Rotational Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary

To carry out technical duties required of the Pharmacy Department as part of a 7-day weekend and late shift service. This includes working in the Dispensary, on inpatient wards and in Pharmacy Stores and Distribution when required. Our in-house Aseptic Production Unit may also form part of rotational duties; however, this will only be considered if knowledge and experience permit and senior management deem it necessary.

Job responsibilities

KEY TASKS:

Dispensary

1. Dispense prescribed items for in-patients, patients awaiting discharge and out-patients, in accordance with standard operating procedures. This will include, but is not limited to, controlled drugs, unlicensed medication, cytotoxic medication, medication for clinical trials and high-cost drugs.

1. Interpreting prescription charts and the electronic prescribing system (e-Care) to facilitate the safe dispensing of medication and using the pharmacy computer system (CMM) to maintain accurate patient records and information regarding supplies the pharmacy department have made.

1. As an accredited accuracy checking pharmacy technician (ACPT), complete the final accuracy check for dispensed items (clinically screened by a pharmacist) against inpatient requests, discharge prescriptions and outpatient prescriptions, safely handing the latter out to patients with appropriate counselling.

1. Undertake patient medication counselling and provide advice on medications to patients, carers and healthcare professionals as required, within the dispensary environment. This will include selling of over the counter (OTC) medicines to the public and offering advice under the supervision of a pharmacist.

1. Provide information to patients, carers and other healthcare professionals as required.

1. Maintenance of stock rotation, expiry date checking, appropriate storage of medicines in the dispensary environment and close communication with the procurement team to organise supply of urgent medication if not immediately available.

1. To co-ordinate and ensure workflow, staffing levels and skill mix is adequate for service provision within the dispensary.

Wards

1. Provide a comprehensive ward-based pharmacy technician service to named wards across the Trust and some off-site locations to which the pharmacy department provides a service as directed in the WSH ward based services policy.

1. Work as part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) on the ward, liaising with pharmacists, nurses, doctors and other healthcare professions in order to resolve patient centred pharmaceutical problems.

1. To communicate with patients and their carers at ward level, to ascertain a drug history and answering questions that they may have about their medicines. Working in conjunction with the ward pharmacist where necessary, to ensure the best outcome for the patient.

1. Undertake a drug history with patients, to ensure a complete and accurate picture of their medication usage prior to admission to hospital, documenting this appropriately within the electronic prescribing system.

1. Using various information sources, including Summary Care Record, undertake medicines reconciliation with patients, to ensure safe and effective medicines management.

1. Assess patients own drugs (PODs) to ensure they are appropriate for use, and to ensure that there is an adequate supply available.

1. To counsel patients on warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and inhaler use, after undertaking and completing in-house competencies.

1. Assist ward staff in the management of stock control.

1. Support or lead where appropriate, safe and timely discharge of patients via use of TTO packs where applicable, assessment of PODs and adequate supply of medication, directing work to the dispensary where necessary.

1. Actively support/participate in the quarterly CD and safe storage of medicines audits.

1. To develop, maintain and manage the safe and cost-effective supply of medicines to patients on inpatient wards and day units.

1. Liaise with ward and pharmacy staff to resolve any technical queries or problems with patients, referring to the ward pharmacist when necessary.

1. Liaise on any drug related issues with primary healthcare professionals as appropriate for patients being discharged from hospital.

1. To complete the wards/units quarterly Controlled Drugs (CDs) audit, including balance transfers to new CD registers and checking of CD register balance with the physical stock, reporting any discrepancies in a timely manner.

1. Ensure the needs of individual clinical areas have been met by prioritising workload and Co-ordinating staff skill mix.

Aseptic Production

1. Work within the departments Aseptic Production Unit, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, using isolators and aseptic technique to produce medicinal products for inpatient use.

1. Participate in the supply and reconstitution of cytotoxic drugs, monoclonal antibodies and total parenteral nutrition (TPN), including completion of all relevant documentation, under the supervision of the Senior Technician (Aseptic Production) and Lead Production Pharmacist.

1. Check the work (e.g. volume checks and tray checks) of pharmacy technicians, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants when required, under the supervision of the Senior Technician (Aseptic Production) and Lead Production Pharmacist.

Stores and Distribution

1. When required, support pharmacy assistants working in stores and distribution to ensure all aspects of the role are completed in a timely and efficient manner.

Education and Training

1. Attend relevant training courses as appropriate.

1. Assist in the training of Pharmacy staff and other professional staff as required.

1. Assist the Technical Operations Manager with inductions and training of Pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians, junior pharmacy technicians and other staff as appropriate.

1. Keep up to date with all relevant mandatory training as required by the Trust and be able to demonstrate a commitment to undertake self-directed CPD.

1. Contribute to the effectiveness of the pharmacy department and its services by providing suggestions for innovation and development and upholding the Pharmacy department team charter.

1. Undertake the Trusts annual Appraisal process and undergo an annual individual performance review with your line manager.

Additional Duties

1. Receptionist duties, when necessary, including dealing with internal and external customers, receiving cash and debit/credit cards for payment, and operating the dispensary till.

1. To ensure that statutory requirements are always met and to implement Trust policy as directed by the Chief Pharmacist.

1. To undertake service review & relevant QI projects as per requirement of service leads in relevant clinical areas.

1. To undertake other reasonable duties within the framework of the post as directed by the Chief Pharmacist.

1. To give professional advice on pharmaceutical matters to medical, nursing, and other professional staff or refer requests when necessary to the appropriate pharmacist.

1. To act as an ambassador for the pharmacy service at West Suffolk Hospital.

1. On an ad hoc basis be available, by mutual agreement, for the provision of pharmaceutically related training sessions to nursing, medical, other professional groups and patient groups.

1. To record, as stated in departmental procedure, pharmaceutical interventions.

1. As part of Trust medicines management, highlight any new changes in clinical practice to the Chief Pharmacist when necessary.

1. To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a registered pharmacy technician at all times.

1. To maintain appropriate continuing professional development (CPD) records as required by the GPhC.

1. To work necessary hours across a seven-day period as part of the late, weekend and Bank Holiday rotas.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• oBTEC Pharmaceutical Science NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• oAccredited Checking (or nearing completion of accreditation)
• oMedicines Reconciliation (or nearing completion of accreditation)
• oRegistered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician

Desirable

• oAccredited patient consultation skills.
• oA1/V1 Assessor Award.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• oRecent experience of working in hospital or retail pharmacy
• oExperience of dealing with members of the public other health care workers in a professional manner.
• oComputer literacy of standard MS Office applications

Desirable

• oSupervisory skills.
• oKnowledge of pharmacy-based computer systems.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• oAbility to supervise Pharmacy Assistants and other staff as appropriate.
• oHave an all-round knowledge of the technical aspects of hospital pharmacy and a broad outlook of pharmaceutical issues.
• oAble to work closely and in liaison with co-workers within the department.
• oManage time effectively.
• oAttention to detail.
• oAble to make decisions.

Desirable

• oFamiliar with standard IT software/hardware.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• oGood team worker.
• oGood communications skills (verbal, written and digital).
• oAbility to work in an organised and calm fashion in a busy environment.
• oAbility to work to deadlines and to meet agreed objectives
• oFlexible approach to working hours and duties.
• Ability to carry out manual handling of equipment, etc using appropriate lifting aids if necessary
• oCommitment to further training and self-development

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ

Employer's website

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