Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

To work on designated wards and perform a range of pharmacy related duties in accordance with set procedures.

To assist the Pharmacists and Medicines Management Technicians at ward level in providing a medicines management service to the wards.

To reduce wastage of medicines by assisting with medication transfer within the trust.

To be a point of contact for healthcare professionals and pharmacy staff on ward related issues.

To participate in the dispensing of pharmaceuticals for in-patients and support ward dispensing initiatives.

To ensure that clinical areas are adequately stocked with pharmaceuticals and according to departmental standards.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Medicines Management

To undertake extended roles at ward level including ward based dispensing of inpatients; discharges and controlled drugs according to the pharmacy departments policies and procedures, following a period of supervised practice.

To check patients POD lockers on a daily basis, Removing any stopped or otherwise unwanted medications and identifying medicines that need ordering by the pharmacy technician/pharmacist. This will occur after a period of training and supervision.

To support teams in any blister pack or compliance aid completion.

To work in close partnership with the Band 2 Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistant, acting as a role model in order to further develop the technical service.

To complete all necessary training to meet the standards required for working at ward level.

Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with members of the healthcare team and pharmacy team to support a seamless medicines management process.

To be responsible for ones own time management to ensure that the medicines management service is supported effectively.

Contact primary care sources e.g. GP surgeries, community pharmacies, etc. as requested by other members of the pharmacy team to send or receive information relating to medicines management, which will include the photocopying, filing and faxing of documents when necessary.

Make decisions based on the relevant information to solve problems and refer where necessary to the appropriate pharmacist or medicines management technician any issues or queries related to the wards or dispensary.

Participate in audits of the service including data collection under supervision.

Assist in the transfer of medicines between wards and locating medicines that have been left behind when patients are transferred between wards, including patients own drugs.

Be responsible for the stock management for designated ward(s) via a regular top up service and work with the pharmacy team to ensure that stock lists are regularly reviewed and updated.

To liaise with nursing staff to ensure controlled drug orders are placed early in the morning.

Update and review ward stock lists on a three monthly basis in conjunction with the ward technician/pharmacist and ward manager.

Dealing with problems associated with the ordering of stock and specials on behalf of the pharmacy team and refer where appropriate, liaising closely with pharmacy stores and procurement.

To support the medicines management service by helping provide training for students or other staff on the roles and activities of the ward pharmacy team where appropriate.

To carry out receptionist duties including, answering telephones, responding to bleeps, faxing and emailing.

To maintain records and prescription files.

To carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by the senior technician

Partnerships

Communications and Relationships

Internal : To liaise with all members of the pharmacy team.

To liaise with other healthcare staff within the Trust.

With patients and their representatives

External: As necessary for transferring information .e.g. GPs, community pharmacies and nursing and residential homes, patients representatives or carers

Person Specification

Education & Training

Essential

• Maths and English GCSE (grade A to C) or equivalent
• Units of level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service skills in relevant areas of work (or willing to undertake) or equivalent
• Willing to undertake in-house training to deliver a limited patient medication counselling service
• Willing to undertake Medicines Optimisation Programme (MOP)
• POD Assessment and Transcribing for Supply Course training

Experience

Essential

• Appropriate experience working in a hospital pharmacy
• Experience of providing a top-up service
• Experience of following procedures

Desirable

• Training & supervising of other junior members of staff
• Knowledge of a computerised ordering system
• Experience of participating in audits with data collection and collection

Knowledge

Essential

• The role and purpose of a ward-based service
• Willing to undergo on the job training
• Able to identify & prioritise tasks
• Recognises own limitations
• Computer & keyboard skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Good communication skills, both verbal & written English
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability work without constant supervision and as a part of a team
• Able to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to remain standing for several hours
• Neat and tidy appearance
• Able to work Weekends and Bank Holidays

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

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

London

SE18 4QH

Employer's website

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