Job summary
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.
In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our forward thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP Bronzefield. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will not only look after the healthcare needs of our patients residing in secure environments, but who also have the opportunity to have a real impact on promoting health and well-being.
Our motto is "Caring NOT Judging" so by working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable and high-quality primary care and mental health services to those who may have offended and those at risk of offending in the communities we serve, to improve their health status and to encourage social inclusion.
PLEASE NOTE ANY CANDIDATE WISHING TO APPLY FOR ANY OF OUR ROLES IN SURREY WILL BE SUBJECT TO VETTING CLEARANCE. WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE UK FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS. CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA NEED NOT APPLY.
Main duties of the job
-
To provide a dispensing service, medicines management and an administration service for medicines to the prisoners residing in our care.
-
Work as an active member of the Pharmaceutical team to assist in ensuring the delivery of a legal, safe, high quality specialist prison pharmaceutical service which reflects National and local policy and priorities, taking into account the high level of security that must be maintained at all times
-
Assist in providing a timely and efficient pharmaceutical service
- Contribute to the development of and support implementation of medicine management strategy and associated services and projects across the Prisons
About us
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through:
- Monthly supervision
- Annual personal development plans/appraisals
- Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities.
Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to:
- Preceptorship Programme
- Support and guidance with Revalidation
- Hidden Gem and annual award ceremonies
Excellent staff benefits, our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include:
- Health and wellbeing services
- Season ticket loans
- Cycle to work scheme
- Relocation package
The trust alsovalues its staff and you are entitled to become a member of MyTrustBenefits. MyTrustBenefits is an online portal for all CNWL staff, as well as their family and friends. It offers over 1400 discounts at hundreds of retailers nationwide. Save money on your weekly food shops, toiletries, cosmetics, cinema, meals out, holidays, travel and entertainment. You can also access free online courses on a variety of topics, professional and personal, ranging from business management, languages, law and teaching.
All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Management and Organisation:
- Participate in the efficient day to day running of the dispensary
- To provide medicine management
- Assist in maintaining correct Controlled Drug records in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- Maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in local/national guidance in order to maintain/deliver high quality services to the Prison.
- Under the supervision of a senior technician, to provide a timely and efficient stock topping up service to the wings with responsibility for ensuring stock levels are appropriately maintained in accordance with an agreed stock list
- Responsible for ensuring medicines are supplied and replenished to the emergency cupboards, giving medicine related advice, where necessary, to other healthcare professionals
- Check emergency bags and maintain records for audit.
- Once qualified for a suitable length of time to work towards completing the accredited checking technicians course undertaking periodic re-assessment (every 2 years) as appropriate
Dispensary responsibilities:
- Work with a team of technicians to provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service.
- Maintain a clean and tidy working environment for the dispensing process
- Assist in the development, implementation and review of dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
- Maintain computer files for prisoner information and dispensary computer operations via update discs
- Maintain high levels of safety and security and be constantly vigilant
- Ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported to the prison gate and around the prison in a manner which maintains the integrity and security of the medicines whilst adhering to necessary safety precautions
- The post holder has a responsibility to themselves and others in relation to managing risk and health and safety and will be required to work within the prison service and CNWL Service Policies and Procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Clinical:
- Ensure that all dispensed medicines are processed in accordance with agreed dispensing standards.
- Enter patient details on the computerized record system using information from prescriptions prepared by the medical staff ensuring that drug histories are up to date and complete
- Provide regular medicines management service to each Wing to:
- Check all prescriptions and remove those out of date for filing in the prisoners medical notes
- Check all medication including stocks, removing unwanted items for return to pharmacy in line with departmental policies and procedures
Research & Audit:
- Assist in the collection and analysis of workload data when requested
- Help identify areas where the technical pharmacy service can be developed.
Education and Training:
- Participate in the development and delivery of training events for CNWL employed staff in the prison Healthcare to support:
- The implementation of medicine related policies and procedures
- An appropriate level of knowledge for healthcare professionals using homely remedies
- The implementation of clinical guidelines and the preferred prescribing list
Communication:
- Deal appropriately with requests from GPs, courts, police and substance misuse clinics regarding patient medication, weighing up the need for information against patient confidentiality and seeking advice from more senior staff on complex and contentious issues
- Advise selected patients regarding their medication and other relevant pharmaceutical issues adjusting the level of advice as appropriate to overcome barriers to understanding (e.g. hard of hearing, conveying complex information in an easily understandable form)
Financial:
- Support the Pharmacy Manager in providing the pharmacy service within the budgets relating to prescribing and provision of pharmaceutical services to ensure that budgets are not exceeded.
