Job summary
To be apart of the Pharmacy Distribution management team, and to help lead the department in providing an efficient service of stock medicines to wards and clinics.
Main duties of the job
The candidate should be a registered Pharmacy Technician, or suitable for registration.
The main duties of this job are: to support the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply, to manage the day to day workload and staff within the Distribution department and to assist in providing comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients in the Directorate.
The Pharmacy Service is well developed and forward thinking, providing Clinical Pharmacy Services, a Stock and 'Topping Up' Service and the Medicine Management Service to specific wards. We have a busy Technician-led licensed Aseptic Service Unit preparing TPN, cytotoxics and radiopharmaceuticals, a Quality Control Unit, Trials Department and a Distribution Service.
All candidates should be positive about the extended role of Pharmacy Technicians and enthusiastic to develop themselves and the work of the team. They must also be able to work within different pharmacy environments and be a proactive member of staff.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To assist the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply in co-ordinating the workload through the Distribution Department.
This will include the following tasks:
Pro-actively supervise staff to ensure Distribution is able to cover top-up areas and ad-hoc orders effectively.
Monitor the in tray and prioritise urgent orders.
Monitor the to-follow tray.
Provide weekly staff rotas to cover ward top-up areas for sickness and leave, and for all tasks relating to Distribution work to ensure they are done.
Be available to advise and problem solve queries related to supply and delivery of medicines.
To ensure Distribution issues are identified and recorded.
To ensure Distribution information boards are kept up-to-date.
To be responsible in maintaining records for the Emergency Store.
To assist in the training of staff (throughout the Trust) to use the automated (Omnicell) medicines cabinets.
To ensure the Wholesale Dealers Licence requirements are adhered to when supplying and issuing medicines.
To perform appraisals and 1-1s to delegated staff by the Principal Technician, Distribution in accordance with Trust policies.
To provide sickness and performance monitoring to delegated staff by the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply in accordance with Trust policies.
To be involved with the recruitment of staff and provide training for new staff.
If required, to issue and/or top-up supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
To provide reports relating to the Distribution Service using the Pharmacy computer system and other reporting tools.
To assist with audits and other tasks needing support by the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply to improve the service.
To contribute to any change in policy and SOPs.
To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients when working in the Dispensary department as part of weekend working rota (currently 1 day every 6 weeks).
Full job responsibilities can be found on the job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To assist the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply in co-ordinating the workload through the Distribution Department.
This will include the following tasks:
Pro-actively supervise staff to ensure Distribution is able to cover top-up areas and ad-hoc orders effectively.
Monitor the in tray and prioritise urgent orders.
Monitor the to-follow tray.
Provide weekly staff rotas to cover ward top-up areas for sickness and leave, and for all tasks relating to Distribution work to ensure they are done.
Be available to advise and problem solve queries related to supply and delivery of medicines.
To ensure Distribution issues are identified and recorded.
To ensure Distribution information boards are kept up-to-date.
To be responsible in maintaining records for the Emergency Store.
To assist in the training of staff (throughout the Trust) to use the automated (Omnicell) medicines cabinets.
To ensure the Wholesale Dealers Licence requirements are adhered to when supplying and issuing medicines.
To perform appraisals and 1-1s to delegated staff by the Principal Technician, Distribution in accordance with Trust policies.
To provide sickness and performance monitoring to delegated staff by the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply in accordance with Trust policies.
To be involved with the recruitment of staff and provide training for new staff.
If required, to issue and/or top-up supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
To provide reports relating to the Distribution Service using the Pharmacy computer system and other reporting tools.
To assist with audits and other tasks needing support by the Principal Technician for Medicines Supply to improve the service.
To contribute to any change in policy and SOPs.
To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients when working in the Dispensary department as part of weekend working rota (currently 1 day every 6 weeks).
Full job responsibilities can be found on the job description.
Person Specification
Educations, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Technician; NVQ Level 3 with BTEC in Pharmacy Services or City and Guilds Dispensing Technician Certificate or Society of Apothecaries Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Desirable
- Formal qualification in staff management/ leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Computerised stock control system
- How errors occur
- Good Distribution practice
- Developing and training staff
- Experience of supervising/managing staff
Desirable
- Counselling patients in the use of their medicines
- Technical 'final-check' of dispensed medicines
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Computer skills (dispensing, stock control)
- Ability to collect and analyse data
- Ability to handle difficult situations
- Able to prioritise work
- Able to train internal and external staff effectively
Desirable
- Access, Excel
- Automated medicines cabinet experience
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Both full time and part time candidates should have the ability to work shifts that will cover 7 days of the week as the NHS moves towards 7 day service provision.
- Enthusiasm for the job.
- Positive about the future role of Technicians.
- Evidence of good attendance record
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
Person Specification
Educations, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Technician; NVQ Level 3 with BTEC in Pharmacy Services or City and Guilds Dispensing Technician Certificate or Society of Apothecaries Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Desirable
- Formal qualification in staff management/ leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Computerised stock control system
- How errors occur
- Good Distribution practice
- Developing and training staff
- Experience of supervising/managing staff
Desirable
- Counselling patients in the use of their medicines
- Technical 'final-check' of dispensed medicines
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Computer skills (dispensing, stock control)
- Ability to collect and analyse data
- Ability to handle difficult situations
- Able to prioritise work
- Able to train internal and external staff effectively
Desirable
- Access, Excel
- Automated medicines cabinet experience
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Both full time and part time candidates should have the ability to work shifts that will cover 7 days of the week as the NHS moves towards 7 day service provision.
- Enthusiasm for the job.
- Positive about the future role of Technicians.
- Evidence of good attendance record
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
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).
