Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

To provide a ward pharmacy service to allocated units external to hospital sites

To provide technical support to the mental health pharmacy services including checking patients own medication on admission, the dispensing and supply of medication to specific patients

Co-ordinate and manage the day-to-day workload in the dispensary. Provide immediate line management support for allocated staff (pharmacy technicians band 4, pharmacy assistants or student technicians)

Provide day to day line management for the dispensary staff

To accuracy check completed prescriptions and maintain technical competency for this)

Maintain competencies that enable working across the trust.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• To improve the access to medicines for allocated units and in particular to assist in ensuring medicines are available:
• For leave, for discharge and for self-medication in a timely manner.

• To participate in the operation of the Medicines Management Service at ward level maintaining competencies in all aspects including:

a) Providing a supply and topping-up service at ward/team base level, to the allocated units to ensure adequate stocks are maintained for patient care.

b) Assessing suitability of patients own drugs on admission for continued use and arranging the safe disposal of those drugs which are not.

c) Complete pharmacy profiles ready for clinical checking by the ward pharmacist.

d) Drug transcription error reporting.

e) Preparation of reports for costing and usage.

f) With ward pharmacists and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists ensure the correct paperwork is completed

g) To assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the safe and secure storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.

h) Specialised medication counselling, eg, inhaler use.

i) Medicines reconciliation against home medicines and GP records

j) Support and participate in extended technician roles as they develop in the trust

• To cover for all technicians within the service having the appropriate knowledge to dispense and accuracy check for all units
• To cover the technicians role in other areas of the trust having the appropriate knowledge to provide technical services to all areas of the trust.
• Assist in the distribution to all wards and departments of approved policies and procedures by the Drug and Therapeutics Trust Action Group.
• Ensure the appropriate receipt, processing, storage and stock control of medicines and other supplies.
• Participate in the supply of Clozapine to a specific group of patients ensuring compliance with the standard operating procedures (e.g. blood tests have been taken, results obtained, valid prescriptions received, and medication dispensed and collected in a timely manner).
• Ensure compliance with the self administration of medicines and compliance policy in relation to the allocated wards and departments.
• Respond to enquiries and requests from staff, patients and carers, in accordance with individual competence and departmental policy.
• Assist the pharmacy management team in the development and monitoring of SOPs.
• Train others in the routine duties of the department and to provide services to your allocated wards/ departments in your absence.
• Provide support and act as a mentor for junior staff as required.
• Report incidents both within pharmacy team and any witnessed on the wards/departments using the computerised reporting system.
• Use of pharmacy and other computer systems in the course of performing these duties.
• Comply with the Trust's Medicine Code.
• Dispense medication, for in, out, day and hostel patients ready to receive a final accuracy check including compliance aids.
• Maintain accreditation and perform the final accuracy check of prescriptions according to departmental protocol.

General

To observe the principals of Clinical Governance in general and, in particular, be able to demonstrate participation in Continuing Professional Development. This will include attendance at appropriate training courses.

• To participate in the Trust's Appraisal system.
• To assist in the bank holiday provision of pharmacy services
• To be involved in both the Saturday morning and bank holiday rota at Fieldhead.
• To work in other areas of the Trust (by previous agreement)
• This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience as a pharmacy technician.
• Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy.

Desirable

• Accuracy checking.
• Hospital pharmacy experience.
• Setting up of ward-based pharmacy services.
• Provision of medicines management to new services Linking with community pharmacies.
• Discharge planning.
• Self-administration of medicines.
• Specific experience of working in a mental health environment.

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Supervisory skills.
• Pharmaceutical Waste management.
• Misuse of drugs act 1971.
• Regulations on Controlled Drugs in Primary and secondary care.
• Understanding of mental health issues, mental illnesses & their treatment.
• Good communication skills both oral and written.
• Good time management & organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good computer / IT skills.

Desirable

• Hospital computer systems JAC.
• Knowledge and experience of checking dispensed prescriptions.
• Ward based medicines management.
• Audit.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Self motivated.
• Team player.
• Attention to detail.
• Well motivated, enthusiastic and adaptable.
• Aptitude to learn new tasks.
• Ability to take responsibility.
• Commitment to CPD.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3, BTec, or similar nationally recognized qualification in pharmaceutical sciences.
• UK Professional registration as a Pharmacy Technician.

Desirable

• NVQ A1 assessor qualified.

Training

Essential

• Nationally recognised accuracy checking qualification or has ability to demonstrate competencies at this level.
• Accredited Checking technician status.

Desirable

• Medicines management training.
• Team leading training.

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• Able to work within the whole trust boundaries

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.

UK Registration

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