- Support the Pharmacy Manager to identify potential savings from the medicine budget for future financial years if so required.
Responsibilities specific to the prison environment:
- To be familiar with Prison Standards, Standing Orders, Circular Instructions, Notices to Staff, Prison Rules, Health and Safety, and any other relevant material within the prison setting.
- To ensure that the Healthcare Centre meets the security requirements.
- The post holder will be in contact with prisoners on a daily basis; this client group can be challenging due to the high proportion that have mental health illness and substance misuse problems.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Management and Organisation:
- Participate in the efficient day to day running of the dispensary
- To provide medicine management
- Assist in maintaining correct Controlled Drug records in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- Maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in local/national guidance in order to maintain/deliver high quality services to the Prison.
- Under the supervision of a senior technician, to provide a timely and efficient stock topping up service to the wings with responsibility for ensuring stock levels are appropriately maintained in accordance with an agreed stock list
- Responsible for ensuring medicines are supplied and replenished to the emergency cupboards, giving medicine related advice, where necessary, to other healthcare professionals
- Check emergency bags and maintain records for audit.
- Once qualified for a suitable length of time to work towards completing the accredited checking technicians course undertaking periodic re-assessment (every 2 years) as appropriate
Dispensary responsibilities:
- Work with a team of technicians to provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service.
- Maintain a clean and tidy working environment for the dispensing process
- Assist in the development, implementation and review of dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
- Maintain computer files for prisoner information and dispensary computer operations via update discs
- Maintain high levels of safety and security and be constantly vigilant
- Ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported to the prison gate and around the prison in a manner which maintains the integrity and security of the medicines whilst adhering to necessary safety precautions
- The post holder has a responsibility to themselves and others in relation to managing risk and health and safety and will be required to work within the prison service and CNWL Service Policies and Procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Clinical:
- Ensure that all dispensed medicines are processed in accordance with agreed dispensing standards.
- Enter patient details on the computerized record system using information from prescriptions prepared by the medical staff ensuring that drug histories are up to date and complete
- Provide regular medicines management service to each Wing to:
- Check all prescriptions and remove those out of date for filing in the prisoners medical notes
- Check all medication including stocks, removing unwanted items for return to pharmacy in line with departmental policies and procedures
Research & Audit:
- Assist in the collection and analysis of workload data when requested
- Help identify areas where the technical pharmacy service can be developed.
Education and Training:
- Participate in the development and delivery of training events for CNWL employed staff in the prison Healthcare to support:
- The implementation of medicine related policies and procedures
- An appropriate level of knowledge for healthcare professionals using homely remedies
- The implementation of clinical guidelines and the preferred prescribing list
Communication:
- Deal appropriately with requests from GPs, courts, police and substance misuse clinics regarding patient medication, weighing up the need for information against patient confidentiality and seeking advice from more senior staff on complex and contentious issues
- Advise selected patients regarding their medication and other relevant pharmaceutical issues adjusting the level of advice as appropriate to overcome barriers to understanding (e.g. hard of hearing, conveying complex information in an easily understandable form)
Financial:
- Support the Pharmacy Manager in providing the pharmacy service within the budgets relating to prescribing and provision of pharmaceutical services to ensure that budgets are not exceeded.
- Support the Pharmacy Manager to identify potential savings from the medicine budget for future financial years if so required.
Responsibilities specific to the prison environment:
- To be familiar with Prison Standards, Standing Orders, Circular Instructions, Notices to Staff, Prison Rules, Health and Safety, and any other relevant material within the prison setting.
- To ensure that the Healthcare Centre meets the security requirements.
- The post holder will be in contact with prisoners on a daily basis; this client group can be challenging due to the high proportion that have mental health illness and substance misuse problems.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC or NVQ level 3 in pharmaceutical sciences or equivalent
- Registered with the GPhS
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation and good practice in relation to medicines
- Knowledge of government publication 'A pharmacy service to prisoners'
- Experience of stock control
- Computer literate
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience with using Pharmacy Manager/Systmone and/or JAC computer software
- Understanding the principles of clinical governance
- Pharmacy hospital experience
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC or NVQ level 3 in pharmaceutical sciences or equivalent
- Registered with the GPhS
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation and good practice in relation to medicines
- Knowledge of government publication 'A pharmacy service to prisoners'
- Experience of stock control
- Computer literate
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience with using Pharmacy Manager/Systmone and/or JAC computer software
- Understanding the principles of clinical governance
- Pharmacy hospital experience
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).
