pharmacy Technician looking for an exciting role, working alongside the military, which offers numerous benefits and opportunities.

If the answer is yes, then we are looking to appoint a professional and patient focused individual with a strong commitment to providing a high-quality service to work within our friendly and welcoming team at Medical Centre, Bassingbourn Barracks.There may be a requirement to work at other sites within the Varsity Combined Network (RAF Wyton & Chicksands) depending on business needs.

This role is offered as 37.5 hours a week.

Could this be the role for you. If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits include:

  • Onsite Parking
  • Access to a gym
  • Pay as you dine facilities
  • Access to NHS pension scheme
  • Access to learning and development tailored to your role
  • An environment with flexible working options
  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for delivering a consistently high quality pharmacy service and assists in the delivery of an effective medicines management service to entitled personnel within the multi- disciplinary medical centre and on behalf of the Senior Medical Officer (SMO).

The role will require upholding the pharmacy profession at all times, in accordance with Medicines Ethics and Practice of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the standards for pharmacy professionals of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To attend practice meetings and represent dispensary as required.

The Post Holder may be required to support other DPHC sites within the Varisty Combined Practice (RAF Wyton & Chicksands) as required by business needs.

About us

Our success depends on our people, our Whole Force regular and reservist military, civil servants and contractors, all working as one, working together seamlessly to deliver for us.

Our civil servants are a central part of this Whole Force, developing strategy, making policy, supporting ministerial decision-making and Parliamentary processes. In fact, with over 2,000 different roles working across 650 sites around the world, now really is an excellent time to join one of the largest, most exciting departments in government.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to attracting and retaining people from across the full range of backgrounds and enabling flexible ways of working as the norm. We offer maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.

In return, you can expect a department that helps you learn and develop that recognises your expertise and contribution, both as an individual and part of a team.

If you've ever wanted to do more, see more, go further or be better, we have roles in more professions and vocations than ever before. Let's see where your future will take you, together.

Details

Date posted

28 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Pro rata for part time *Pay Award Pending

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

K0003-25-0237

Job locations

Medical Centre

Bassingbourn Barracks

Royston

Hertsfordshire

SG8 5LX


Job description

Job responsibilities

The responsibilities for these roles include, but are not limited to:

  • Being responsible for the temperature controlled cold chain management of products in the dispensary.

  • Ensuring that the security measures required for Controlled Drugs in accordance with current regulations are fully met. Ensure Controlled/ Accountable Drugs Registers are maintained in accordance with current regulations.

  • Ensuring that the monthly checks of accountable drugs are carried out by the Unit Medical Officer (UMO)/SMO, and the checks are recorded in the appropriate registers in accordance with the current policy. Ensure Quarterly checks with an independent verifier are carried out four times a year.

  • Communicating professionally with prescribers regarding any prescription anomalies, ambiguities or supply issues.

  • Communicating information as needed to patients, and carers regarding prescribed medicines, further supplies and prescription payments.

  • Provide in-service training on pharmacy related issues to practice staff, doctors, nurses and Medics as needed within professional scope of competence.

Further information

Applications at sift will be assessed on your C.V application form. During the interview the successful candidate will be assessed via the National Health Service (NHS) Knowledge and Skills Framework:

  • NHS Core - NHSC1 - Communication
  • NHS Core - NHSC2 - Personal & People Development
  • NHS Core - NHSC4 - Service Improvement
  • NHS Health & Wellbeing - HWB10 - Products to meet health & wellbeing needs
  • NHS Information & Knowledge - NHS IK3 - Knowledge and Information Resources

Please ensure you demonstrate that you have the required skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and memberships in your CV. Please make sure no personal details are included.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs.

Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

Access to the NHS pension scheme is available to the successful candidate.

If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, <a href=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans/>Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans</a>

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcingteam@mod.gov.uk.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The responsibilities for these roles include, but are not limited to:

  • Being responsible for the temperature controlled cold chain management of products in the dispensary.

  • Ensuring that the security measures required for Controlled Drugs in accordance with current regulations are fully met. Ensure Controlled/ Accountable Drugs Registers are maintained in accordance with current regulations.

  • Ensuring that the monthly checks of accountable drugs are carried out by the Unit Medical Officer (UMO)/SMO, and the checks are recorded in the appropriate registers in accordance with the current policy. Ensure Quarterly checks with an independent verifier are carried out four times a year.

  • Communicating professionally with prescribers regarding any prescription anomalies, ambiguities or supply issues.

  • Communicating information as needed to patients, and carers regarding prescribed medicines, further supplies and prescription payments.

  • Provide in-service training on pharmacy related issues to practice staff, doctors, nurses and Medics as needed within professional scope of competence.

Further information

Applications at sift will be assessed on your C.V application form. During the interview the successful candidate will be assessed via the National Health Service (NHS) Knowledge and Skills Framework:

  • NHS Core - NHSC1 - Communication
  • NHS Core - NHSC2 - Personal & People Development
  • NHS Core - NHSC4 - Service Improvement
  • NHS Health & Wellbeing - HWB10 - Products to meet health & wellbeing needs
  • NHS Information & Knowledge - NHS IK3 - Knowledge and Information Resources

Please ensure you demonstrate that you have the required skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and memberships in your CV. Please make sure no personal details are included.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs.

Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

Access to the NHS pension scheme is available to the successful candidate.

If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, <a href=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans/>Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans</a>

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcingteam@mod.gov.uk.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • National Vocational Qualification (Level 3 NVQ) in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC).
  • Registered to General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Desirable

  • Full driving licence
  • Previous experience of mentoring

Please provide CV

Essential

  • Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment.
  • Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included.
  • Please use double spacing where possible.

Memberships & Registrations

Essential

  • Please enter your membership & registration ID's here.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • National Vocational Qualification (Level 3 NVQ) in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC).
  • Registered to General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Desirable

  • Full driving licence
  • Previous experience of mentoring

Please provide CV

Essential

  • Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment.
  • Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included.
  • Please use double spacing where possible.

Memberships & Registrations

Essential

  • Please enter your membership & registration ID's here.

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

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

Address

Medical Centre

Bassingbourn Barracks

Royston

Hertsfordshire

SG8 5LX


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

Address

Medical Centre

Bassingbourn Barracks

Royston

Hertsfordshire

SG8 5LX


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

28 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Pro rata for part time *Pay Award Pending

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

K0003-25-0237

Job locations

Medical Centre

Bassingbourn Barracks

Royston

Hertsfordshire

SG8 5LX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)