Lead Pharmacy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

1. Plan, supervise & prioritise daily workload within the section (e.g. inpatient dispensary or pharmacy store), producing and co-ordinating rotas to ensure adequate staffing & skill mix is maintained.
2. To support the senior technical staff to ensure that the section runs efficiently and is patient and customer focused.
3. Work closely with the lead pharmacy technician to ensure that the pharmacy assistants and apprentices training needs are met and that the relevant competencies are completed.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Patient Care & Service Provision

• To effectively communicate with pharmacy colleagues and other healthcare professionals to answer routine and non-routine queries with prescriptions and orders, referring as necessary to a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.
• To undertake and supervise accurate dispensing and issuing of medicines to patients and/or ward areas. This will include; stock medicines, named patient medicines, unlicensed medicines, controlled drugs and clinical trials.
• Inform the appropriate senior pharmacy technician of any errors or operational issues in a timely manner completing any required documentation. Complete Trust incident reports where appropriate.
• To have the responsibility for the medicines top-up service to a designated ward/department and to provide cover if necessary.
• To be a trained super user for automated systems in the area of work (e.g. dispensing robots and dispensing cabinets).
• When appropriate entry criteria are met, undertake relevant training and development to become an Accuracy Checking ATO (meeting the requirements of the nationally agreed framework). Adhere to the agreed in house framework for accuracy checking of medicines by ATOs and participate in daily checking slots once qualified.

Workload Planning & Organisation

• To ensure completion of all routine and adhoc tasks through the production of a rota, supervising the work during its completion and adjusting the rota in response to unpredictable workload demands, staff availability and skill mix.
• To ensure adequate stocks of sundry items are ordered and available as needed.
• To be a computer system trainer for the department; problem solve any downtime issues and escalate appropriately.
• Be able to adapt to unpredictable workload and flow.

Staff Training & Management

• To be responsible for the induction and training of new pharmacy assistants and apprentices and the technical induction for staff working in other areas (e.g. temporary clinical & oncall staff).
• To line manage the senior pharmacy assistants within the section, responsible for ensuring objectives are set and reviewed through regular 121s and annual appraisals. Follow sickness management policies, disciplinary and capability processes if necessary.
• Promptly highlight any concerns or problems regarding conflict, the quality of service provision and / or performance of other staff members to a Lead Technician.

Performance Monitoring & Service Development

• To ensure that all relevant new and updated policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to by pharmacy assistants and apprentices working within the section.
• To be proactive in identifying improved and more efficient ways of working, making suggestions and contributing to pharmacy service improvements across the department. Be an active member of relevant department and section working groups.
• Complete and oversee the accurate completion of required documentation and maintenance of records.
• Participate in the achievement of key performance indicators with the pharmacy department.
• To ensure GDP and good practice is followed at all times including regular inspections of storage & dispensing areas and participation in the preparation for any inspections undertaken by the GPhC and MHRA.

Use of Resources

• To be responsible for the accurate data entry on the computer system.
• Ensure accurate use of the pharmacy IT systems and software, including automated dispensing systems, prescription tracking system and pharmacy computer system.
• To ensure that routine and adhoc stock checks and audits are completed. To re-check and investigate any discrepancies and adjust them on the pharmacy computer system as necessary.
• To perform expiry date checks to prevent medicines wastage and remove expired stocks. Report on expired and short dated stock.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• NVQ level 2 / BTEC level 2 Pharmacy services (or equivalent)
• Pharmaceutical Science BTEC / NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent level of knowledge

Desirable

• Practice Supervisor Training course
• Other qualifications such as management or education & training qualifications

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working in hospital pharmacy
• Demonstrable experience in supervising others
• Demonstrable experience of managing staff/ teams.
• Dealing with the public
• Use of computers

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent Communication skills
• Literate and numerate and be able to perform calculations
• Team player
• Able to work from written procedures
• Able to prioritise workload
• Able to organise self and others
• Ability to work under pressure
• Be able to adapt to unpredictable workload and flow
• Good attention to detail
• Ability to handle conflict situations/refer as necessary

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

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)