Job summary
This post is a 6 month fixed-term position.
The candidate must be competent in all Dispensary based activities, and work to the high standards set within the Pharmacy department.
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.
The candidate should be a registered Pharmacy Technician, with experience of training different grades of staff and have a good understanding of legislation around the storing and issuing of controlled drugs in a hospital pharmacy setting.
Main duties of the job
To support the Dispensary Manager, Assistant Dispensary Manager and the Pharmacy Technician for Training & Pharmacy IT System.
To assist Senior Technicians to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients in the Directorate.
To ensure training of staff within Dispensary is of a high standard and completed in a timely manner.
To manage controlled drug stock alongside Dispensary Manager/Assistant Dispensary Manager.
To provide ad-hoc support to the QA department in monitoring and processing unlicensed medicines and over labelled or repackaged TTO Packs.
Give support to Appraisers in offering insight into individuals development needs and assisting with training to fulfil PDPs.
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 Dispensary Manager and Assistant Dispensary Manager to co-ordinate the workload through the dispensary
To identify bottlenecks within the Dispensary and react accordingly:
- Pro-actively manage staff to ensure the Dispensary is able to dispense prescriptions effectively.
- Manage the workload according to agreed Pharmacy turnaround times, escalating as necessary, according to the internal Pharmacy Escalation Policy.
- Monitor the validation tray.
- Monitor the FIFO (First In First Out) tray for build-up of work.
- Observe the flow of trays between dispensing and checking, ensuring the buffer level is maintained.
- Put advanced work into the FIFO tray as and when appropriate to. This should be monitored on a regular basis.
- To follow the internal Escalation Policy when set levels within the dispensary are reach
To be available to advise dispensary staff and problem solve prescription-related/ formulary issues as they arise.
To manage staff breaks and diversions, ensuring as best as possible, dispensary staff levels/ratios are maintained according to the demand profile.
To ensure dispensary issues are identified and recorded.
To manage secondary duties according to task type and dispensary demand (eg, drawer replenishment, cleaning, returns etc) through pro-active delegation.
To enforce low noise levels within the dispensary area so that dispensers and checkers can concentrate on their primary duties, reducing the risk of interventions.
To order and monitor to-follow items as required.
To capture and record dispensing interventions as they occur.
To oversee Receptionists responsibilities according to any given situation, ensuring that reception is manned and maintained throughout dispensary opening hours.
To perform appraisals to delegated candidates by the Dispensary Manager in accordance with Trust policy
To help with the audits and other tasks needing support by the Dispensary Manager and Senior Technicians.
To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients. This will include the following tasks:To accurately and promptly dispense prescriptions for in-patients, out-patients, day-patients and leave/discharge patients.
To issue dispensed medicines to patients and confirm that they know how to use them (see Notes).
To supply Controlled Drugs and keep appropriate records.
To undertake auditing and organising of Controlled Drugs procedures and processes
To undertake final-checking according to a defined policy when competence has been proven.
To undertake Enhanced Patient Counselling following appropriate training.
If required, to issue and/or top-up supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
To assist in the maintenance of a clean and efficient environment suitable for the handling and dispensing of medicinal substances; proper cleaning, maintenance and use of equipment.
To ensure training of staff within Dispensary is of a high standard. This will include the following tasks:
To ensure each new member of staff to Dispensary has a clear training plan set out and explained to them in their first week
To ensure that each new member of staff is inducted into the department appropriately by following and completing the relevant induction paperwork
To assess and review development of Dispensary staff and those on Dispensary rotations, and ensure that there is a plan in place for their ongoing training requirements.
To act as a witness or expert for Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians
To liaise with the Pharmacy Dispensary Manager, Pharmacy Assistant Dispensary Manager and Pharmacy Technician for Training & Pharmacy IT Systems in regard to training packages and ideas of how to improve them
To produce a Dispensary rota each week
To manage controlled drug stock alongside Dispensary Manager/Assistant Dispensary Manager. This will include the following tasks:
To ensure that daily stock check is completed on controlled drugs that been issued the previous day.
To investigate any discrepancies in controlled drug stock levels/pharmacy system levels/register levels and report to Dispensary Manager/Dispensary Assistant Manager
To arrange/perform controlled drug uplifts from wards when required as per the SOP
To destroy controlled drugs alongside appropriate person
Full duties of this job role can be found on the job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To assist the Dispensary Manager and Assistant Dispensary Manager to co-ordinate the workload through the dispensary
To identify bottlenecks within the Dispensary and react accordingly:
- Pro-actively manage staff to ensure the Dispensary is able to dispense prescriptions effectively.
