SEHSCT Student Pharmacy Technician (Healthcare in Prison) Band 2

Job details

• Branch: North Down & Ards Area (SEHSCT)
• Location: Maghaberry Prison
• Salary: Band 2 (£24,465)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 22/05/26
• Closes: Fri, 05 June 2026 @ 5:30 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Student Pharmacy Technician

BAND

DIRECTORATE

INITIAL LOCATION

Band 2

Adult services

HMP Maghaberry

REPORTS TO

Pharmacy manager/Lead Pharmacy Technician

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Pharmacy manager/Lead Pharmacy Technician

JOB SUMMARY

In order to meet the overall mission of the Trust the post holder will

The post holder will work as an effective member of the pharmacy team providing comprehensive medicines management and dispensing services.

Attend and successfully pass the course work/assignments of the BTEC L3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (1 day per week day release to SERC, Bangor or Holywood Campus from Sept 26). Qualification must be completed by 31st July 2028.

Candidates are expected to complete course work/assignments in their own time.

Candidates who fail to complete the qualification will be required to repay the tuition fees.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

College work

Attend the College and successfully pass the course work/assignments of BTEC L3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians by 31st July 2028.

Progress in practical aspects of the programme which will be assessed within the pharmacy department on a regular basis.

Comply with College Policies and procedures.

Submit all coursework and assessments by specified dates, coursework submitted without consent after the deadline shall not normally be accepted.

Pass all modules in each year of study in order to proceed to the next year of the programme.

Provide regular updates of college attendance and assignment marks to your mentor and Lead pharmacy technician.

Meet with their mentor regularly within the workplace and ensure sufficient and relevant work is provided to enable development of competencies and knowledge required for this qualification.

Dispensary

Assist in the provision of all aspects of the dispensary services to residential house locations under the supervision of the pharmacist.

To dispense prescriptions for patients using the pharmacy computer system.

To assemble orders for residential house locations using the pharmacy computer system

Participate in pharmacy top up service including monitoring stock usage and liaising with the senior nurses with regards to stock control.

Monitor designated areas of healthcare pharmacy service, assisting Lead Pharmacy Technician to prevent overstocking of pharmaceutical stock

Perform duties in accordance with the department’s safe systems of work and procedures including the use of equipment and machines, handling of chemicals, lifting and handling.

Maintain equipment and dispensing areas in a clean and orderly manner.

Assist with the assessment of returns from residential house locations

Ensure the safe disposal of medication deemed unsuitable for reuse in the pharmacy.

Assist in the receipt of pharmaceutical stocks giving priority to refrigerated items.

Assist in the reporting of incorrect deliveries/discrepancies from suppliers.

Assist with the daily stock checks.

Assist in the safe storage of stock when deliveries are checked in including rotation of stocks

Assist with the investigation of stock discrepancies

Assist SET Pharmacy procurement team/invoicing team with queries

Although currently role is Monday – Friday, there are service plans to operate a 6 / 7 day service, so candidate may be required to undertake a working pattern to facilitate this in the future

Residential house location services

Participate in daily medicine administration record checks to facilitate the stocking of patient lockers and raising of requisitions for non-stock items.

Complete residential house locations and healthcare top up’s

Assist relevant pharmacy personnel in the optimisation of pharmaceutical product use by monitoring stock levels, managing non-stock items, checking expiry dates and processing returns, for all items supplied by pharmacy.

Medicines Reconciliation and Supply and assess the suitability of an individual’s own medicines for use.

Generic managerial responsibilities both within an operational and strategic context.

The post holder will

Maintain staff relationships and morale amongst staff

Supervise and assist in the training of pre-registration pharmacists, Technicians, Student Technicians and Assistant Technical Officers.

Reports critical incidents/near misses using the Trust reporting mechanism

Report any signs of ill health/stress in colleagues

Support the Trust in defending legal actions and participate in tribunals as required

Participate in late, weekend and statutory holiday rotas and extended hours service

Comply with all Trust policies and procedures relevant to area of work

Support the Trust in its drive for seven day working in order to ensure it best meets the needs of our patients

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description are neither meant to be definitive nor restrictive and may be modified to meet changing needs. It should be noted therefore that duties, designation and location of post might be subject to change in the future to meet the changing requirements of the service

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information. PPI_leaflet.pdf (hscni.net)

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND Student Pharmacy Technician (training contract until 31 July 2028)

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE Adult Services

SALARY Band

HOURS 37.5

Ref No: 55678441

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

A minimum of 5 passes in GCSE grade A-C (or equivalent), including English, Maths and one Science subject.

And

Wiling to attend SERC and successfully pass the course work/assignments of the BTEC L3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians by 31st July 2028.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Have access to a car or be able to travel to the college for teaching.

SET staff requesting a secondment must have the approval of their line manager before applying.

All staff are required by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) to complete and pass a Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) before they can access any prison site.

See link below

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK

As such NIPS have advised you must

Have the right to work in the UK

&

be a UK Resident

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Be able to communicate effectively.

Be able to work as a team member with other grades of staff.

Computer keyboard skills.

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge of the post

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Experience working in a pharmacy environment ie hospital, community

Shortlisting by Application Form

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information

To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,

Click Here

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. Request for recognition of previous service with non-direct NHS/HSC organisations towards starting salary and incremental credit must be made via the Retained Recruitment team within 3 months from commencement of employment. Requests made after 3 months will not be considered. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times