Specialist Pharmacy Technician - Medicines Procurement

Job overview

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is launching a brand-new pharmacy supply and dispensing service to support our mental health and learning disability wards and community teams. At the heart of this transformation is a new dedicated Pharmacy Hub at our Swandean site in Worthing and we’re looking for an exceptional specialist pharmacy technician for medicines procurement.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping medicines procurement from the ground up in a newly established pharmacy hub.

You’ll be joining an award-winning pharmacy team that values innovation, collaboration and professional development. You will play a pivotal role in improving access to medicines, strengthening supply resilience and ensuring safe and cost-effective supply of medicines across our Trust.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with medicines procurement experience who wants to help shape a new and innovative pharmacy service

Main duties of the job

• To ensure all medicines are stored appropriately in accordance with their product licence, and within their expiry date.• To provide IT technical support and training and support for the Pharmacy Stock Control System and other pharmacy computer systems within The Pharmacy Hub.• To act at a level akin to the standard of a RP (Responsible Person) for a MHRA Wholesale Dealers Authorisation (WDA). This requires experience, competence, and knowledge and training in Good Distribution Practice (GDP). The post holder must be able to fulfil the role personally and be available for reasonable, continuous contact; has authority to take decisions with respect to responsibilities.• To develop and oversee all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for procurement process for The Pharmacy Hub ensuring compliance with medicines legislation and with the Trust Medicines Code.• To prepare the process of The Pharmacy Hub for internal inspection akin to MHRA WDA standard, producing internal action plans and ensuring subsequent completion.• To ensure that a quality management system is implemented and maintained.• To ensure all medicines are supplied in a legal, safe and efficient manner, with due regard to GDP.• To support the co-ordination of processes surrounding pharmaceutical waste.

Please see job description for full list of duties for this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To manage and oversee all medicines supply contracts under the Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain (MPSC) Framework. To negotiate purchasing agreements with the Pharmaceutical Industry and other suppliers within predetermined contracts. To meet with representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry and other suppliers to resolve any issues relating to availability of product, level of service, price, etc. To work closely with the Trust Purchasing Department to evaluate Controls Assurance Standards and supply management. To ensure all medicines procured align with the Sussex Partner Formulary, with any deviations appropriately authorised and supported by clinical advice. To be an active member of regional and national procurement groups. This involves reviewing tenders and adjudicating all regional contracts. To identify any potential difficulties with regional/national supplies. Liaising with manufacturers to improve the supply chain and medicines acquisition.

To develop automated methods for order processing, stock receipt and invoice entry onto the Pharmacy Stock Control System and other pharmacy computer systems within The Pharmacy Hub. To lead on maintenance of the system to ensure resilience and operational sustainability.