247491 (AJM) - Pharmacy Technician-Higher Level

Pharmacy Technician Higher Level (Band 5)

NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service

Western General Hospital

Band 5 | 1.0 WTE | 36 Hours | Fixed-Term/Secondment 9 months

(Including evenings, weekends and public holidays commitment)

Advance Your Career as a Higher-Level Pharmacy Technician

Are you an experienced pharmacy technician ready to take the next step in your career? Join our proactive and supportive pharmacy team and play a key role in delivering high-quality patient care.

About the Role

This post is a split between a ward-based, clinical role and dispensary-based role.

As a Clinical Pharmacy Technician, you will work closely with both pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the safe, timely, and effective use of medicines.

As a Dispensary Pharmacy Technician, you will support the safe supply of medicines to inpatients via the CMM/HEPMA system, and accuracy check outpatient and inpatient prescriptions for release to facilitate safe and timely patient discharges.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking comprehensive medication histories upon patient admission
• Supporting medicines management throughout the inpatient stay
• Verifying discharge prescriptions to ensure accuracy and continuity of care
• Providing specialist counselling to patients to promote understanding and adherence to their medication regimens
• Participate in regular ACT activities within the Dispensary
• Directing the day-to-day workflow and supporting the senior technical team.

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and passionate about improving patient outcomes through safe and effective medicines use.

What We Offer

• A dynamic and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A chance to make a real difference in patient care

About You

We are seeking a dedicated and qualified individual who meets the following criteria:

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Holds a Final Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (FACPT) qualification (HN Unit: Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians or Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Award (provided by Buttercups or NPA, 2019 or before)
• Candidates should normally hold a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Pharmacy Services Development and Management. However, applicants who do not possess this qualification but can demonstrate equivalent professional experience may also be considered. In such cases, a completed Mapping Assessment Form and a supporting Portfolio of Evidence must be submitted as part of the application process (copies are included with the Job Description and Person Specification with this advert). Applicants who are shortlisted will receive detailed guidance, including instructions and timelines, for completing and submitting this documentation
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing patient care through proactive and evidence-based pharmaceutical services.

About NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian covers Edinburgh city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. We are the second largest health system in NHS Scotland and one of only four teaching Boards. We have strategic partnerships with local Universities, Local Authorities and our four Integration Joint Boards. We serve a population of 900,000, providing a range of primary, community based and acute hospital services. We also provide regional and national services across a range of clinical specialties.

The vision for the Pharmacy & Medicines service is to deliver clinically led, person-centred services to ensure patients across Lothian get the best from their medicines and pharmacy services. We are focussed on creating an environment where each person in the team has the opportunity to flourish, develop and make best use of their skills.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

For comprehensive details regarding the responsibilities of this position and the qualifications we are seeking, please consult the job description and person specification provided below.

If you are curious about the role, the team you will be joining, or the opportunities that come with it, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to the hiring manager for an informal chat; it is a great opportunity to ask questions and see how this role could fit with your career goals.

For further information please contact the following:

Heather Symons, Lead Clinical Pharmacy Technician📞 0131 537 1267 Heather.Symons@nhs.scot

or

David Barry, Dispensary Technical manager 📞 0131 537 1267 | david.barry@nhs.scot

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification.

For internal candidates: Please ensure that you have discussed your application with your line manager and that a completed and signed 'Pharmacy Secondment Approval Form' has been authorised prior to attending your interview.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

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• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.