Pharmacy Systems Manager and Purchasing Technician

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you a dedicated and hard-working individual, looking to further your Pharmacy career?

The Pharmacy Department requires an experienced and adaptable Pharmacy Technician to be involved in the day to day management of a variety of computer systems and the review / development / change within the purchasing section of the pharmacy department. This is a 12 month fixed term post to cover maternity leave.

Interview date: TBC

Main duties of the job

You will be a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and having the ability to effectively work with a small team of staff in the purchasing section and the pharmacy team as a whole. You will be responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination of the purchase of pharmaceuticals ensuring the appropriate purchasing of stock for the pharmacy and it's customers.
The department is committed to continuous personal and professional development and aims to give the necessary support to ensure that individual needs can be met.
Applicants must be registered with GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician, possess BTEC Level 4 Professional Diploma in Dispensing Technician Checking or recognised equivalent and have significant experience within hospital procurement.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (with adults and children barred lists).

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

o Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

oTop 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

oNational Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Date posted

12 September 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£33,706 to £40,588 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-6593635

Job locations

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

To act as the System Manager for the Pharmacy CMM Stock Control system.
To work under the direction of the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in managing the purchasing section of the pharmacy to ensure that the purchase transactions of pharmaceuticals is processed accurately and efficiently to meet the sections customers needs.
To source and purchase pharmaceuticals according to departmental standard operating procedures and Trust standing financial orders.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in reviewing / developing / changing purchasing and distribution arrangements for pharmaceuticals within the Trust to increase the efficient availability of medicines for all customers.
To work alongside the EPMA Pharmacy team to ensure the effective management of the CMM Pharmacy Computer System.
To assist in the implementation and maintenance of a purchasing for safety policy to promote procurement of products with inherent safety features.
To assess deliveries of unlicensed medicines for suitability and release them from quarantine according to the unlicensed medicines procedure.
To assist in the management of recalled drugs following MHRA / notification via another route.
To assist in promoting patient safety and efficiency within the department.
Design, management and administration of inter departmental /speciality databases working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
Design, management and administration of Crystal reports and Crystal Scheduler working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
Design, management and administration of supplier performance database.
Project Management for future computer/pharmacy systems development including the introduction of full electronic ordering and invoicing in line with the Carter report.
To work alongside Senior Technician-Patient Services to ensure the effective training and on-going management of dispensary, purchasing and stores personnel with respect to use of the JAC computer system and ordering procedures.
Organisation of processes and procedures for the collection, recording and reporting of Pharmacy Patient Data in line with NHS strategic direction working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
To respond to Freedom of Information requests received by the Pharmacy department where applicable.
To represent St Helens & Knowsley Hospitals Pharmacy service as an active member on the NW CMM User Group.
To support the needs of the Financial Sub Committee of the Medicines Management Group by providing financial reports from CMM
To work with the Chief Technician Patient Services in ensuring that the pharmacy robot is used to maximum efficiency.
To actively participate in the Northwest networks for procurement of hospital medicines.
To actively contribute to the Trust and Department cost improvement schemes
To support the development and implementation of procedures and practices in accordance with all relevant standards.
To develop and support Homecare delivery of medicines in accordance with local and national guidelines and standards.
To assist invoicing staff in reconciling invoice queries as required.
To act as an authorised signatory for orders of pharmaceutical items up to a value of £20k
To liaise with senior staff within the pharmacy department regarding prescribing trends, seasonal variation, horizon scanning and formulary changes to plan and maintain suitable stock availability.
To liaise with pharmacy staff and prescribers to ensure supply of patient specific items are obtained as required.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in obtaining alternative products in case of supply problems and communicate availability problems to appropriate staff both within and outside of the Pharmacy department.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in preparing for external audit from bodies such as Mersey Internal Audit and to prepare action plans in response to these audits.
To produce forecast demands for contracting purposes.
To participate in the development of departmental policies and procedures in liaison with other pharmacy staff.
To undertake personal staff appraisals and review objectives according to the Trusts requirements.
To investigate, resolve and review complaints and breaches in quality and review practice, policies and procedures to reduce the risk of a recurrence.
To comply with legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs within the pharmacy and other areas of the hospital
To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
St. Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has a No Smoking Policy and smoking is not permitted in Trust buildings or vehicles.
All employees are individually responsible for the prevention and control of infection within their own area. The employee must attend Infection Control Induction training and mandatory Infection control training. The employee must follow all Trust policies, procedures and guidelines relating to Infection Control.
The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The tasks and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trusts continued organisational development.
The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site. Any such variation will be agreed in advance between the postholder and their Manager as part of the continuing process of management review and development.
The employee shares with the employer the responsibility for suggestions to alter the scope of duties to improve the working situation. This document is intended to be a guide to the general scope of duties and not an inflexible specification

