Lead Clinical Pharmacy Technician

Job details

• Job reference: 250594
• Salary: Band 6 (£43,231 - £52,679)
• Job closing date: 22/06/2026
• Job Type: Other Therapeutic
• Location: The State Hospital
• Employment type: Permanent
• Hours Per Week: 36
• Job posted date: 08/06/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Pharmacy

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.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• 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• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn.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.

Are you an experienced pharmacy technician ready to shape the future of pharmacy services in a unique, evolving service, making a real difference to patient care?

About the Role

This unique opportunity will allow you to shape and enhance:

• Professional and operational leadership to the pharmacy technician team at The State Hospital (comprising technicians and a pharmacy support worker).
• Clinical technician services, evolving these to meet both current and future patient needs.
• Leadership to the technical team including appraisal, education and training.
• Patient‑facing care, contributing to a safe, effective and person‑centred pharmacy service.

You will co-ordinate and oversee day-to-day pharmacy technician tasks including medicines supply, stock management and clinical technician services, and support staff development.

NHS Lothian provide pharmacy services under Service Level Agreement. This comprises the onsite clinical pharmacy team with medicines supply via St John’s Hospital, Livingston.

Why Join Us?

• No weekend working
• Flexible working options e.g. part-time/job share (salary and allowances will be pro-rata)
• Unique, interesting clinical environment
• Collaborative multidisciplinary team working and supportive colleagues
• Lots of opportunity to further shape and develop pharmacy services

The State Hospital is one of only four high secure hospitals in the UK, providing specialist care in a highly structured and multidisciplinary environment focused on patient recovery and rehabilitation. More information can be found here.

The State Hospital is a rewarding place to work, with truly multidisciplinary collaboration. You’ll be joining a dedicated and ambitious pharmacy team delivering high‑quality, person‑centred care.

We focus on every member of the team feeling valued and having the opportunity to develop and make best use of their skills.

About you

We’re looking for a motivated, experienced pharmacy technician who:

• Enjoys working in a dynamic environment, contributing to positive service change.
• Is confident leading and supporting a technical team.
• Brings enthusiasm for service development and meticulous attention to detail.
• Communicates effectively with a wide range of different staff.
• Is organised, proactive and a team-player, leading by example.
• Is committed to providing high quality, person-centred care.

Essential qualifications and experience include:

• Diploma in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• HN unit: Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians or Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Award 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
• L&D9di Certificate – Work Based Assessor of candidates using a range of methods or equivalent. (If not currently achieved, candidate will be expected to achieve as soon as possible and within 24 months of starting in post)
• Experience of planning, co-ordinating and managing a pharmacy technical service in a patient-focused environment

Ready to Take the Next Step?

We know that choosing to work in a high secure setting is a big decision — and a job pack can only tell you so much. To discuss this opportunity further and to help understand the environment and job role, reach out today to start the conversation – come meet us before you apply!

We can arrange a visit, and/or you can drop in to an informal info session to learn more about what it is like to work in the State Hospital Pharmacy team, meet team members and ask questions. For more details about the info session or for an informal chat contact us by phone or email:

• Nicola Watkins, Lead Pharmacist (📞01555 842087, 📧 nicola.watkins@nhs.scot )
• Alice Boron, Advanced Pharmacist (📞01555 842027, 📧 alice.boron2@nhs.scot

Short‑listed applicants will be contacted by email — please check your inbox and junk folders regularly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• 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.

Are you an experienced pharmacy technician ready to shape the future of pharmacy services in a unique, evolving service, making a real difference to patient care?

About the Role

This unique opportunity will allow you to shape and enhance:

• Professional and operational leadership to the pharmacy technician team at The State Hospital (comprising technicians and a pharmacy support worker).
• Clinical technician services, evolving these to meet both current and future patient needs.
• Leadership to the technical team including appraisal, education and training.
• Patient‑facing care, contributing to a safe, effective and person‑centred pharmacy service.

You will co-ordinate and oversee day-to-day pharmacy technician tasks including medicines supply, stock management and clinical technician services, and support staff development.

NHS Lothian provide pharmacy services under Service Level Agreement. This comprises the onsite clinical pharmacy team with medicines supply via St John’s Hospital, Livingston.

Why Join Us?

• No weekend working
• Flexible working options e.g. part-time/job share (salary and allowances will be pro-rata)
• Unique, interesting clinical environment
• Collaborative multidisciplinary team working and supportive colleagues
• Lots of opportunity to further shape and develop pharmacy services

The State Hospital is one of only four high secure hospitals in the UK, providing specialist care in a highly structured and multidisciplinary environment focused on patient recovery and rehabilitation. More information can be found here.

The State Hospital is a rewarding place to work, with truly multidisciplinary collaboration. You’ll be joining a dedicated and ambitious pharmacy team delivering high‑quality, person‑centred care.

We focus on every member of the team feeling valued and having the opportunity to develop and make best use of their skills.

About you

We’re looking for a motivated, experienced pharmacy technician who:

• Enjoys working in a dynamic environment, contributing to positive service change.
• Is confident leading and supporting a technical team.
• Brings enthusiasm for service development and meticulous attention to detail.
• Communicates effectively with a wide range of different staff.
• Is organised, proactive and a team-player, leading by example.
• Is committed to providing high quality, person-centred care.

Essential qualifications and experience include:

• Diploma in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• HN unit: Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians or Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician Award 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
• L&D9di Certificate – Work Based Assessor of candidates using a range of methods or equivalent. (If not currently achieved, candidate will be expected to achieve as soon as possible and within 24 months of starting in post)
• Experience of planning, co-ordinating and managing a pharmacy technical service in a patient-focused environment

Ready to Take the Next Step?

We know that choosing to work in a high secure setting is a big decision — and a job pack can only tell you so much. To discuss this opportunity further and to help understand the environment and job role, reach out today to start the conversation – come meet us before you apply!

We can arrange a visit, and/or you can drop in to an informal info session to learn more about what it is like to work in the State Hospital Pharmacy team, meet team members and ask questions. For more details about the info session or for an informal chat contact us by phone or email:

• Nicola Watkins, Lead Pharmacist (📞01555 842087, 📧 nicola.watkins@nhs.scot )
• Alice Boron, Advanced Pharmacist (📞01555 842027, 📧 alice.boron2@nhs.scot

Short‑listed applicants will be contacted by email — please check your inbox and junk folders regularly.

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.

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.

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.

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.