Medicines Management Assistant – Cancer Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with the full job description and person specification documents attached to the advert.

To contribute to the provision of the drug and fluid replenishment service to the CAS clinical areas.

In liaison with pharmacy stores, monitor and review drug supply issues relevant to the clinical area to ensure an effective and safe system of drug supply, through effective communication with relevant pharmacy and ward staff.

To co-ordinate and process ad-hoc and urgent stock requests ensuring that stock levels are efficiently maintained.

To ensure that all ward stock is put away in the correct place, keeping the cabinets, ward stock cupboards and ward fridges tidy and regularly stock checked.To ensure that ward stock is rotated so that the oldest stock, or stock with the shortest expiry, is used first to minimise wastage. To remove and replenish expired stock and recycle stock close to its expiry for use within the Trust where possible. To report any storage concerns to the ward manager and relevant Pharmacist.To maintain the medicines stock for the CAS areas, regularly completing defined audits of availability of drugs, reviewing and adjusting stock levels in liaison with the clinical pharmacists and ward managers to ensure adequate stock holdings and minimising wastage.

To facilitate the medicines returns process for the clinical area, including the sorting of returns from the ward, ensuring that all items for return are no longer required for specific patients nor ward stock. Champion efficient and safe use of medicines.

To process medicines returns following NUH pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring all items are returned on the pharmacy system to the correct cost centre and that stock is put away or if not reusable, disposed of correctly, maximising drug usage and financial resources.

To support the discharge of patients by transferring patients medication for relabel and delivery of interims for controlled drug TTOs to the appropriate pharmacy.

To facilitate the supply of patients systemic anticancer therapy through delivery of ChemoCare prescriptions to outpatient pharmacy and Cytolab.

To put away individual patients medications into their bedside lockers, TTO cupboards or cytotoxic storage area once dispensed, ensuring that the appropriate checks are carried out so that the medication is placed in the correct patient locker. This may involve exposure to challenging patients and public behaviours.

To collect and transfer patients medication between wards and departments.

To facilitate the rapid supply of urgent stock controlled drugs to the ward, by transferring the order book to the controlled drug room & delivering dispensed supplies back to the ward in accordance with departmental procedures and standards.

To assist the Medicines Management Technicians in collecting data to support audit and research. To monitor the local usage of drugs that are desirable/abusable and to highlight and escalate unexplained changes in usage patterns.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for medicines supply, storage and stock replenishment within the CAS clinical areas.

To be responsible for the local implementation of standards relating to medicines storage and security including:Ambient and fridge temperature monitoringSecurity of medicines storage in treatment rooms, drug trolleys, fridges, emergency trolleys and boxes, controlled drugs cupboards.

Carry out agreed audits relating to the safe and secure storage of medicines in the clinical area.

Representing the Pharmacy Department when working in ward, clinic or other departmental environments and upholding the standards expected.

At times being the only member of the Cancer Pharmacy team accessible in a clinical area. Working independently but being aware of when to refer queries and problems to a more senior colleague.

To monitor and replenish emergency use medication and equipment such as Toculizumab, Daptomycin and Foscarnet giving-sets.

To assist in the ordering of controlled drugs by conducting daily stock checks alongside the appropriate Pharmacy or ward staff, reviewing ward usage via the ward controlled drug registers, to ensure sufficient levels of both ward and non-ward stock.

Monthly oversight of the high cost drug forms for CAS inpatient and outpatient areas, liaising with the high cost drug teams as per local and national guidance, supporting the monitoring of drug expenditure.

Whilst this post is commissioned to be full time (equivalent of 37.5 hours per week) we would welcome applications from those wanting a better work life balance. If you would like to consider this post but on less than full time hours please still apply and outline this on your application form or please contact us for further discussion.

The post will be based at City Hospital campus.

The pharmacy department operates a 7 day shifted working model which will include weekends and Bank Holidays.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Level 2 Pharmacy services apprenticeship OR have an NVQ level 2 qualification in pharmacy services skills that is approved by GPhC (or equivalent)
• To be able to achieve competencies for job role including in house training and validations

Desirable

• Accuracy Checking

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a hospital
• Working knowledge of Pharmacy SOPs, experience to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• Proven ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to perform and work effectively under pressure
• Proven ability to learn new skills
• Experience of working in a pharmacy environment
• Computer literate
• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Proven customer service experience

Desirable

• Supervisory experience
• Experience of working on wards or in clinical areas

Communication and Relationship Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate clearly within a team both verbally and electronically via email
• Able to relay simple information to staff and patients
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others

Desirable

• Forward thinking

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

• Good attention to detail
• Able to follow instructions and SOPs
• Able to work accurately and sustain concentration over short to long periods
• Ability to concentrate and focus on work whilst coping with interruption and distraction
• Ability to act on own initiative
• Ability to work independently and in a team

Desirable

• Generates ideas

Planning and Organisation skills

Essential

• Ability to prioritise tasks in accordance with department needs and deadlines
• Demonstrate ability to multitask
• Manage own time effectively
• Ability to work under pressure

Physical skills

Essential

• Demonstrate basic keyboard skills (including microsoft office, use of internet and email)

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly
• Willingness to take on new tasks after appropriate training

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

City Hospital Campus

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG51PB

Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)