Job Description

We are seeking an experienced pharmacy technician to join our Medicines Management Team, supporting community health services across Sussex. Our team provides clinical pharmacy input to inpatient units and specialist services, along with medicines supply, safety and governance.



Based at Brighton General Hospital, you will support adult inpatient beds in Brighton & Hove, lead on medical gases, and contribute to Trust-wide Medicines Safety and Governance.



This Monday-Friday role has no weekends or on-call. Flexible and hybrid working may be considered. Some travel across Sussex is required, so access to transport is essential.



You must be GPhC-registered with strong pharmacy technician experience, effective communication and leadership skills, and the ability to work proactively and independently. Applicants from all pharmacy backgrounds are welcome, and informal visits are encouraged.

Please note:

Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Skilled Worker visa:

going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK

Health and Care Worker visa:

If you'll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK



Please see the attached and Person Specification documents for full description of the role and essential criteria.



Working hours are currently Monday to Friday business hours, no weekends bank holidays or on-call. Flexible and hybrid working may be considered. The role will occasionally need to travel to other areas across Sussex and this will require you to have access to your own mode of transport (e.g. car).



To be considered for this exciting opportunity you will be registered with the GPhC and have considerable experience as a pharmacy technician including patient facing roles, medicines management and clinical governance.



Experience of a range of health care settings is desirable. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and proven team working and leadership abilities . You will be able to prioritise and manage your own workload and that of others, and will be resourceful, taking a proactive approach when delivering and coordinating workstreams. Your ongoing development will be encouraged and supported.



Applicants with the right experience and skills are welcomed from all branches of pharmacy practice. Informal visits prior to application or interview are encouraged.



We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.



Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.



Why work for us?

Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement Excellent training, development, and research opportunities Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence --guide everything we do.



We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.



This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.



See attached and Person Specification for full description of role and requirements.



Medicines management

Assist in the legal, safe and cost effective use of medicines. Work closely with the designated medicines management pharmacists, technicians and assistants as part of the pharmacy team to develop and deliver a pharmaceutical technical service in the bedded units and services, when required. Lead on Medical Gases, as the Trust wide medicines management lead, and other medicines management speciality area/s, as agreed with line manager. Supervise / manage pharmacy assistant(s), depending on speciality area and locality. Answer queries as appropriate within area of competence. Ensure the advice is in line with evidence-based prescribing, pharmaceutical care plans and promoting compliance with local Sussex Partner formulary. Using own knowledge and skills to manage and deal with complex problem-solving issues, e.g. supply of pharmaceuticals, administration of medicines or medicine management queries (within a framework of broad polices and guidance and being aware of own limitations). In agreement with line-manager, travel to various sites within SCFT to deliver medicines management services. This may be to cover the work of other technicians in their absence.

Pharmacy Dispensary

To work in the pharmacy dispensary as an Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) when required. Participate in the pharmacy dispensary rota. (currently the pharmacy dispensary is not open on weekends and Band Holidays).

Policy and service development

Develop and write the appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for their area of expertise. Train staff in these activities. Make improvements to ensure legal requirements and best practice is adopted at all times. This includes the identification, preparation and updating of the appropriate SOPs in line with any changes in legal and ethical policy, local and regional guidance as well as departmental working arrangements. Support Trust Medicines Safety and Governance Group including attending regular group meetings, taking accurate minutes of the meetings, maintaining the schedule of documents and policies for group ratification and finalising documents ratified by the group, follow up on actions. Support the development of Patient Group Directions (PGDs), as required.

To lead on various emerging medicines management projects for a wide variety of community health services, as agreed with the line manager, including for example antimicrobial stewardship, education and training, Patient Group Directions, medicines safety, data collection/analysis/reporting, etc.



Finance

Assist in the legal, safe and cost effective use of medicines.

Audit and research

Plan and develop audits as part of quality improvement processes completing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle under the supervision of the Senior Clinical Pharmacist. Develop, produce, analyse and interpret data and expenditure reports and other relevant statistical and financial data. Write reports and present findings as appropriate.

Staff supervision, training and development

Manage or indirectly supervise the staff involved in the area of expertise (if relevant). Assist in the training and development of pharmacy and other healthcare staff, as appropriate.

See attached and Person Specification for full description of role and requirements.