Job summary
- Main area
- 317 Pharmacy Procurement & Homecare - RVI
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent: from date of appointment
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Home working may be considered after full induction and training are complete)
- Job ref
- 317-2025-31-14-DR
- Employer
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Victoria Infirmary
- Town
- 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/08/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/08/2025
Employer heading
Pharmacy Technician–Medicines Procurement & Homecare
Band 5
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new Pharmacy Technician position in the Pharmacy Homecare team who will both support the service and CIP delivery plus act as a deputy to the Pharmacy Homecare Manager.
Our substantial Pharmacy Homecare service currently consists of over 8,500 patients across 23 therapy areas utilising 12 service providers . Year on year we continue to grow and expand for CIP savings with new services and biosimilar / generic switches, plus existing service growth is around 10% per year.
The successful candidate will have a good clinical foundation and be able to work well both individually and as part of a team. They will work closely with the Homecare Manager and the wider Homecare Team to effectively resolve Homecare queries, enhance existing services and liaise between Pharmacy and the clinical directorates.
Deputising for the Homecare Manager’s role will form a key part of the responsibilities and may extend to provide some support for the Pharmacy Purchasing Team if necessary.
As a qualified Pharmacy Technician, the candidate will support with oversight and management of the Homecare Service as well facilitating working relationships between the Trust and the Homecare Providers.
As an organisation we support flexible working and are happy to accommodate reasonable requests that align with service provision requirements after completion of a comprehensive induction programme.
Main duties of the job
Technical and management aspects of the Homecare Service such as:
- Approval of orders raised against Homecare prescriptions.
- Supporting with recruitment of Homecare admin staff.
- Management of the Homecare team in the absence of the Homecare Manager.
- Taking part in quarterly meetings with representatives from our Homecare Providers, to resolve significant issues and discuss how the providers are maintaining and effective service.
- Resolution of variance of contracted drug lines within our established supply chains.
Liaising with internal staff groups to gain a better insight into the level of service each individual directorate requires for its patients. These groups will include Consultants, Nurse Specialists, Medical Secretaries as well as Pharmacists and Technicians within the Trust.
Liaising with external staff groups to maintain the quality of our Homecare services as set out in our agreements with the Homecare providers who deliver medicines to our patients.
Daily investigation of queries to affect swift and efficient resolution for patients and staff alike.
Investigation into issues affecting existing Homecare services with outcomes and solutions being suggested and shared across a range of staff levels both within the Trust and with our providers.
Extended technical support to the Pharmacy Purchasing team if required:
- Chasing drug lines.
- Approval of purchase orders against requests.
- Placing of purchase orders when necessary to support the team.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service
• Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Interview Date Tuesday, 19th August 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
- To practice as an experienced pharmacy technician
- To practice as a registered pharmacy technician
- Responsible for providing day to day support to the pharmacy procurement function of the directorate, including dealing with stock shortages, MHRA drug recalls and procurement related problems and enquires
- Effectively communicate with pharmaceutical wholesalers, manufactures, homecare companies and external agencies e.g., CMU, regarding the safe, efficient, and cost-effective procurement and supply of medicines
- Liaise with homecare providers, clinical teams, and patients to resolve queries, thus ensuring patients receive their medicines in a timely manner
- Deputise for the Pharmacy Purchasing Manager & Pharmacy Homecare Procurement Manager when necessary.
Person specification
KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of all technical aspects of pharmacy patient services, supported by practical experience gained by practical experience of an approved training programme
- In addition, successful completion of an in-house competency-based training programme or previous relevant post qualification relevant clinical experience which provides an equivalent level of additional experience
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy procurement processes
SKILLS
Essential criteria
- Excellent oral and written communication
- Excellent customer care
- Working knowledge of pharmacy, hospital and/or general practice computer systems
EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
- Practical experience of working in a relevant clinical pharmacy environment
Desirable criteria
- Practical experience of working as a designated checker
- Familiar with Medicines Information enquiry answering resources
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria
- S/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and approved underpinning knowledge e.g. BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent recognised pharmacy technician qualification plus experience to degree equivalent.
- Registered with GPhC
Desirable criteria
- Medicines Management qualification
- Formal management qualification
- NVQ Assessor qualification
- An Accredited Accuracy Checking Qualification
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Paul Blackwell
- Job title
- Homecare Procurement Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 9330314
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