Senior Pharmacy Technician - Patient Services

We are currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated individual who will provide a professional, efficient and customer focused service in the Pharmacy Dispensary at Harefield Hospital.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who would like to progress within hospital pharmacy.

The successful candidates will have good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work to a high standard within the team or on their own initiative.

Job description

Main tasks and responsibilities

To deputise for the Lead Pharmacy Technician, Patient Services in their absence.

To assist in rota planning for senior rotational pharmacy assistants and pharmacy assistants in stores.

Support and assist in the training of Pre-registration Pharmacy Technicians and Trainee Pharmacists whilst on rotation in the dispensary.

To be responsible for the continuing professional development and overall performance of Pharmacy Assistants and whilst on rotation in the dispensary, including being responsible for the dispensary CPD drug teaching sessions.

Ensure that general dispensing duties: e.g. checking to-follow prescriptions and posting out of medication are carried out.

Ensure adequate sundries are kept and ordered when needed. Train others in how to order in their absence.

Undertake daily cycle counts, including the verification of stock quantities and expiry dates, and maintain accurate stock records by updating inventory levels in the stock management system in line with departmental procedures.

Ensure stock control is maintained for IVIG medications.

To ensure appropriate stock control of medical gases.

To be responsible for the overall management of the Pharmacy inventory, ensuring that stock checks are undertaken and discrepancies investigated and resolved, making judgements on the impact of any such discrepancies.

To handle card transactions in respect of prescription charges for NHS and Private prescriptions.

To ensure that items taken out of hours are booked out each day to the appropriate Directorate on the Epic system.

To ensure all intubation boxes and resuscitation trays are prepared in a timely manner and are available on hand and in date.

Communication

To work effectively as a leader of the Pharmacy team, motivating and engaging staff in service delivery and development.

To communicate effectively and liaise with ward pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, ward staff and patients to facilitate the dispensing of medication in a timely manner.

To communicate effectively with senior members of staff regarding any problems encountered.

To attend to personal callers and telephone requests in a courteous manner and to communicate effectively with patients, carers, nurses and doctors.

To counsel patients on the use of their medicines providing and receiving complex and/or sensitive information which may require tact or understanding. This may be provided virtually for example on the phone.

To liaise with the private patients team to recoup drug costs from patients inpatient stay and discharges.

Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)

To provide a Pharmacy service to patients of the Trust including labelling, dispensing and providing administration information to the patient.

To work to a standard of working practice to enable accurate labelling, assessing and dispensing of medicine with narrow margins for error.

To undertake accurate dispensing of prescriptions for in-patients and outpatients, in accordance with current dispensing procedures.

To input patient details and prescription details into the EPIC prescription management system to generate labels in a timely manner.

To identify amendments required to the medication label system and refer these to the Digital Pharmacy team.

To assist in managing the stocks of controlled drugs, identifying and investigating discrepancies

To work closely with the Pharmacy Clinical Trials Team to support the coordination and dispensing of clinical trial medicines when additional operational support is required.

Deal with returned medication from outpatients. To ensure that it is returned or destroyed according to departmental procedures.

To counsel the patient on the use of their current medication and any new medication that is started by the Trust to facilitate concordance with an emphasis on those patients with poor understanding or difficulties understanding because of language, infirmity etc.

To refer appropriately to ward/specialist pharmacist or the Pharmacy Medicines Advisory Service any complex queries which are outside the expected sphere of competence.

To comply with medicines legislation and Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council in respect of the dispensing of medicines and provision of information.

Policy & Service development

To oversee, develop and implement systems to ensure the effective rotational management of pharmacy dispensary and distribution services.

Ensure that dispensary procedures are maintained, updated and adhered to at all times.

To regularly review dispensary procedures to ensure they reflect current and best practice, proposing and implementing changes.

To audit and regularly review service provision in conjunction with the Chief Pharmacy Technician Operations.

To analyse dispensary errors with the Lead Pharmacy Technician Patient Services and Chief Pharmacy Technician Operations and to implement any change that may prevent reoccurrence.

To follow Trust and Departmental policies and procedures.

People management

To assist in developing and implement induction programs for all new members of staff within the dispensary and distribution areas on the Harefield site.

Liaise with other areas within Pharmacy to obtain and provide cover as necessary.

To assist in the recruitment of Pharmacy Technicians, Assistants and Pre-Registration Pharmacy technicians.

To act as a role model for Pharmacy staff.

To identify own training needs.

To maintain a portfolio of practice.

To participate in the in-service clinical Pharmacy teaching and multi-disciplinary teaching as appropriate.

Information management

To be able to use pharmacy computer systems correctly, enter data accurately from prescriptions and ensure that data is stored and archived appropriately in accordance with Trust and departmental policies.

To be proficient in the use of the Epic Pharmacy Stock Control and Dispensing computer system in order to meet the job requirements.

To be competent in the use of Microsoft Office software.

To ensure all team members have a real voice in the development of the Pharmacy service to patients/customers.

To maximise the potential of all team members and to ensure that all team members have a meaningful appraisal/personal development plan that includes feedback to the individual from a selection of internal customers and team members.

To provide a safe and attractive working environment for team members within available resources.

To abide by the NHS Code of conduct for managers, the Trusts Core behaviours for staff and managers and all other Trust policies, codes and practices, including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement and health and safety.

Other Duties

To maintain a broad level of Pharmacy practice.

To participate in Bank Holiday and weekend working as well as late duty on a rotational basis.

To participate in education and training programmes to develop skills as part of a commitment to continuing education and the concept of lifelong learning

To be aware of, and apply, relevant legislation such as the H & SAWA, COSHH, Medicines Act, GMP etc.

To practice at all times in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council

To provide any other duties commensurate with grade as requested.

Person specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians. (or equivalent)
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC) registration as a Pharmacy Technician
• Holds a current ACPT checking qualification.

Desirable

• Educational supervisor qualification or equivalent
• Edward Jenner or equivalent qualification.
• Member of APTUK

Experience

Essential

• Experience working in pharmacy.
• Experience in training staff
• Good competence in patient counselling
• Experience of stock management

Desirable

• Previous Hospital Pharmacy experience
• Experience of guideline and /or policy development.
• Oral presentation to groups of healthcare professionals

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Ability to work quickly, accurately and in an organised manner and be able to prioritise
• Previous experience in managing staff
• Good communication skills (written and verbal)
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software and Pharmacy
• Ability to use initiative

Desirable

• Previous experience in EPIC

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Proven ability for team working, good interpersonal skills, adaptability, a positive "can do" attitude and a positive attitude to change

About the employer

The Harefield Hospital Pharmacy department is a friendly welcoming team, who support their staff.

We work closely with our counterparts at The Royal Brompton Hospital, Evelina, Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital Pharmacies, to ensure our patients get the best possible treatment for their lung and heart conditions.

Our core values are:

We are: