Specialist Clinical Pharmacy Technician, Rheumatology And Homecare

Band 6
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join our fantastic Medicines Management Team. You will be instrumental in developing new and innovative ways of working for a senior Clinical Pharmacy Technician. This new role is varied and interesting offering the chance to be involved with both the Pharmacy Homecare team (based at Crawley Hospital) and Rheumatology department (based at Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital) at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. You will be a point of contact within the Trust regarding rheumatology medicines for homecare companies, clinicians, and patients.
This is a forward-thinking role that will give you the opportunity to develop your leadership and clinical skills, in a supportive environment. There will be the opportunity to help shape the development of the service, have your voice heard and have a direct impact on patient care.
You may be expected from time to time to help cover local inpatient wards if required. Most of your time will be spent in the Rheumatology department. There will be some limited travel involved as we are a community trust that spans a large geographical area.
The role will be based in the Rheumatology department at the Bognor Regis War Memorial hospital. You will be part to the Medicines Management Team.
We want you to work a minimum of 22.5 hours (over 3 days) up to 37.5 hours per week. You will be provided with work laptop and mobile phone.
Main duties of the job
You will work alongside, the principal clinical pharmacist, biologic administrators, and members of the multi-disciplinary Rheumatology team. Which include doctors, advanced clinical practitioners, specialist nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and health care assistants. You will work with the Medicines Management Team including pharmacy assistants, other Pharmacy Technicians and pharmacists as well as trainee Pharmacy Technicians and trainee pharmacists.
You will be integrated into the Rheumatology department and work closely with homecare colleagues within Rheumatology and the Pharmacy Dispensary based at Crawley Hospital:

About us
Why work for us?

• We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services working in supportive team environments, including medical, clinical, support and corporate services
• Positive 2022 NHS Staff Survey results with compassionate culture and leadership, and support for staff wellbeing, scoring highly.
• A variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county.
• Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options including hybrid working.
• Excellent training and development opportunities tailored to individuals.
• Research opportunities
• Cost-effective and convenient workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
• Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
• We are proud to be a Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces.
• We are proud to be a Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
• Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast.
• Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Provide a consistently highly specialist pharmaceutical service for patients seen within the Rheumatology department, including those requiring homecare prescriptions, in line with Trust and National standards to meet all clinical governance requirements.
• To support the safe, efficient, and cost-effective use of Rheumatology medicines, through reviewing prescriptions, education and training, procedures, policies and guidelines, drug usage information and clinical audit.
• Work together with other healthcare professional to ensure homecare prescriptions are, accurate, clinically appropriate and line with NICE guidance.
• Forge links nationally and regionally with other pharmacy staff including technicians in homecare and rheumatology services to share best practice, support and contribute to the development of the service.
• Actively contribute the Medicines Management Team and provide support where required.
• Deliver education and training to healthcare staff
• Education supervisor for Pharmacy Technicians or pharmacy assistant if required.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ Level 3 or BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or an equivalent Pharmacy Technician qualification.
• Pharmacy Technician Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) or willing to work towards ACT
• Educational Supervisor (ES) or working towards ES

Desirable

• Supervisory/ Management qualification or previous supervisory or managerial experience.
• Demonstrate advanced practice through portfolio or Accreditation formal training or equivalent.
• Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics (level 4) for Pharmacy Technicians

Experience
Essential

• Extensive hospital pharmacy (or equivalent) experience in areas of Pharmacy Technical Services and / or Medicines Management.
• Working in an inpatient environment including wards with direct patient contact either within an acute trust or similar setting
• Medication reconciliation processes.
• Service and policy development, including writing policies, procedures and protocols

Desirable

• Staff training and development.
• Multi-disciplinary working
• Supervisory / managerial / team leadership role
• Audit experience and implementation.
• Entering and analysing prescribing data or other data (e.g., medicines/homecare)
• Prior experience of working with high cost medicines/homecare including being familiar with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Professional Standards for Homecare Services

skills and knowledge
Essential

• General knowledge of common drug therapy and their uses
• Excellent computer skills. This includes keyboard skills and the ability to use IT software, e.g. Internet, Intranet, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Recognises personal limitations and boundaries of professional competence, able to identify when advice needs to be sought
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills and time management, able to prioritise own work and meet targets
• Able to work within teams, good interpersonal abilities
• Able to organise and manage / supervise staff to carry out their daily activities.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to demonstrate presentation skills (e.g., Power point or other medium) to team/staff members

Desirable

• Knowledge of medicines management and relevant legislation and policies.
• Experience of working with Patients' Own Drugs Schemes and able to assess patients' own drugs to ensure suitability for future use

other requirements
Essential

• Ability to work on Multi-sites and to travel between multi-sites using own mode of transport

Desirable

• Reliable, enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Able to lift / carry pharmaceutical goods.

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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
Shripney Road
Bognor Regis
PO22 9PP
Employer's website
https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)