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in his/her duties.
To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the pharmacy in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his/her control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

To provide training and supervision of rotational pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and student technicians within the Purchasing and Homecare section.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

To be a member of the pharmacy purchasing management team.
To act as a line manager for staff working within the purchasing team. To allocate duties, timetables approve annual leave and rotas, and to re-assess and adjust staffing according to irregular or unpredictable workloads, whilst aiming to keep the ordering process within acceptable time limits.
To carry out appraisals, attendance management interviews and disciplinary meetings of reporting staff as required.
To work alongside the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in the recruitment of new staff.
To supervise and support pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and undergraduate pharmacy students carrying out rotational duties within the purchasing section.
To plan and manage own workload and to work independently and use acquired knowledge and experience to interpret the pharmacy services standards and relate them to the work of the department to achieve the expected outcome.
To co-operate with section heads in the provision of staffing within the Pharmacy department, and problem solve staffing issues between different areas of the pharmacy, ensuring the provision of the most efficient Pharmacy service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

To act as the System Manager for the Pharmacy CMM Stock Control system.
To work under the direction of the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in managing the purchasing section of the pharmacy to ensure that the purchase transactions of pharmaceuticals is processed accurately and efficiently to meet the sections customers needs.
To source and purchase pharmaceuticals according to departmental standard operating procedures and Trust standing financial orders.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in reviewing / developing / changing purchasing and distribution arrangements for pharmaceuticals within the Trust to increase the efficient availability of medicines for all customers.
To work alongside the EPMA Pharmacy team to ensure the effective management of the CMM Pharmacy Computer System.
To assist in the implementation and maintenance of a purchasing for safety policy to promote procurement of products with inherent safety features.
To assess deliveries of unlicensed medicines for suitability and release them from quarantine according to the unlicensed medicines procedure.
To assist in the management of recalled drugs following MHRA / notification via another route.
To assist in promoting patient safety and efficiency within the department.
Design, management and administration of inter departmental /speciality databases working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
Design, management and administration of Crystal reports and Crystal Scheduler working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
Design, management and administration of supplier performance database.
Project Management for future computer/pharmacy systems development including the introduction of full electronic ordering and invoicing in line with the Carter report.
To work alongside Senior Technician-Patient Services to ensure the effective training and on-going management of dispensary, purchasing and stores personnel with respect to use of the JAC computer system and ordering procedures.
Organisation of processes and procedures for the collection, recording and reporting of Pharmacy Patient Data in line with NHS strategic direction working with the specialist informatics pharmacist.
To respond to Freedom of Information requests received by the Pharmacy department where applicable.
To represent St Helens & Knowsley Hospitals Pharmacy service as an active member on the NW CMM User Group.
To support the needs of the Financial Sub Committee of the Medicines Management Group by providing financial reports from CMM
To work with the Chief Technician Patient Services in ensuring that the pharmacy robot is used to maximum efficiency.
To actively participate in the Northwest networks for procurement of hospital medicines.
To actively contribute to the Trust and Department cost improvement schemes
To support the development and implementation of procedures and practices in accordance with all relevant standards.
To develop and support Homecare delivery of medicines in accordance with local and national guidelines and standards.
To assist invoicing staff in reconciling invoice queries as required.
To act as an authorised signatory for orders of pharmaceutical items up to a value of £20k
To liaise with senior staff within the pharmacy department regarding prescribing trends, seasonal variation, horizon scanning and formulary changes to plan and maintain suitable stock availability.
To liaise with pharmacy staff and prescribers to ensure supply of patient specific items are obtained as required.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in obtaining alternative products in case of supply problems and communicate availability problems to appropriate staff both within and outside of the Pharmacy department.
To work with the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in preparing for external audit from bodies such as Mersey Internal Audit and to prepare action plans in response to these audits.
To produce forecast demands for contracting purposes.
To participate in the development of departmental policies and procedures in liaison with other pharmacy staff.
To undertake personal staff appraisals and review objectives according to the Trusts requirements.
To investigate, resolve and review complaints and breaches in quality and review practice, policies and procedures to reduce the risk of a recurrence.
To comply with legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs within the pharmacy and other areas of the hospital
To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
St. Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has a No Smoking Policy and smoking is not permitted in Trust buildings or vehicles.
All employees are individually responsible for the prevention and control of infection within their own area. The employee must attend Infection Control Induction training and mandatory Infection control training. The employee must follow all Trust policies, procedures and guidelines relating to Infection Control.
The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The tasks and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trusts continued organisational development.
The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site. Any such variation will be agreed in advance between the postholder and their Manager as part of the continuing process of management review and development.
The employee shares with the employer the responsibility for suggestions to alter the scope of duties to improve the working situation. This document is intended to be a guide to the general scope of duties and not an inflexible specification

