Building pharmacy technician leadership: An interview with Selina Tumani

Selina is the Pharmacy Technician Leadership Fellow at Health Education England (HEE). In this role, she is supporting the implementation of HEE’s first Pharmacy technician and pharmacy support staff workforce Development strategy, which includes ensuring the right education and training to support the workforce. Her background is in hospital pharmacy, specifically in mental health services where she has worked in various roles from the dispensary, to leading on procurement and transformation projects such as electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA).

Describe your current role?

My fellowship role with Health Education England as their first national pharmacy technician leadership fellow has given me exposure to education, training and workforce at a national level as well as the opportunity to work with, and learn from, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK).  In this fellowship role I enjoy being part of transformation projects that are shaping the education and training of pharmacy technicians, whilst the profession continues to develop at pace. It’s a unique opportunity to observe senior leaders, their leadership styles, and how national priorities are discussed and navigated.

How did the fellowship come about?

After 15 years in a Trust it felt like a good time to explore what my next challenge would be. The fellowship was a perfect opportunity to view the NHS landscape through the lens of an Arm’s Length Body at senior leadership level. It has given me exposure and experience that I would not have had otherwise.

What have you found supportive in your career to date?

Strong, inclusive leadership. Having people around me that believed in me, guided me and trusted me to do a good job. I have had opportunities to learn and develop and progress into different roles, which is why I stayed at my Trust for many years. A supportive culture is one where you are included in change and decisions that help you to do your best. In my career to date this has been an important part of my journey and one which I try to adopt in my own leadership style.

Are there challenges you have experienced, and what has been the impact?

For me, the ‘what’s next’ has always been a challenge. There isn’t a defined career or education pathway for pharmacy technicians to follow, to get the experience and exposure to senior leadership roles. The impact of this is that too few senior leadership roles are accessible for pharmacy technicians, which is the point I had reached before applying for the fellowship. 

What do the next steps look like?

I have enjoyed my fellowship with HEE and it has enabled me to work with and learn from key partners including APTUK, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and NHS England.  I have been part of developing and leading national workforce transformation projects but still have a lot to learn. This year has given me a completely different perspective into leadership and exposure to a different side of the system.  My next role takes me back to mental health services but in a new role with an Integrated Care Board.  I hope that I can take these skills with me and approach this exciting role with a wider vision of the healthcare landscape.

What advice would you give to others to enable skills to flourish across pharmacy?

Spread your wings.  Pharmacy professionals are working in so many sectors now in exciting, innovative ways.  Don’t box yourself into one sector, be brave and seize secondment opportunities or portfolio or cross-sector roles. It’s a great way to learn, develop new skills and make a difference.

Why is diversity in senior pharmacy leadership important?

Our workforce is diverse and our patients are diverse.  To make a positive impact on patient outcomes, senior leadership teams must be truly representative of their teams and the populations they serve, to address the health inequalities that they face.

Any last words?

I would encourage all pharmacy technicians, working in any sector across England, to develop their leadership skills. Make the most of any opportunities.

This interview was published in the NHS England Inclusive Pharmacy Practice Bulletin.