Specialist Medicines Optimisation Technician – Cancer Services
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Posted
- 17/09/2026
- Closes
- 01/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract for an enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join the Cancer Pharmacy Team. The role involves providing patient-centred medicines optimisation services for cancer patients, including medicines reconciliation, patient counselling, and discharge planning. It offers an opportunity to gain specialist experience in oncology and haematology pharmacy services within a multidisciplinary team. The post is ideal for an experienced Pharmacy Technician looking to develop specialist skills in Cancer Services.
Key responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
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
- 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
- Management qualification / equivalent knowledge built with experience to post-graduate diploma or equivalent level
- Experience of working in haematology / oncology specialty
- Audit and/or research experience and implementation
- Knowledge of national reports on development of pharmacy services
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Medicines Optimisation Technician – Cancer Services
The closing date is 01 October 2026
Job summary
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.
Working as part of a highly regarded multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to medicines optimisation activities across inpatient, outpatient and day treatment settings. The role includes medicines reconciliation, patient counselling, discharge planning, prescription verification following competency-based training, and supporting patients receiving oral systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). 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 pro
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