Important Visa Information
This position comes with a certificate of sponsorship for eligible candidates. However, all applicants must verify their visa/work permit eligibility directly with the employer before applying. The certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval, and candidates should familiarize themselves with the UK’s skilled worker visa requirements.
Job Overview
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Lead Pharmacy Technician – Medicines Management to join their vibrant Pharmacy Department. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated, and experienced Pharmacy Technician to work as a key part of the pharmacy clinical team. The successful candidate will oversee a small team of pharmacy technicians and assistants, providing high-quality service while developing mentoring, management, and coaching skills.
Company Information
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. The trust operates two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton, both offering key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity, and Paediatrics. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in the region, they provide access to a programme of high-quality training and development to help grow your career.
Location
The position is based at the Luton and Dunstable site, located at Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ. The trust is committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Salary and Benefits
This position offers a competitive salary ranging from £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, paid under the Agenda for change pay scheme at Band 6. The trust offers excellent benefits including a generous pension scheme, annual leave, access to training and development opportunities, and a supportive working environment.
Contract Details
This is a permanent position with flexible working options available. The trust offers both full-time and part-time working patterns to accommodate various needs. They are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of all staff and promoting a culture that values differences.
Key Responsibilities
The Lead Pharmacy Technician will be responsible for:
- Supporting the delivery of high-quality medicines management services including dispensing and issuing prescriptions
- Accredited checking of prescriptions, drug history taking, and patient counselling
- Providing advice to other healthcare professionals
- Supervising and managing Senior and Medicines Management Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants
- Training staff in pharmacy procedures, stock control, and electronic prescribing systems
- Providing straightforward advice on pharmaceutical products and supply
- Supporting recruitment and selection processes for Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants
- Providing induction training to new clinical staff
- Acting as a professional role model, demonstrating integrity, ownership, and leadership
- Supporting Lead/Principal Pharmacists and Principal Pharmacy Technicians as appropriate
About the Pharmacy Department
The Pharmacy Department is digitally advanced with electronic prescribing already in place and a bespoke dashboard allowing pharmacists and technicians to prioritize their workload. This focus on technology enables the team to concentrate on patient-facing activities such as medication counselling, ensuring patients receive the best possible care.
Essential Qualifications
Applicants must possess:
- Level 3 NVQ in Pharmacy Service Skills / BTEC Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Science or Certificate of Higher Education in Pharmacy Technician Practice or equivalent
- Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician status
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Essential Experience
Candidates must have:
- Previous experience working as a ward-based medicines management technician
- Experience of supervising staff
- A CPD portfolio demonstrating competent pharmacy practice as a senior pharmacy technician
- Experience with accurate data entry of patient-specific information
- A customer-orientated approach to service delivery
Desirable Qualifications
While not essential, the following qualifications are desirable:
- AIMM accreditation or relevant equivalent
- Train the Trainer qualification or relevant equivalent
- Membership of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK)
Desirable Experience
The ideal candidate may also have experience in:
- Developing and delivering bite-sized staff education and training
- Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Participating in Quality Improvement work
- Risk management
Personal Skills
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Ability to organize day-to-day work tasks for self and others
- Self-motivation and organization
- Ability to prioritize ad-hoc work tasks in a changing environment
- Accuracy in all work
- Initiative
- Professional behavior modeling
- Sensitivity when dealing with distressed or aggrieved customers
- Teamwork skills
- Ability to work independently to meet agreed objectives
- Problem-solving abilities
- Reliability and trustworthiness
Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills are essential, including:
- Strong verbal and written communication abilities
- Active listening skills
- Ability to give clear instructions to colleagues
- Capability to communicate complex information to patients/carers appropriately
- Understanding of emotional intelligence
Knowledge Requirements
Candidates should have:
- Understanding of customer care principles
- Knowledge of Information Governance and confidentiality requirements
- Up-to-date knowledge of medicines use
Additional Requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, requiring a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must also have current UK professional registration. Applicants will be subject to a 6-month probationary period. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please follow these steps:
- Verify your eligibility for a UK work visa with the employer before submitting your application
- Gather all required documents including your CV, covering letter, qualifications certificates, and proof of registration
- Submit your application through the NHS Jobs website
- Include reference number 418-DTO5196-KA in your application
- For questions about the job, contact Matthew Lock (Principal Pharmacist – Medicine (cross-site)) at [email protected] or 07551288883
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 28 December 2025. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. Early application is recommended.
Employer Website
For more information about Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, please visit their website at https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/. The trust is committed to equality and diversity and creating an inclusive workplace culture.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact:
Name: Matthew Lock
Title: Principal Pharmacist – Medicine (cross-site)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07551288883
Sponsorship Information
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer a certificate of sponsorship to eligible candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK. However, obtaining sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the UK’s skilled worker visa requirements and may need to provide criminal record certificates from countries where they have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Privacy Notice
Please review Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice for information on how your data will be used during the recruitment process. This can be found at https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/information-for-patients-visitors-luton-and-dunstable-university-hospital/your-personal-data-records-and-rights/purposes-for-using-your-information/staff-employment/
