Job responsibilities
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Job Role
Primary Duties and Areas of
Responsibilities
1. CLINICAL AND OPERATIONAL
DISPENSING DUTIES
1.1 To participate
in all dispensing activities, ensuring that the correct
medicines are dispensed and that they are appropriate for the patient.
1.2 This will include
dispensing and labelling medication for individual patient supply and stock
items from a variety of prescription types and requisitions and making the
necessary records and endorsements.
1.3 To follow SOPs to
ensure that all issues are dispensed and entered correctly using the pharmacy
computer system.
1.4 To be competent
in the operation of automated dispensing systems and associated IT interface with the dispensary computer system.
1.5 To perform
routine self-accuracy checks to ensure safe dispensing.
1.6 Receive
prescriptions from patients (community pharmacy) over the counter. Use
questioning to determine and accurately document
allergies, other medications and exemption status.
1.7 Issue dispensed
and checked prescriptions to patients, providing routine advice on medication
use.
1.8 Participate in
the sale of Over the Counter (OTC), General Sales List (GSL) preparations and
miscellaneous items (community pharmacy) to staff and customers.
1.9 Use established
set criteria to identify patients who require Pharmacist referral when selling
OTC and GSL preparations.
1.10 Assist in
housekeeping duties in the dispensary.
1.11 To undertake any
further duties that may be necessary to help provide the dispensary service.
2. STOCK PROCUREMENT,
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
2.1 To gain a basic
knowledge of procurement for pharmaceuticals.
2.2 Ensure stock is
stored safely, securely according to required storage conditions. Provide
advice to healthcare professionals on storage, expiry dates, stock rotation and
other related matters.
2.3 Participate in
maintaining good stock rotation.
2.4 Assist in
identifying and removing of stock not fit for purpose.
2.5 Assist in
departmental stock taking as required.
2.6 Participate in
the raising of orders from outside suppliers and the monitoring of outstanding
orders to ensure adequate stock levels are maintained in the dispensary.
2.7 Assist in
processing stock deliveries to the dispensary, unpacking, checking, recording,
rotating and shelving.
2.8 Assist in
informing suppliers of all missing or damaged goods, and in the return of
incorrect orders.
2.9 Assist with
environmental monitoring.
3. MEDICINES SUPPLY DUTIES
3.1 Assist in supply
arrangements, to ensure that
sufficient stocks of medicines for patients are available. This will include:
3.1.1 Where
medication supply issues exist for a patient, liaise with patients and their
local community pharmacies to understand the patients supply arrangements and
assist in resolving where possible.
3.2 Assist in
undertaking level 1 medication reviews (simple technical non clinical reviews)
.
3.3 Assist in
straightforward synchronising of repeat prescriptions (GP Practice setting)
3.4 Deal with repeat
prescription request and identify missing information, discrepancies and errors
on repeat prescription requests and resolve them.
3.5 Ensure all
requests are assessed and prioritised appropriately (GP Practice setting).
4. MEDICINES MANAGEMENT AND OPTIMISATION
4.1 Perform medicines
reconciliation processes for new patients and at transfer of care. This will include obtaining and
verifying drug histories, ensuring allergy information is accurate, correctly
documented and communicated, identifying missing information, investigating
discrepancies/ missed items and changes required. This may involve
assessing some facts or situations which may require analysis.
4.2 Liaise and share
information with medical/ nursing staff/ the wider multidisciplinary team
including community pharmacy as appropriate in regard to any previously
undocumented allergies, discrepancies concerning medication, difficulties in
supply or unresolved issues.
4.3 Assist in
monitoring high-risk medicines.
4.4 Assist in helping
to ensure effective antimicrobial stewardship within own work area.
4.5 Assist in helping
to ensure appropriate blood tests have been requested in relation to medicines.
4.6 Contribute to
patient care, where appropriate, by counselling patients or
carers on how to manage their medicines and provide information on medication
to patients/carers/healthcare professionals.
