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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Progression role)
Job ref
430-CC25-109A
Employer
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Pharmacy (Dept)
Town
Milton Keynes
Salary
£26,530 - £36,483 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/07/2025 23:59
Interview date
21/07/2025

Employer heading

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacy Technician Band 4 - 5 Progression

Band 4

MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ (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 refreshments
  • Great flexible working opportunities
  • 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 overview

Band 4 to 5 Progression Role

Department: Pharmacy

Band: 4 to 5 pro rata if part-time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Would you like a career where the limitation is your imagination? Does progression and opportunity relate to your personal drive of wanting to be the best you can be? As a Pharmacy Technician in hospital, you can make a difference in multiple areas ranging from clinical to management and from bands 4 to 8.

We are looking for highly motivated individuals ready to take that next step and join a forward thinking and innovative Pharmacy Technician team here at Milton Keynes hospital that is continually progressing and growing. 

To be eligible to join us in this role you will have successfully completed an NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and hold current registration with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician at the time of appointment.

 We are a department of over 100 staff providing pharmacy services through team working and prioritising the needs of those we serve.  Our Pharmacy Technicians provide a range of services in the Hospital Pharmacy including:

·         Dispensing for inpatients, outpatients and discharge

·         Aseptic production

·         Medicines safety

·         Workforce development

·         Procurement

·         Medicines information

·         Medicines management

  •       Final checking

 

 

Main duties of the job

This post is open to all registered Pharmacy Technicians both newly qualified and experienced who would like to start or continue a career in hospital pharmacy.

Working closely with the Pharmacy Technician team manager and other members of the senior team, this excellent career development opportunity will suit both newly qualified and experienced Pharmacy Technicians as it will involve the post holder being supported to develop themselves in areas of such as dispensary, clinical areas, technology, staff and service management. This will occur through fully funded opportunities via national accredited and recognised training courses.

 

Working for our organisation

MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ NHS Survey, 2023

We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute

  • Free on-site parking
  • Free refreshments
  • Great flexible working opportunities
  • 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.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Trust Responsibilities

      To be part of the Pharmacy team and work to enable the objectives of the Pharmacy and the Trust to be achieved.

   To communicate effectively and promptly with all members of the pharmacy teams and, where necessary, clinical multidisciplinary teams (MOTs}, to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of medicines management/optimisation and supply services to patients and colleagues across the local health system.

 

Professional Responsibilities

  To act in a professional manner consistent with the GPhC code of conduct and as is required to ensure safe, effective and timely care for patients and appropriate support for colleagues across the health system, including communication of complex and sensitive information.

 To manage technical work within defined policies and Standard Operating Procedures and where appropriate, recommending and contributing to changes made with the agreement of more senior technicians or pharmacists.

 

Education and Training

      To contribute to development and training programmes for all staff.

  To support the education and training lead as an assessor for the NVQ in Pharmacy Services (Levels 2 and 3); to demonstrate and maintain competence in this work and complete assessments in a timely manner.

  To be involved in CPD with other pharmacy staff as a participant and in support of other staff including pre-registration technicians and pharmacists.

 

Progression from Band 4 to 5

The intention of the role is to progress pharmacy technicians into a band 5 role once performance targets have been achieved. Candidates which meet the following objectives will trigger a review of banding based on achieving the following::

      ACPT qualification completed via external training programme

   MMPT qualification completed via internal training programme and external assessment.

 Competently conduct the Duty Technician role independently following completion of the Duty Technician competency assessment.

  Experience in hospital pharmacy including ward experience for a minimum of 12 months post-registration, understanding trust processes and policies.

 

If all of the above objectives are met, a successful candidate will be placed into a band 5 position on appointment.

 

Miscellaneous

      To participate in relevant departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.

  To be aware of and comply with all departmental and Divisional procedures.

 To participate in the departmental rota and weekend and Bank Holiday services.

 

Please refer to the job description for further details.

 

 

 

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Registered Pharmacy Technician supported by evidence of CPD in line with GPhC requirements
  • BTEC I NVQ level 3 or equivalent (e.g. in Pharmacy Services)
  • Evidence of ability to plan and organise complex activities or programmes of work requiring planning and adjustment to meet changing need
  • Evidence of providing advice in relation to patient care including information on common drug dosage and use; advises patients and colleagues on issues relating to medication regimes and changes to prescribing, working in partnership with pharmacists
Desirable criteria
  • Accredited Checking Technician, or demonstrate relevant competence within six months of starting in role
  • Knowledge of medicines management, including relevant legislation and policies, acquired through specialist training or experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Hospital pharmacy or community health services pharmacy experience
  • Experience of educating and training of junior staff and students
  • Evidence of ability to create reports or documents including reporting on Key Performance Indicators
Desirable criteria
  • Minimum 12 months post-registration hospital pharmacy experience
  • Management Experience
  • Experience of One-Stop dispensing
  • Experience of using the JAC Pharmacy System
  • Ward based medicines management and/or medicines optimisation activities

Skills

Essential criteria
  • IT Skills for dispensing, monitoring performance and reporting/audit
  • Dedication to high quality patient care
  • Flexible to meet service and patient needs
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Professional supervisory skills
  • Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
  • Evidence of undertaking workplace assessments and effective support for less experienced staff
  • Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
Desirable criteria
  • Good training skills
  • Team builder skills

Personal and people development

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of positive commitment to CPD
  • Polite and courteous
  • Professional attitude
  • Initiative and common sense
  • Self-motivated and team player

Communication

Essential criteria
  • Good Communication skills, written and verbal.
  • Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, hospital/ward staff and primary care or community health services and other organisations about medicines management or other technical information1

Specific requirements

Essential criteria
  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoHSJ Best places to workCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Neil Trew-Smith
Job title
Pharmacy Technician Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

If you think you would be the right person for this challenge, please contact Neil Trew-Smith – Pharmacy Technician Team Manager on 01908 995719 or email [email protected] alternatively you can contact Nick Beason – Chief Technician on 01908 995705 or email [email protected]

Interview date: 21st July 2025

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