Job summary
Support the Medication Safety Officer (MSO) to lead on the
Trust wide development, implementation and monitoring of quality, safety and
governance issues related to the use of medicines. This role will focus on leading on the
reporting, learning and development into prevention of medication related
incidents/adverse medication events, thereby aiming to improve the safety of
patients/service users and staff in relation to all aspects of medicines
usage.
Responsible for supporting the quality and
safety agenda within the Pharmacy department and for specified areas and roles
across the Care Groups and the wider Trust.
These include; education and training, safe and secure handling of
medicines, medication incident management, medicines management, clinical pharmacy,
patient safety and clinical governance.
Main duties of the job
Specialist expertise in training, medication safety and risk
management and ensures the training needs for the department with respect to
medicines safety and quality are prioritised, delivered and assessed.
Provide specialist advice and expertise to all members of
the Care Group, the Trust and the wider health economy.
Attend meetings and be pro-active members of
Care Group Patient Safety Governance Teams and work closely with the medication
safety team members, Trust Safety Managers, pharmacy teams and healthcare
professionals to influence local practice to ensure safe medication use and
risk minimisation.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient Safety
The post holder will:
Support
the work of the Chief Pharmacist, Chief Pharmacy Technician, MSO and the
Medicines Safety team, ensuring appropriate action to meet performance targets
relating to Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medication Incident
Management and to promote compliance with local and national medicines
management standards, the Trust Medicine Policy and other Trust priorities, for
example NHS LA, CQC and NPSA.
Work with
the Medicines Safety Team and Trust Patient Safety Managers to promote patient
safety and minimise risk with regards to medicines and undertake a pro-active
role to ensure safe medication practice in the Trust by involvement in the Care
Group Patient Safety Governance Teams.
Monitor
safe medication practice, undertake risk assessments when indicated and take
part in root cause analysis for incidents, ensuring that the Care Groups
responsibilities are escalated appropriately.
Provide
regular reports to the Trust Safety Committee, Care Group Governance meetings
and to other Committees (including submissions to the Trust Board) as
requested; including analysis to identify trends to improve patient safety
relating to medicines, analysis of medication related incident data from the
Trusts electronic incident reporting system, using appropriate computer
software, compiling findings into reports and making recommendations of
strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of medicines related incidents
and to improve future practice in this area.
Quality
The post holder will:
Support
the MSO and Chief Pharmacy Technician to develop, implement, monitor and manage
a quality and safety strategy for the Trust and Care Groups that will deliver
safe, effective and efficient pharmacy and medicines management services and
support successful delivery of the Trusts agenda.
Participate
in the development and updating of documentation and Standard Operating
Procedures for the Pharmacy Department
Staff Management
The post holder will:
Line
manage a dedicated group of pharmacy staff across the Trust as agreed with the
Lead Technicians (Medicines Management/Medicines Optimisation) for the
following, according to Trust procedures which will include:
- appraisals
and objective setting.
- sickness
absence.
- disciplinary
and grievance matters.
- recruitment
and selection.
- personal
development.
- departmental
workload allocations.
In
conjunction with other Lead Technicians, be responsible for the authorisation
of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and assistants, ensuring appropriate
levels of staffing across the department.
Identify
and facilitate the training and development needs of Pharmacy Technicians and
Pharmacy assistants in line with service needs and personal development plans.
Support
the Lead Pharmacist with responsibility for Education & Training in
co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff
as required.
Co-ordinate
and advise on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all technical staff
within Pharmacy.
Education and Training
The post holder will:
Support,
co-ordinate and deliver training to the wider pharmacy team on issues
associated with patient safety
Support
the provision of training regarding the patient safety agenda to nursing and
medical staff, ranging from one to one communications to more formal
presentations in order to promote medicines safety.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient Safety
The post holder will:
Support
the work of the Chief Pharmacist, Chief Pharmacy Technician, MSO and the
Medicines Safety team, ensuring appropriate action to meet performance targets
relating to Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medication Incident
Management and to promote compliance with local and national medicines
management standards, the Trust Medicine Policy and other Trust priorities, for
example NHS LA, CQC and NPSA.
Work with
the Medicines Safety Team and Trust Patient Safety Managers to promote patient
safety and minimise risk with regards to medicines and undertake a pro-active
role to ensure safe medication practice in the Trust by involvement in the Care
Group Patient Safety Governance Teams.
Monitor
safe medication practice, undertake risk assessments when indicated and take
part in root cause analysis for incidents, ensuring that the Care Groups
responsibilities are escalated appropriately.
