Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To undertake a range of routine technical duties in support of Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

These duties may include:

Assisting within the pharmacy aseptic services suites

Undertaking reception duties.

Accurately, safely and promptly dispense professionally checked prescriptions including participating in the reconstitution and preparation of medicinal products within the pharmacy aseptic services suites.

Using the trust based electronic ordering system to support stock supplies of consumable items for the aseptic unit and department.

Supplying medicines to wards and Departments.

Providing a top-up service as allocated.

Receiving stock from suppliers.

Assisting in the delivery and collection of pharmacy items to and from wards and departments

Deputise where needed for other band 3 assistants in non-sterile manufacturing.

Key Duties:

Assist in the provision of Pharmacy Aseptic Services, under direct supervision. This will include:

Assisting in the assembly of the ingredients and equipment for product production, prepare labels and complete any documentation prior to the aseptic reconstitution process.

Participating in the reconstitution and preparation of medicinal products.

Cleaning of the aseptic suite(s) including sterile and non-sterile areas in accordance to the cleaning procedures.

Providing agreed supportive clerical duties to assist pharmacy technicians and pharmacists within the suites.

Assisting in the recording and maintenance of documentation which may include photocopying and filing.

Participate in monitoring and recording activities such as pressure data, storage temperatures and handling agar plates as is required within the suites.

Using the trust based electronic ordering system to support stock supplies of consumable items for the aseptic unit and the AH and WRH pharmacy departments as required.

Participate in the provision of reception duties within the Department this will include:

Greeting Outpatients, hospital staff and visitors to the department.

Overcoming any communication difficulties that patients may have in an appropriate and sensitive manner.

Logging work in

Collecting workload data

Interpret prescription stationery and accurately and clearly label prescriptions to ensure that patients receive comprehensive directions on how to take and get the most from their prescribed medicines.

Accurately and safely dispense previously screened inpatient and outpatient prescriptions in a timely and prompt manner as defined within the departmental SOPs. This will include the dispensing of unlicensed medicines and clinical trial drugs according to departmental procedure and the immediate reporting of out of stock issues to an appropriate member of staff.

Supply non-stock ad-hoc requests to wards and departments as appropriate and input requirements onto the pharmacy Emis computer system to cost the issue and produce a Picking Ticket.

Identify and refer any formulary related computer issues to the attention of the accountable pharmacist to assist in the implementation and enforcement of the Trust Formulary.

Promptly deal with any problems relating to the dispensing of prescriptions, including owing items, where remit and procedure dictates, bringing any irresolvable issues or problems to the attention of a senior member of staff when necessary.

Assemble and issue emergency kits ensuring all associated documentation and records are completed accurately.

Assist in the processing of returned items subsequent to quality checks.

Dispose of out of date, wasted and unwanted medicines by placing in the correct waste stream container. Ensure all waste bins are taken out of the suites and replace when full.

Provide a Pharmacy top-up service this will include:

Identifying top-up requirements by checking through the stock cupboards against the agreed stock list.

Inputting requirements onto the pharmacy Emis computer system to produce a Picking Ticket for issue purposes

Identifying excess stock and non-stock items that are currently not in use within cupboards, removing these items and returning them to the pharmacy.

Checking expiry dates and storage conditions of drugs removing any out-of-date or inappropriately stored items and return these to pharmacy.

Liaising with Pharmacy staff within the Distribution and Stores at both Worcester and the Alexandra Hospital over orders, out-of stocks and items that are owed from top-ups.

Seek advice from the appropriate member of staff regarding non-routine issues relating to top-ups.

Unpack deliveries from Suppliers and check goods against delivery documents enclosed.

Assist in maintaining the pharmacy document Archive Store including filing of paperwork and prescriptions.

Deliver completed pharmacy orders and prescriptions to designated locations within wards and departments, obtaining appropriate signatures from authorized Staff on receipt of goods, as defined within the departmental SOPs.

Collect pharmacy related items from wards such as requisitions, drugs, prescriptions and order books to be returned.

Maintain the security and confidentiality of all items in transit including Controlled Drugs and prescriptions at all times.

Carry out all manual handling tasks in the approved manner and make appropriate use of trolleys and lifting equipment provided.

Ensure that stock is rotated and that adequate stocks are held to meet normal demands whilst preventing wastage due to over-stocking.

Check stocks on a regular basis to ensure that computer records are accurate. Obtain reports within Emis Pharmacy Computer System as required, investigate and report any unexplained discrepancies to the relevant supervising Pharmacy Technician.

Undertake expiry date checking of stock on a rotational basis as appropriate.

Undertake appropriate housekeeping duties when necessary.

Participate in the Trusts Personal Development Review process on at least an annual basis, preparing for and pro-actively contributing to the review with the manager. This will include following the Personal Development Plan (PDP) devised and the maintenance of personal CPD records as agreed.

Be responsible for completing all mandatory training as allocated for this role.

Follow all departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times, where necessary identifying any aspect of an SOP which could be improved and/or amended to relevant manager.

Be personally responsible for keeping up-to-date with all relevant SOPs, policies and communiqués within the department and, where appropriate, the Trust as a whole.

Maintain patient confidentiality at all times according to Trust procedure and policy.

Act in a professional, caring and responsible manner at all times ensuring that the needs of patients and all customers of the Pharmacy Service are met.

Assist in the induction and training of new and less experienced staff members and students by demonstrating own duties.

Able to work weekends and bank holidays.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Issuing medicine stock where accuracy is important.
• Attention to detail.
• Good concentration skills
• Manual dexterity and skilled at manipulating aseptic products
• Good verbal and written communication skills with neat and accurate record keeping
• Organising and prioritising work.
• Up to date knowledge of Health and Safety at Work
• Able to work in a busy environment, meet deadlines, manage time effectively and remain calm under pressure
• Able to work on own as well as be a good team worker.

Desirable

• Up to date knowledge and understanding of Safe Systems of Working in pharmacy.
• Up to date knowledge of Health and Safety at Work including COSHH, GMP, Manual Handling as it applies to technical pharmacy operations.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE (or equivalent) grades A-C in Maths, Science and English Language.

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy technical services

Experience

Essential

• Recent experience of working in a hospital environment in the care of patients
• OR of working in a clean room environment.

Desirable

• Recent hospital experience of successfully delivering technical pharmacy services as a pharmacy assistant.
• Recent and relevant aseptic compounding experience
• Recent and relevant experience of working in a laboratory

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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