Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacy technician?
Do you enjoy dealing with queries about medicines, finding answers and solving problems?
Are you proactive, able to work on your own and within a team?
Are you a good communicator, both verbally and in writing?
Would you like to be involved in the exciting challenge of developing and expanding the current small but well respected medicines information and advice service?
If this describes you, then we'd love to hear from you!
Whilst having the UKMI Accredited Medicines Information for Pharmacy Technicians qualification (AMITTs) qualification would be great, we would like to hear from those who are keen to develop into this role and are willing to undertake this qualification. The next cohort start Feb 24 and the successful applicant will be enrolled on the course.
If you already have the UKMI AMITTS qualification, we'll work together to see what your development needs are. For those without the UKMI AMITTs qualification, you will start in a Band 5 post, moving to a Band 6 position on successful completion of the course and any required course probation period.
We are keen to hear from pharmacy technicians from all sectors, a key aspect of our service is in supporting patients, GP practices and community pharmacy teams with queries about medicines relating to recent hospital admissions.
Main duties of the job
To support and promote the timely provision of Medicines Information (MI) and Advice in response to enquiries originating from healthcare professionals and patients, in order to optimise patient care throughout the organisation and within the wider health community.
This post is advertised as a Band 5 to Band 6 progression post. Pharmacy Technicians without the UKMI Accredited Medicines Information for Pharmacy Technicians qualification will start in a post as a Band 5, moving to a Band 6 position on successful completion of the course and any required course probation period.
Be an active part of the MI rota to provide continuity and co-ordinate the day-to-day work ensuring that enquiries are answered in an appropriate and timely manner.
Assist in the provision of Medicines Information training of a variety of staffSupport the development of work within the Integrated Care Board to support GP practice teams gain timely information about discharge medicines.
Assist providing information on new/unlicensed drugs and resolving product shortages.
Participate in pharmacy technician duties in the wider department including dispensary, checking and medicines optimisation duties as appropriate.Involvement in the regional network of NHS MI professionals developing shared resources and support.
Involvement in the national UKMI network as required e.g., specialist subgroups, conference support, national projects such as NHS website leaflet development.
About us
University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) is the largest hospital on the Southwest Peninsula providing comprehensive secondary and tertiary care to a population of around 2 000 000 people. We have a number of specialist services including cardiothoracic services, kidney transplantation, neurosurgery and the regional Trauma service. We also provide a number of outpatient clinics including rheumatology, dermatology, neurology as well as sexual health services and much more. We work closely with our community partners to deliver comprehensive health & social care.
Medicines Information and Advice is a growing service. Currently focussed on supporting pharmacy teams including clinical, procurement, dispensary, medicines safety and high cost drugs as well as the clinicians within the trust, we also deliver a service to primary care colleagues & patients. Our ambition is to expand the visibility of the MI service within and outside the Trust. We want to provide a more accessible enquiry service for patients as well as ensuring the whole Trust is aware of the MI service & how to access it. We want to ensure our service is high quality and adapts to the needs of our enquirers. We want to develop the training, education and rotational experiences that we currently provide to foundation pharmacists, newly qualified pharmacists and new starters, to include pharmacy technicians and undergraduates. We want MI to be the go-to team for advice on how to answer questions about medicines well.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be an accredited Medicines Information Pharmacy Technician.
To be responsible for supporting medicines information services within UHP NHS Trust.
On a daily basis analyse and interpret the requirements for the medicines information service, including staffing, service issues, and improvements to provide an accessible and timely service.
Utilise all resources within MI and the wider UHP NHS Trust e.g., Library services, to ensure all medicines related enquiries are answered accurately, usefully and in a timely manner.
To complete medicines information enquiries about current inpatients to ensure safe, timely and clinically suitable prescribing following local guidelines and formulary choices. Advice and support can be sought from the lead pharmacist for MI and advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from colleagues in primary care (GP practices and community pharmacies) about recent episodes of care which lack clarity. Advice and support can be sought from the lead pharmacist for MI and advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from members of the public that are relevant to the trust e.g., recent inpatient admission, recent outpatient clinic. Advice should be presented in a suitable style and support for the member of public. Advice and support can be sought from the Lead pharmacist for MI and Advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from other NHS Trusts regarding UHP patients. Advice and support can be sought from the Lead Pharmacist for MI and Advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To work with the Lead pharmacist for MI and Advice on auditing the medicines information service, both from an enquirers perspective and also a monthly data perspective to support KPI delivery.
To support service provision, quality, and service improvement within medicines information, to demonstrate and/or improve the efficiency, cost saving and safety aspects of medicines information service.
To assist in the training and development of all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff involved in providing information about medicines to clinicians and patients.
Represent the medicines information service to a high and professional standard in conduct, manner, and appearance.
Communicate with all levels of healthcare professionals throughout the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) including primary and secondary care, and also with patients when receiving and answering enquiries using advanced communication skills and taking account of confidentiality, equality, and diversity.
Used advanced communication skills to deal with confidential, sensitive, or emotive information, and to question enquirers closely to understand their needs.
To be pro-active in disseminating information within and external to the pharmacy department, through personal communication and, when appropriate, through bulletin or other pro-active information production.
Liaise with primary care doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals regarding medication prior to admission and continues supply after discharge.
