Job summary
- Main area
- Cancer Services
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 249-8242018
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospital
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Medicines Optimisation Technician – Cancer Services
NHS AfC: Band 6
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
12-Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity cover)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our Cancer Pharmacy Team on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover.
This role offers the opportunity to gain valuable specialist experience within oncology and haematology pharmacy services while supporting the delivery of a comprehensive, patient-centred medicines optimisation service for patients receiving cancer treatment at Great Western Hospital.
We are looking for a registered Pharmacy Technician with excellent communication and organisational skills, a passion for patient care, and a desire to develop specialist knowledge within Cancer Services. Previous oncology or haematology experience is desirable but not essential, as full training and support will be provided.
This fixed-term post provides an excellent opportunity to broaden your clinical and leadership experience within a supportive and innovative Cancer Pharmacy Team committed to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care for our patients.
Main duties of the job
Key duties include:
- Providing medicines optimisation services to oncology and haematology patients.
- Undertaking medicines reconciliation, medication history taking and assessment of patients' own medicines.
- Supporting safe and timely discharge planning and continuity of medicines supply.
- Providing patient counselling and medicines education, including support for patients receiving oral anti-cancer therapies.
- Working collaboratively with pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary team to optimise patient care.
- Supporting the training, supervision and development of pharmacy technicians, support staff and trainees.
- Participating in audit, governance, quality improvement and service development initiatives.
- Maintaining compliance with medicines legislation, professional standards and departmental procedures.
This role would suit an experienced Pharmacy Technician looking to develop specialist Cancer Services experience within a supportive and progressive pharmacy team.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.
We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will support the day-to-day delivery of medicines optimisation services within Cancer Services and contribute to service improvement, governance, training and quality initiatives. You will also assist with the supervision and development of pharmacy technicians, support staff and trainees, helping to maintain high professional and clinical standards across the service.
Participation in dispensary services, maintenance of Accredited Checking Technician competencies (where applicable), and involvement in weekend, evening and bank holiday rotas will be required in line with departmental needs.
Key responsibilities include:
- Delivering medicines optimisation services to oncology and haematology patients.
- Undertaking medicines reconciliation, medication history taking and assessment of patients' own medicines.
- Providing patient counselling and medicines education, including support for patients receiving oral SACT following competency assessment.
- Supporting timely discharge planning and continuity of medicines supply.
- Contributing to audit, governance, quality improvement and service development activities.
- Supporting the supervision, training and development of pharmacy technicians, support staff and trainees.
- Working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective patient care.
- Participating in dispensary, weekend, evening and bank holiday services as required.
Why Join Us?
This fixed-term maternity cover role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to develop specialist knowledge and skills within Cancer Services, gain valuable oncology and haematology experience, and work within a supportive and innovative pharmacy team dedicated to improving outcomes for patients.
Please refer to the complete Job Description and Person Specification for more details.
Person specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures for specialist area to degree or equivalent level acquired though training, NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent
- Accredited Checking Technician qualification or be eligible and willing to work towards accreditation which will be completed within 12 months
- Accredited Medicines Management qualification or be eligible and willing to work towards accreditation which will be completed within 12 months
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification / equivalent knowledge built with experience to post-graduate diploma or equivalent level
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant broad experience in a hospital pharmacy with experience of leading and managing teams
- Managing own workload to meet the needs of a service
- Working within a role involving multi-disciplinary communication
- Developing and training staff
- Staff appraisal and objective setting
- Successful project or change management
- Good knowledge of the legal requirements (Law and Ethics) for dispensing and supplying medicines, including CDs
- Aware of risk and Health and Safety issues and their implications for staff
- Knowledge of statutory regulations, including Medicines Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act and Regulations
- Recruitment and selection
- Managing meetings
- Policy and procedure development
- Managing change
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in haematology / oncology specialty
- Audit and/or research experience and implementation
- Knowledge of national reports on development of pharmacy services
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tom Mavir
- Job title
- Advanced Cancer Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 607158
- Additional information
Tiffany Chan - [email protected] - Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services
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