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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Part time
  • Job share
22.5 hours per week (Two days based at QEH and one day at UHL)
Job ref
197-UT7114
Employer
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Woolwich
Town
London
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum plus HCAS pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust logo

Lead Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary Services

Band 6

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over  staying comfortable; Listening  over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post

To be responsible for the day-to-day management of the dispensary, including:
organisation of workload and supervision of all staff in the dispensary.
To assist with the development and implementation of pharmacy objectives 
relating to dispensary services. 
To line-manage staff.
To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT).
To be an Educational Supervisor (ES) for both candidates undertaking Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) training and Pharmacy apprentice training. 

Main duties of the job

Lead Pharmacy Technician- Dispensary Services.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Woolwich.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced registered pharmacy technician to join our patient focused team as the Lead Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary Services. The post holder will lead a team of pharmacy professionals and develop high quality technician led dispensary service at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital ensuring efficient and smooth running of the dispensary. We are looking for a highly competent, hard-working and motivated Pharmacy Technician with excellent organisational and managerial skills, who is able to work under pressure whilst ensuring accuracy and quality in all aspects of dispensary service.

The successful candidate will work in conjunction with the Associate Chief Pharmacy Technician - Patient Services in developing and promoting an excellent dispensary based pharmacy service. This job will give you the perfect opportunity to develop managerial skills and expertise in pharmacy operations.

You must be registered pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Applicants are also required to have a minimum of 2 years’ experience as a senior technician within a busy hospital dispensary.

Candidates who fail to supply a detailed supporting statement specifying how their career experience matches the personal specification supplied with this advert will not be invited for the interview.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post

 

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
  4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

  1. To be responsible for the day-to-day management of the dispensary, including organisation of workload and supervision of all staff in the dispensary.
  2. To assist with the development and implementation of pharmacy objectives relating to dispensary services.
  3. To line-manage staff.
  4. To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT).
  5. To be an Educational Supervisor (ES) for both candidates undertaking Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) training and Pharmacy apprentice training.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

To carry out the following task or delegate as appropriate.

Dispensary

  1. To organise and manage the provision of all dispensary-based services, including inpatients, outpatients, controlled drugs, and clinical trials to agreed performance targets with guidance and support from the Pharmacy Patient Services Manager.
  2. To supervise staff and activities in the dispensary to ensure that all work is completed accurately, promptly and in order of priority. To address issues with individuals as they arise.
  3. To implement planned service developments effectively.
  4. To manage the stock control in dispensary under the direction of the Pharmacy Patient Services Manager, ensuring the efficient use of all resources, keeping waste to a minimum and encouraging the re-use of medicines when appropriate.
  5. To ensure that all staff have received an appropriate induction and training in the use of pharmacy systems and equipment and the core tasks they are required to complete.
  6. To ensure that the dispensary satisfies all legislation and good practice recommendations relating to the safe storage and supply of medicines.
  7. To arrange cover for the duties of the other senior dispensary staff in their absence.

 

  1. To supervise production of a weekly rota ensuring that all dispensary duties have sufficient staffing and that any issues are resolved.
  2. To provide regular activity and quality monitoring information to the Pharmacy Patient Services Manager and to use this information to develop the service and improve and/or maintain a quality service.
  3. To be responsible for the safety of patients and other hospital staff in the waiting area. This includes health & safety, security and fire issues.
  4. To accurately dispense prescriptions for both in and outpatients. Prescription types will include outpatients; inpatients; discharges; controlled drugs and clinical trials.
  5. To deal with complaints from patients, carers and hospital staff, taking appropriate action to remedy issues as they arise and report to the patient services manager.
  6. To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and patients and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.
  7. To supervise investigation of stock level discrepancies within the dispensary.
  8. To write and maintain a complete set of standard operating procedures for all areas of work within the dispensary and to participate in the production of clinical policies and procedures. To ensure the SOPs are up to date.
  9. To ensure that the private and staff sale of medicines is carried out as per the standard operating procedure.
  10. To be an accredited checking pharmacy technician (ACPT). To participate in the dispensary training of all pharmacy staff when necessary.
  11. To be responsible for and manage the distribution of FP10 prescription pads, ensuring secure storage arrangements in the pharmacy and when in use throughout the hospital.
  12. To be an authoriser for stock transfers from stores, writing off expired stock and to correct stock level discrepancies.
  13. To investigate incidents involving the dispensary. This will involve completion of dispensing error investigation forms when errors are reported, retrieval of patient records/dispensing records and discussion with staff involved in the