Advise nursing and other ward staff / department staff on supply and storage of medicines stock control and any other relevant information to ensure compliance with local policies and procedures.
To continue to push boundaries of banding, continuing professional development and seeking training opportunities where appropriate.
Participate in any wider departmental rotas where needed.
As a registered technician to support either the dispensary or ward-based medicines management service as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be an accredited Medicines Information Pharmacy Technician.
To be responsible for supporting medicines information services within UHP NHS Trust.
On a daily basis analyse and interpret the requirements for the medicines information service, including staffing, service issues, and improvements to provide an accessible and timely service.
Utilise all resources within MI and the wider UHP NHS Trust e.g., Library services, to ensure all medicines related enquiries are answered accurately, usefully and in a timely manner.
To complete medicines information enquiries about current inpatients to ensure safe, timely and clinically suitable prescribing following local guidelines and formulary choices. Advice and support can be sought from the lead pharmacist for MI and advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from colleagues in primary care (GP practices and community pharmacies) about recent episodes of care which lack clarity. Advice and support can be sought from the lead pharmacist for MI and advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from members of the public that are relevant to the trust e.g., recent inpatient admission, recent outpatient clinic. Advice should be presented in a suitable style and support for the member of public. Advice and support can be sought from the Lead pharmacist for MI and Advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To complete medicines information enquiries from other NHS Trusts regarding UHP patients. Advice and support can be sought from the Lead Pharmacist for MI and Advice as well as other clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
To work with the Lead pharmacist for MI and Advice on auditing the medicines information service, both from an enquirers perspective and also a monthly data perspective to support KPI delivery.
To support service provision, quality, and service improvement within medicines information, to demonstrate and/or improve the efficiency, cost saving and safety aspects of medicines information service.
To assist in the training and development of all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff involved in providing information about medicines to clinicians and patients.
Represent the medicines information service to a high and professional standard in conduct, manner, and appearance.
Communicate with all levels of healthcare professionals throughout the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) including primary and secondary care, and also with patients when receiving and answering enquiries using advanced communication skills and taking account of confidentiality, equality, and diversity.
Used advanced communication skills to deal with confidential, sensitive, or emotive information, and to question enquirers closely to understand their needs.
To be pro-active in disseminating information within and external to the pharmacy department, through personal communication and, when appropriate, through bulletin or other pro-active information production.
Liaise with primary care doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals regarding medication prior to admission and continues supply after discharge.
Advise nursing and other ward staff / department staff on supply and storage of medicines stock control and any other relevant information to ensure compliance with local policies and procedures.
To continue to push boundaries of banding, continuing professional development and seeking training opportunities where appropriate.
Participate in any wider departmental rotas where needed.
As a registered technician to support either the dispensary or ward-based medicines management service as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- National BTEC or NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent)
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Completed or willing to undertake the UKMI Accredited Medicines Information for Pharmacy Technicians (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Large Clinical Setting Management qualification or equivalent
- Clinical prioritisation accreditation
- A willingness to undertake study leading to qualifications required for career advancement e.g. A1 NVQ Assessor award or accredited final accuracy checking qualifications
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration demonstrable experience relevant to hospital pharmacy practice, primary care practice and/or community practice
- Demonstrable experience of multidisciplinary or collaborative working
- Demonstrable experience of organising an operational service on a day-to-day basis
Desirable
- Demonstrable post qualification experience in hospital pharmacy, primary care or community pharmacy practice
- An understanding of hospital pharmacy and primary care-based pharmacy services
- Demonstrable experience of dealing with queries about medicines across a variety of clinical specialities or equivalent experience in primary care / community pharmacy practice
- Demonstrable experience of delivering change or contributing to change
- Demonstrable experience of staff engagement and contribution to improvement projects
- Demonstrable experience dealing with difficult and complex situations and queries from patients and other clinicians
- Demonstrable experience undertaking audits and data collection
- Demonstrable experience of developing written documentation (e.g., Local guidance, standard operating procedures)
- Demonstrable experience of training / supervising other members of the pharmacy team
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- National BTEC or NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent)
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Completed or willing to undertake the UKMI Accredited Medicines Information for Pharmacy Technicians (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Large Clinical Setting Management qualification or equivalent
- Clinical prioritisation accreditation
- A willingness to undertake study leading to qualifications required for career advancement e.g. A1 NVQ Assessor award or accredited final accuracy checking qualifications
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration demonstrable experience relevant to hospital pharmacy practice, primary care practice and/or community practice
- Demonstrable experience of multidisciplinary or collaborative working
- Demonstrable experience of organising an operational service on a day-to-day basis
Desirable
- Demonstrable post qualification experience in hospital pharmacy, primary care or community pharmacy practice
- An understanding of hospital pharmacy and primary care-based pharmacy services
- Demonstrable experience of dealing with queries about medicines across a variety of clinical specialities or equivalent experience in primary care / community pharmacy practice
- Demonstrable experience of delivering change or contributing to change
- Demonstrable experience of staff engagement and contribution to improvement projects
- Demonstrable experience dealing with difficult and complex situations and queries from patients and other clinicians
- Demonstrable experience undertaking audits and data collection
- Demonstrable experience of developing written documentation (e.g., Local guidance, standard operating procedures)
- Demonstrable experience of training / supervising other members of the pharmacy team
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.
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).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
