Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

Dispensary-based Pharmacy Technician

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified Pharmacy Technician or Pre-registration Pharmacy Technician nearing qualification looking to develop their career within hospital pharmacy services.

As we continue to develop and enhance our services, we are seeking a motivated, dynamic, and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to become a valued member of our dispensary team. This role provides the opportunity to work within a varied and rewarding hospital environment, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality pharmacy services.

Essential Requirements

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a Pharmacy Technician (or working towards registration)
• Level 3 Pharmacy Technician qualification (BTEC/NVQ or working towards qualification)
• GCSEs in Maths and English at Grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent)
• Experience working in a pharmacy setting (hospital or community)
• Good communication, organisational, and teamwork skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately under pressure

Desirable Skills

• Previous hospital pharmacy experience
• Experience with pharmacy IT systems
• Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT) qualification (or willingness to work towards)

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

• Accurately dispense, label, and prepare medicines in accordance with prescriptions and standard operating procedures
• Perform final accuracy checking of dispensed items (if accredited or working towards accreditation)
• Receive, check, and appropriately store medicines and pharmaceutical deliveries
• Maintain effective stock control of medicines and related products within the Pharmacy Department
• Support the supply and distribution of medicines to wards and clinics, ensuring safe handling and correct storage on delivery
• Assist in delivering an efficient outpatient dispensary service, acting as a professional and informative point of contact for patients and healthcare staff
• Provide advice to patients and staff within scope of practice, referring more complex queries when required
• Undertake housekeeping duties to ensure the dispensary remains clean, organised, and compliant with standards
• Answer telephone calls and respond to internal and external enquiries in a polite, professional, and timely manner
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of dispensary services and adhere to all legal, regulatory, and organisational requirements

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Description

• To accurately dispense, label, and prepare medicines for inpatients, outpatients, and discharge prescriptions in line with prescriptions, legal requirements, and standard operating procedures.
• To perform final accuracy checking of dispensed medicines (if ACT qualified).
• To ensure prescriptions are clinically appropriate within the limits of training, identifying and escalating any prescribing or dispensing issues to the relevant member of staff.
• To support a timely and efficient dispensary workflow, prioritising workload appropriately to meet service demands.
• To liaise effectively with pharmacists, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals to facilitate safe and appropriate medicines use.
• To provide advice and counselling to patients on their medicines in accordance with training, competency, and departmental procedures.
• To participate in the receipt, checking, and appropriate storage of medicines and pharmaceutical deliveries in accordance with legal and professional standards.
• To maintain accurate stock control within the Pharmacy Department, including stock rotation, expiry date checking, and ordering of medicines.
• To support the supply and distribution of medicines to wards and departments, including ward stock top-ups where required.
• To ensure safe handling, storage, and documentation of medicines, including controlled drugs where appropriate.
• To participate in audit activities to monitor and improve service quality.
• To contribute to service development initiatives and continuous improvement within the Pharmacy Department.
• To adhere to all relevant policies, procedures, and safe systems of work at all times.
• To support the training and supervision of Assistant Technical Officers (ATOs), trainee pharmacy technicians, and other staff within the Pharmacy Department.
• To act as a role model within the team, promoting good practice and professionalism.
• To participate in induction and training of new staff as required.
• To work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure high-quality patient care.
• To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and comply with all professional standards.
• To actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD).
• To ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and policies, including Health & Safety, COSHH, and medicines legislation.
• To maintain a clean, safe, and organised pharmacy environment.
• To respond to telephone and face-to-face enquiries from patients and staff in a professional and timely manner.
• To participate in weekend, bank holiday, and extended hours rotas as required by the service.
• To maintain strict patient confidentiality  and Trust information at all times.
• To work flexibly across the Pharmacy Department as required to meet service needs.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.
• To adapt to changes in practice, including new systems, technologies, and ways of working, following appropriate training and consultation.
• Works under the supervision of a Pharmacist or Senior Pharmacy Technician
• Regularly interacts with patients, nursing staff, and the multidisciplinary team
• Contributes directly to the safe dispensing and supply of medicines across the organisation