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in his/her duties.
To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the pharmacy in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his/her control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

To provide training and supervision of rotational pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and student technicians within the Purchasing and Homecare section.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

To be a member of the pharmacy purchasing management team.
To act as a line manager for staff working within the purchasing team. To allocate duties, timetables approve annual leave and rotas, and to re-assess and adjust staffing according to irregular or unpredictable workloads, whilst aiming to keep the ordering process within acceptable time limits.
To carry out appraisals, attendance management interviews and disciplinary meetings of reporting staff as required.
To work alongside the Principal Clinical Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation in the recruitment of new staff.
To supervise and support pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and undergraduate pharmacy students carrying out rotational duties within the purchasing section.
To plan and manage own workload and to work independently and use acquired knowledge and experience to interpret the pharmacy services standards and relate them to the work of the department to achieve the expected outcome.
To co-operate with section heads in the provision of staffing within the Pharmacy department, and problem solve staffing issues between different areas of the pharmacy, ensuring the provision of the most efficient Pharmacy service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registration as Pharmacy Technician with GPhC
Qualified Checking Technician
ECDL Advanced or above or equivalent
Completion of training in procurement relevant to pharmacy

Desirable

CIPS qualification
Completion of training on appraisals

Other

Essential

Willingness to travel between sites

Desirable

Possession of a clean driving licence with appropriate insurance

Knowledge

Essential

Substantial experience of working in a hospital pharmacy purchasing office
Advanced experience in managing the CMM Pharmacy Computer System
Substantial experience of management of all aspects of a hospital pharmacy computer system and pharmacy automation
Demonstrable experience of supervising and developing staff
Designing and implementing new databases, reporting systems etc.
Active involvement in regional purchasing and/or pharmacy system user groups
Experience of Crystal Reporting
Expertise of pharmacy drug contract management obtained via training & experience or equivalent.

Desirable

Experience in using the Trust's Patient Administration System
Web and intranet development experience
Writing Standard Operating Procedures

Skills

Essential

Advanced skills in pharmacy technology management including computer systems, databases & automation
Analysis & reporting of complex information
Experience of managing/supervising teams
Planning & service development skills
Ability to liaise effectively with patients, staff and other senior health professionals
Ability to work unsupervised
Ability to work accurately & efficiently
Well-organised with good administrative skills
Good time management
Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others
Ability to work under pressure
Team player
Reliable
Supportive of colleagues of all grades

Desirable

Staff appraisal skills
Good motivational skills
Good negotiating skills
Management of change
Practice audit

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registration as Pharmacy Technician with GPhC
Qualified Checking Technician
ECDL Advanced or above or equivalent
Completion of training in procurement relevant to pharmacy

Desirable

CIPS qualification
Completion of training on appraisals

Other

Essential

Willingness to travel between sites

Desirable

Possession of a clean driving licence with appropriate insurance

Knowledge

Essential

Substantial experience of working in a hospital pharmacy purchasing office
Advanced experience in managing the CMM Pharmacy Computer System
Substantial experience of management of all aspects of a hospital pharmacy computer system and pharmacy automation
Demonstrable experience of supervising and developing staff
Designing and implementing new databases, reporting systems etc.
Active involvement in regional purchasing and/or pharmacy system user groups
Experience of Crystal Reporting
Expertise of pharmacy drug contract management obtained via training & experience or equivalent.

Desirable

Experience in using the Trust's Patient Administration System
Web and intranet development experience
Writing Standard Operating Procedures

Skills

Essential

Advanced skills in pharmacy technology management including computer systems, databases & automation
Analysis & reporting of complex information
Experience of managing/supervising teams
Planning & service development skills
Ability to liaise effectively with patients, staff and other senior health professionals
Ability to work unsupervised
Ability to work accurately & efficiently
Well-organised with good administrative skills
Good time management
Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others
Ability to work under pressure
Team player
Reliable
Supportive of colleagues of all grades

Desirable

Staff appraisal skills
Good motivational skills
Good negotiating skills
Management of change
Practice audit

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).