- Manage the workload according to agreed Pharmacy turnaround times, escalating as necessary, according to the internal Pharmacy Escalation Policy.
- Monitor the validation tray.
- Monitor the FIFO (First In First Out) tray for build-up of work.
- Observe the flow of trays between dispensing and checking, ensuring the buffer level is maintained.
- Put advanced work into the FIFO tray as and when appropriate to. This should be monitored on a regular basis.
- To follow the internal Escalation Policy when set levels within the dispensary are reach
To be available to advise dispensary staff and problem solve prescription-related/ formulary issues as they arise.
To manage staff breaks and diversions, ensuring as best as possible, dispensary staff levels/ratios are maintained according to the demand profile.
To ensure dispensary issues are identified and recorded.
To manage secondary duties according to task type and dispensary demand (eg, drawer replenishment, cleaning, returns etc) through pro-active delegation.
To enforce low noise levels within the dispensary area so that dispensers and checkers can concentrate on their primary duties, reducing the risk of interventions.
To order and monitor to-follow items as required.
To capture and record dispensing interventions as they occur.
To oversee Receptionists responsibilities according to any given situation, ensuring that reception is manned and maintained throughout dispensary opening hours.
To perform appraisals to delegated candidates by the Dispensary Manager in accordance with Trust policy
To help with the audits and other tasks needing support by the Dispensary Manager and Senior Technicians.
To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients. This will include the following tasks:To accurately and promptly dispense prescriptions for in-patients, out-patients, day-patients and leave/discharge patients.
To issue dispensed medicines to patients and confirm that they know how to use them (see Notes).
To supply Controlled Drugs and keep appropriate records.
To undertake auditing and organising of Controlled Drugs procedures and processes
To undertake final-checking according to a defined policy when competence has been proven.
To undertake Enhanced Patient Counselling following appropriate training.
If required, to issue and/or top-up supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
To assist in the maintenance of a clean and efficient environment suitable for the handling and dispensing of medicinal substances; proper cleaning, maintenance and use of equipment.
To ensure training of staff within Dispensary is of a high standard. This will include the following tasks:
To ensure each new member of staff to Dispensary has a clear training plan set out and explained to them in their first week
To ensure that each new member of staff is inducted into the department appropriately by following and completing the relevant induction paperwork
To assess and review development of Dispensary staff and those on Dispensary rotations, and ensure that there is a plan in place for their ongoing training requirements.
To act as a witness or expert for Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians
To liaise with the Pharmacy Dispensary Manager, Pharmacy Assistant Dispensary Manager and Pharmacy Technician for Training & Pharmacy IT Systems in regard to training packages and ideas of how to improve them
To produce a Dispensary rota each week
To manage controlled drug stock alongside Dispensary Manager/Assistant Dispensary Manager. This will include the following tasks:
To ensure that daily stock check is completed on controlled drugs that been issued the previous day.
To investigate any discrepancies in controlled drug stock levels/pharmacy system levels/register levels and report to Dispensary Manager/Dispensary Assistant Manager
To arrange/perform controlled drug uplifts from wards when required as per the SOP
To destroy controlled drugs alongside appropriate person
Full duties of this job role can be found on the job description.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with GPhC.
Desirable
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Computerised stock control system.
- Recent post qualification experience as a Pharmacy Technician.
- Counselling patients in the use of their medicines.
- Technical 'final check' of dispensed medicines.
- How dispensing errors occur.
- Good Manufacturing Practice.
- Developing staff.
- Good IT skills (e.g. Excel proficient)
Desirable
- Supervising & managing staff.
- Delivery of training and coaching programmes.
- Knowledge of GPhC Initial Education and Training standards of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Staff.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
- Computer skills such as dispensing, stock control.
- Problem solving skills.
Key Competencies, Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Both full 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.
- Presentable.
- Evidence of a good attendance record.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with GPhC.
Desirable
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Computerised stock control system.
- Recent post qualification experience as a Pharmacy Technician.
- Counselling patients in the use of their medicines.
- Technical 'final check' of dispensed medicines.
- How dispensing errors occur.
- Good Manufacturing Practice.
- Developing staff.
- Good IT skills (e.g. Excel proficient)
Desirable
- Supervising & managing staff.
- Delivery of training and coaching programmes.
- Knowledge of GPhC Initial Education and Training standards of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Staff.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
- Computer skills such as dispensing, stock control.
- Problem solving skills.
Key Competencies, Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Both full 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.
- Presentable.
- Evidence of a 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).
