Pharmacy Technician

Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate Pharmacy Technician to provide and develop the clinical pharmacy service within Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust's Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service. If you're looking for an innovative clinical role, that is at the forefront of delivering patient-tailored care within the community setting, with exciting opportunities for professional development and a good work-life balance, then look no further.

The post holder will join the pharmacist to work closely with the multidisciplinary Early Intervention in Psychosis team. The post holder will be based in St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury, but will be expected to be flexible, supporting the team and multiagency colleagues across the county.

Our Pharmacy Technicians are provided with opportunities for personal growth and development, including support to do accredited medicine management qualifications and NHS leadership courses.

Main duties of the job
You will support the 6 Early Intervention in Psychosis localities, across Kent and Medway, ensuring a safe, evidence-based delivery of all pharmacological interventions, with emphasis on:

• ensuring appropriate management of side effects,
• improving compliance with prescribed treatment,
• improving access to clozapine in early onset schizophrenia,
• improving physical health outcomes,
• value-based practice as much as evidence-based practice.

Key aspects of this clinical post will include:

• attending locality multidisciplinary meetings,
• providing specialist medication advice,
• patient education and counselling,
• medication reviews and reconciliations of current and past medication history,
• developing teaching and educational programmes.

The post holder will collaborate with the pharmacist and work closely with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. The primary responsibility involves assisting in the management of medicines for individuals experiencing early-stage psychosis. This includes providing support to those undergoing their first episode of psychosis in Kent, as well as their families and carers.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway.

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification
Qualification
Essential

• NVQ 3 / 4 or equivalent
• Registered with GPhC
• Medications management knowledge including appropriate policies and legislation acquired through formal education and specialist training

Desirable

• Accredited Medicine management qualification
• Accredited accuracy checking qualification
• Experience in using the Point of Care Haematology (PocHi) machine
• Phlebotomy trained
• Basic life support/ first aid training

Experience
Essential

• Minimum of 12 months post-qualification experience
• Working within a clinical/ward environment
• Working in various disciplines and across organisational boundaries, linking primary and secondary care

Desirable

• Experience and/or an interest in mental health

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Able to work as part of a team
• Good at practical problem solving
• Good presentation skills
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own workload

Desirable

• Good understanding of the issues affecting mental health prescribing
• Project management skills

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).