Specialist Cancer Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To be part of the Pharmacy team providing a near-patient medicines management service to clinical areas.
2. To become an accredited Medicines Management Technician, or complete reaccreditation to transfer skills where appropriate.
3. To become accredited to assess PODs according to the Trusts criteria.
4. To implement and maintain the POD scheme according to Trust policies.
5. To train nursing, medical and pharmacy staff regarding the POD scheme.
6. To become accredited to initiate the supply of non-stock items for one-stop/full pack dispensing.
7. To become accredited to complete medicines reconciliation using a variety of available sources.
8. To aid discharge planning in conjunction with the clinical pharmacist and ward staff.
9. To work with the clinical pharmacist and ward staff to support medicines management at ward level.
10. To become accredited to undertake patient counselling on selected patients e.g.: warfarin initiation, inhaler counselling.
11. To work with the clinical pharmacist to counsel patients on their discharge medication.
12. To become accredited to complete controlled drug checks for selected wards within the Directorate.
13. Refer interventions to the Clinical Pharmacist, and to report and investigate incidents where appropriate.
14. Work with the ward team to ensure safe storage of medicines at ward level, including temperature checks and appropriate storage of controlled drugs.
15. To liaise with ward staff over any relevant medicines management issues.
16. In conjunction with the clinical pharmacist and ward staff, to support the maintenance and updating of ward stock lists for the designated clinical areas.
17. To work closely with the ward pharmacy top-up assistant in maintaining a well-controlled and appropriate medication and fluid stock holding.
18. To participate in the audit of the medicines management service, as well as departmental and Trust-wide medication audits, as requested by the Clinical Pharmacist Manager or Ward Based Technician Manager
19. To participate in the training of new or existing technicians or ward-based assistants on the medicines management role.
20. To participate in a reciprocal cover arrangement to maintain the medicines management service.
21. To work closely with the Directorate Pharmacist to ensure high-cost drugs for outliers are accurately issued and returned.
22. Regularly review drug use and expenditure together with the Directorate pharmacist, and report on this when requested.
23. To document and audit financial drug savings and returns, and to produce reports.
24. To be responsible for the timely return or transfer of medicines between pharmacy and the wards.

Oncology & Haematology Directorate Service

1. To work in the cancer centre pharmacy satellite or Horton, supplying, counselling and providing a comprehensive pharmacy service to day case and outpatients on a daily basis
2. To contribute to project and audit work
3. To work as an accredited technician in the Cancer Satellite Pharmacy.
4. To work as a Specialist Cancer Technician in cancer oral education clinics
5. To support the implementation, dispensing and checking of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including gene therapy medicines.
6. To be involved in the preparation of rotas for cancer technical and support staff
7. To be involved in the expiry date and stock level checks carried out in the Cancer Satellite Dispensary and DTU pharmacy trolleys.
8. To liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely, and appropriate supply to patients eg Homecare companies where appropriate
9. To support the training of other healthcare professionals in the computerised prescribing of chemotherapy, how to read the prescriptions and understand Medication Record Cards.
10. To attend and contribute to Cancer Pharmacy Team Meetings
11. To provide reports from electronic systems.
12. To undertake practice research.

General Pharmacy Role

1. To work as part of the dispensary team to facilitate the efficient and effective discharge of patients from their clinical area out of the hospital environment by participation in the dispensary rotas, including a minimum of 25% of your time providing daily dispensary support.
2. If requested, to gain an NVQ assessor qualification to support the formal training of student technicians. In addition, to complete Fire Incident Coordinator and Back Care Facilitator training.
3. To be a role model and mentor for trainee and qualified pharmacy staff.
4. To attend regular team meetings in order to keep updated on key information.
5. To develop and maintain an expertise and knowledge in issues related to pharmacy practice and medicines management, and development of pharmacy technicians.

Professional Role

1. To maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
2. To ensure confidentiality is always maintained.
3. To be professionally accountable for actions and advice.
4. To follow departmental and Trust policies and procedures.
5. To maintain an up-to-date Continuous Professional Development (CPD) record.
6. To take part in annual appraisals with the Clinical Pharmacist Manager and Ward Based Technician Manager.
7. To participate in late, weekend and Bank Holiday rotas.
8. Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management

Person Specification

Essential Qualities

Essential

• Qualified Pharmacy Technician with an NVQ 3 or other equivalent qualification and registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Relevent experience as a qualified Technician
• Enthusiastic and responsible attitude
• Willing to work cross site
• Able to use own initiative appropriately
• Good verbal communication skills
• Already an accredited checking technician
• Assertive/Confident
• Organised & Methodical
• Able to work as part of a team
• Adaptable and flexible
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Proven time management skills
• Well presented

Desirable

• Membership of British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA)
• PC skills - Word and Exel
• Experience of POD scheme
• Experience of Self-Administration systems
• Experience of working on wards. Previous experience of working in appropriate clinical area (cancer)
• Understanding and experience of extended technician role
• Experience of teaching/training others
• Accredited as Back Care Facilitator
• Already accredited in Medicines Management or Patient Counselling
• A1/A2 NVQ assessor
• Experience of working with clinical trials, practice research and auditing
• To be a full member of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Churchill Cancer Centre

Oxford

OX3 7LE

Employer's website

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