4.7 Assist in the
implementation of theGloucestershire Joint
Formulary by highlighting non formulary items and referring to
Medical/ Nursing staff/ Pharmacist/Pharmacy Technician as appropriate.
4.8 Comply with the policies and effective processes for medicines governance
within the organisations of the Partnership including controlled drugs.
4.9 Within own work
area, help to ensure Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Central
Alerting System (CAS) and National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) alerts
are actioned.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE
5.1 To maintain
accurate records according to departmental procedure.
5.2 To ensure that
information related to the measurement of quality standards is recorded.
5.3 To participate in
placement audits, monitoring of prescribing, reviews of medicines use as
required.
5.4 Ensure all
medication incidents are reported in accordance with the policies of the
organisations within the Partnership.
6. COMMUNICATION
6.1 Communicate
verbally or in writing as appropriate, with patients, relatives, carers,
pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals
6.2 Deal with routine
medication queries, both on the telephone and in person, from patients, staff,
other healthcare professionals including health and social care services.
6.3 The post holder
may sometimes be the first point of contact within the placement for patients,
carers, medical, nursing staff and other healthcare workers.
7. HUMAN RESOURCES/WORKFORCE/TRAINING OF OTHERS
7.1 To practice good
teamwork, liaise with and help foster effective working relationships with
colleagues from within the placement and across the Partnership.
7.2 To develop strong
working relationships with supervisors/ line managers to assist in the
provision of a safe and efficient service.
7.3 To assist in the
training of non-pharmacy staff about the policies and procedures for medicines
governance.
8. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCE / RESOURCES
8.1 (Community
Pharmacy setting) The post holder is required to input information into the
pharmacy computer system accurately and in a timely manner in order to maintain
adequate stock control.
8.2 (Community Pharmacy
setting) The post holder is required to monitor stock levels of drugs, consumables
and other equipment and communicate requests for additional stock to be
procured as required.
8.3 The post holder
may be required to assist the Pharmacist Manager /Responsible Pharmacist in the
monthly submission of prescriptions to NHS Prescription Services for payment
(community pharmacy).
9. INFORMATION/ DATA RESPONSIBILITIES
9.1 To be competent
in the use of pharmacy stock control systems, patient medication record systems
and relevant parts of electronic patient care record systems in order to ensure data is inputted and maintained
correctly.
9.2 Comply with the
Information Governance Policies of the Partnership organisations.
9.3 Use software
tools to extract prescribing information and assist in the collection of data
for placement audits.
10. POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
10.1 Participate in
service development by attending and contributing at team meetings.
10.2 Assist in the
local implementation of Quality Improvement projects, placement quality
improvement initiatives and service development projects.
10.3 To support, the local implementation of the medicines policies and
procedures of the Partnership organisations.
10.4 Assist in
supporting effective processes, local compliance and implementation of General
Pharmaceutical Councils guidelines, and the Care Quality Commission standards
for managing medicines.
10.5 Assist in the
promotion of public health and medicines management initiatives.
10.6 Assist in the
local implementation of policies and effective processes for repeat dispensing
and prescribing.
11. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES / CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ TRAINING OF SELF
11.1Undertake
learning assignments and assessments required by the Education Provider,
Education Supervisor and Practice/Clinical Supervisors. This will require some
study in own time.
11.2 Attend training
events, placements and relevant courses etc.
11.3 To attend
Pharmacy Team meetings as required.
12. PHYSICAL EFFORT
12.1 The post holder
may occasionally be required to perform manual handling and lifting. This may
require light to occasional moderate physical effort for several short periods
and the post holder will need to observe correct lifting and handling
techniques.
14. MENTAL EFFORT
14.1 The post holder
may occasionally be exposed to distressing or emotional circumstances (either
direct or indirect) such as encountering distressed, difficult or aggressive
patients. This will usually be in a controlled environment and the post holder
will be directly supervised while working at all times and have support
available.
15. WORKING CONDITIONS
15.1 The post holder
will be expected to have a flexible approach to working hours and participate
in the placements weekend working and Bank Holiday rota (where applicable
according to placement).
