Pharmacy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post-holder must ensure that all duties are performed following SOPs and include:

Prescription process/issue and receipt

undertake reception duties including the receipt, validation and prioritisation of prescriptions and the issuing of prescriptions to wards/departments or other health care professionals

check the exemption status of the patient on receipt of an out-patient prescription and where appropriate, calculate the prescription charge due and ensure that documentation is completed and passed to finance for payment according to Trust SFIs

enter the patients details on the prescription tracking database, where applicable

take responsibility for the dispensing and issue of all prescriptions within their knowledge and skills including oral cytotoxic regimes, clinical trials, in-patient and out-patient prescriptions using the pharmacy computer system, ensuring that accurate documentation and records are maintained to comply with legal requirements

develop their own robust self-checking technique to ensure accurate dispensing and calculation of doses are carried out prior to passing for a final check to ensure the accuracy of temporary stock items supplied directly to wards and departments

ensure the accuracy of temporary non stock items supplied directly to wards and departments

Controlled Drugs

Dispense controlled drug prescriptions and stock orders

ensure accurate entries are recorded in controlled drug registers to maintain stock control and legal requirements

ensure the receipt, storage, safe and secure handling and supply of controlled drugs

Emergency Drug Cupboard/ Boxes

Monitor issues from the out of hours Emergency Drug Cupboard daily and ensure stock is replaced

check expiry dates once a month and ensure stock is ordered in advance to maintain availability

inform the lead Technician of any discrepancies

assist in the assembly and issue of emergency boxes, ensuring accurate records are maintained

Ward Supply

provide an individual stock replenishment service (top-up) to designated wards and departments to ensure that good stock control is maintained at all times. This will include the checking of expiry dates of ward stock and ensuring that wards and departments have a sufficient stock of medicines

liaise with the pharmacy team to ensure that stock levels are set at the correct level

accurately assemble ward top-up orders and book out ward supplies using the pharmacy computer system

process returned stock from wards and departments

communicate with the appropriate person regarding any supply problems.

Stock Control

Ensure that dispensing areas are adequately stocked

order out of stock medication process to follow items

ensure the receipt, storage, safe and secure handling and supply of pharmaceutical products is undertaken

ensure that any problems upon receipt of goods are forwarded promptly to the procurement team to enable any discrepancies are dealt with in a timely manner (including return to suppliers, damaged and short dated stock)

ensure that all nutritional products are booked out and supplied to requesting wards on a daily basis

ensure that all working practices comply with Good Distribution Practice (GDP)

ensure that all goods received are accurately booked onto the pharmacy computer system and put away appropriately

assemble the ward top up orders and book out ward supplies using the pharmacy computer system

maintain the intravenous fluid storage area ensuring good stock rotation is carried out

ensure that all ambient and refrigerated temperatures are recorded on a daily basis in all areas within pharmacy and to ensure logs are downloaded weekly

handle and dispose of waste or expired medicines correctly

participate in regular stock checks and expiry checks within the department

ensure stock is rotated correctly whilst putting dispensary stock away

check expiry dates on a regular basis. Book out expired stock from the computer system and highlight items that are close to their expiry date

ensure stock is booked out to the correct patient, consultant and ward to aid accurate financial reporting through the pharmacy computer system and that stock levels are correct and sufficient

highlight stock discrepancies to the Lead Pharmacy Technician

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C and above) (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Commitment to CPD
• IT qualification
• Science qualification
• Accredited Level 2 Qualification in Pharmacy Services, or equivalent experience

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Good computer and keyboard skills Organised, methodical and accurate approach to tasks and able to demonstrate this approach in a busy environment
• Excellent skills for dealing with people
• Good time keeping and ability to work under pressure. Good oral and written communication skills Evidence of personal development

Desirable

• Basic understanding of stock control.
• Demonstrate an interest in learning about drugs and their uses and hospital pharmacy work

Experience

Essential

• Experience of dealing with the public
• Experience of working in a team

Desirable

• Working knowledge of live pharmacy stock control systems (including robotic systems)
• Previous experience of working in a dispensing environment in either a hospital or retail setting or of working in a hospital pharmacy store

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

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)