Provide
regular reports to the Trust Safety Committee, Care Group Governance meetings
and to other Committees (including submissions to the Trust Board) as
requested; including analysis to identify trends to improve patient safety
relating to medicines, analysis of medication related incident data from the
Trusts electronic incident reporting system, using appropriate computer
software, compiling findings into reports and making recommendations of
strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of medicines related incidents
and to improve future practice in this area.
Quality
The post holder will:
Support
the MSO and Chief Pharmacy Technician to develop, implement, monitor and manage
a quality and safety strategy for the Trust and Care Groups that will deliver
safe, effective and efficient pharmacy and medicines management services and
support successful delivery of the Trusts agenda.
Participate
in the development and updating of documentation and Standard Operating
Procedures for the Pharmacy Department
Staff Management
The post holder will:
Line
manage a dedicated group of pharmacy staff across the Trust as agreed with the
Lead Technicians (Medicines Management/Medicines Optimisation) for the
following, according to Trust procedures which will include:
- appraisals
and objective setting.
- sickness
absence.
- disciplinary
and grievance matters.
- recruitment
and selection.
- personal
development.
- departmental
workload allocations.
In
conjunction with other Lead Technicians, be responsible for the authorisation
of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and assistants, ensuring appropriate
levels of staffing across the department.
Identify
and facilitate the training and development needs of Pharmacy Technicians and
Pharmacy assistants in line with service needs and personal development plans.
Support
the Lead Pharmacist with responsibility for Education & Training in
co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff
as required.
Co-ordinate
and advise on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all technical staff
within Pharmacy.
Education and Training
The post holder will:
Support,
co-ordinate and deliver training to the wider pharmacy team on issues
associated with patient safety
Support
the provision of training regarding the patient safety agenda to nursing and
medical staff, ranging from one to one communications to more formal
presentations in order to promote medicines safety.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
- Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
- Obtained an appropriate higher qualification to at least degree level or willing to commence within 12 months
- Accredited checking qualification
- Commitment to CPD and personal development
Desirable
- Leadership/supervisory experience
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to build good relationships with colleagues
- Ability to communicate complex information where there may barriers to understanding and where information may be challenged or where opinions may differ
- Team player who delegates appropriately
- A problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
- Desire to develop clinical skills
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in an acute hospital setting
- Extensive experience of working in a ward environment and relevant medicines management experience.
- Experience of a specialist pharmacy technician role or experience of supervising a relevant technical area
- Experience of training staff.
- Experience of pharmacy/prescribing computer systems
- Experience of HR practices
Desirable
- Experience of pharmacy practice research
- Experience of working as a qualified senior Pharmacy Technician in a primary care or community pharmacy setting
- Experience of working in a patient safety and medicines governance role
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of change/project management
- Knowledge of a relevant Pharmacy computer system.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office especially spreadsheets.
- Good analytical skills
- Good organisational skills, including planning and prioritising.
- Good communication skills, including negotiation.
- Ability to manipulate, present and explain data to varying levels of staff
Desirable
- Application of Quality Improvement methodology
- Evidence of self-development
- Demonstrable management skills
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
- Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
- Obtained an appropriate higher qualification to at least degree level or willing to commence within 12 months
- Accredited checking qualification
- Commitment to CPD and personal development
Desirable
- Leadership/supervisory experience
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to build good relationships with colleagues
- Ability to communicate complex information where there may barriers to understanding and where information may be challenged or where opinions may differ
- Team player who delegates appropriately
- A problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
- Desire to develop clinical skills
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in an acute hospital setting
- Extensive experience of working in a ward environment and relevant medicines management experience.
- Experience of a specialist pharmacy technician role or experience of supervising a relevant technical area
- Experience of training staff.
- Experience of pharmacy/prescribing computer systems
- Experience of HR practices
Desirable
- Experience of pharmacy practice research
- Experience of working as a qualified senior Pharmacy Technician in a primary care or community pharmacy setting
- Experience of working in a patient safety and medicines governance role
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of change/project management
- Knowledge of a relevant Pharmacy computer system.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office especially spreadsheets.
- Good analytical skills
- Good organisational skills, including planning and prioritising.
- Good communication skills, including negotiation.
- Ability to manipulate, present and explain data to varying levels of staff
Desirable
- Application of Quality Improvement methodology
- Evidence of self-development
- Demonstrable management skills
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).
Additional information
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).
Employer details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