incident. Results of the investigation may be entered onto the Ulysses risk    management system if appropriate.

  1. To ensure the daily workload for the dispensary is completed and information handed over to the pharmacist responsible for locking-up the department.
  2. To hold high-level, Ascribe password access, including drug file amendments, adding new system users, running the end-of-period Programme and printer set up. Managing data input to ensure quality and safeguard the security of patient identifiable data.
  3. To be responsible for data collection on intravenous immunoglobulin usage and data entry for the national intravenous immunoglobulin database.
  4. To be responsible for safe and secure management of controlled drugs within dispensary as per the legal requirements and standard operating procedures.
  5. To ensure Responsible Pharmacist (RP) rota is maintained as per GPhC requirements.
  6. To ensure efficient dispensary service provision to Service Level Agreement (SLA) organisations.
  7. To ensure the Emergency Drug Room medicines are maintained.

Educational Supervisor Responsibilities

  1. To support the training of NVQ level 2 &3 pharmacy services candidates.

 

  1. To monitor progress and review achievements of candidates, maintaining accurate records.
  2. To make judgments on evidence against national occupational standards and provide constructive feedback, guidance and support.
  3. Undertake and maintain CPD to ensure knowledge and skills are up to date in occupational and assessor national standards.
  4. To ensure that all tasks undertaken relating to training are completed in a timely manner.
  5. To work as Educational Supervisor (ES) for candidates undertaking ACPT training as per departmental requirements.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

  1. To line manage staff, including:
  2. Regular 121 meetings, appraisal of performance and objective setting.
  3. Identification of training needs, personal development planning and evaluation.
  4. Ensuring that all human resource policies, procedures and standards. .are understood and maintained.
  5. Ensure all relevant paperwork regarding the above is up to date.
  6. To chair recruitment panels.
  7. To ensure a very high standard of customer care to patients, carers, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals.
  8. To be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for technicians and assistants, ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.
  9. To be an authorised signatory for orders from the store and writing off stock up to £1000.

 

  1. To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday pharmacy serviceas a team leader. Being responsible for opening and locking up of department andensuring the security of the department.
  2. To maintain a portfolio of Continuous Professional Development and current knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.
  3. To liaise with other senior staff within other areas of pharmacy to ensure effective communication.
  4. To attend in house and externally arranged study sessions as appropriate.
  5. To participate in audits as required.
  6. To undertake any duties as may reasonably be expected by the Chief Pharmacist.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria
  • NVQ 3 in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent
  • Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT)
  • Supervisory/management qualification or willing to undertake
  • Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Desirable criteria
  • ACPT Educational Supervisor

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Qualified as a Pharmacy technician for a minimum of 2 years
  • Hospital pharmacy technician with all round experience
  • Supervision & training of staff
  • Managing and working within a busy dispensary

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good management practice
  • Current and future role of pharmacy
  • Sound judgment and decision making
  • Ability to organise staff and workload
  • Excellent interpersonal skills/communication
  • Able to make interventions assertively and appropriately
  • Act on changing customer needs and develop the service accordingly

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDCapital Nurse, LondonVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoTimewise helps businesses to attract and develop the best talent through flexible working.No smoking policyLondon Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage FoundationAge positiveDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lewis Ryan
Job title
Associate Chief Pharmacy Technician
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07765562899
Additional information

 

 

                

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