Lead Technician Medicines Optimisation

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service Development & Delivery

The post holder will:

Work with the care group lead pharmacists, lead pharmacy technicians across site (Medicines Management, Medicines Safety and Education & Training) to support the development of medicines optimisation services across the Trust including:

- facilitating the provision of medicines optimisation services at ward and department level as necessary

- developing and implementing policies, procedures and guidance for medicines optimisation pharmacy technicians to support best practice in medicines optimisation at ward level

- developing, reviewing and maintaining ward-based training accreditation programmes for pharmacy technicians working within ward-based medicines optimisation services

- providing supervision for ward based pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians working in wards and departments

- monitoring and evaluating the practice and competency of pharmacy technicians working in wards and departments

- performing audits of workload as necessary to streamline quality of service on a regular basis.

Working with the Medication Safety Team, identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning safe and secure handling of medicines are required within the department or at ward level if appropriate, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards and departments.

Identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning controlled drugs are required on wards, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards.

Organise projects and training in relation to ward-based optimisation as required.

Provide the Care Group Lead Pharmacists with details of output, performance and activity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist.

Liaise and work closely with the Chief Pharmacy Technician, Care Group Lead Pharmacists and Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training).

Patient Care

The post holder will:

Participate in the front-line provision of clinical services as appropriate and when required.

Actively provide technical support to pharmacists on wards in order to support the pharmacy ward-based medicines optimisation service. This includes undertaking and supporting the following activities in accordance with departmental procedures:

- Medicines Reconciliation

- Assessment of Patients Own Drugs

- Ordering of medicines (that are clinically screened by a pharmacist)

- Supporting implementation of self-administration by patients and/or carers where possible

- Dispensing of discharge prescriptions to facilitate timely discharges

Participate in the efficient management and review of ward stocks.

Communicate with community pharmacies, where necessary, as part of the discharge processes.

Promote cost-effective and appropriate use of medicines in the best interest of the patient.

At times of significant bed pressures, act as a discharge co-ordinator for the department and implement efficient systems for discharge when necessary.

Staff Management

The post holder will:

Line manage pharmacy staff across the Trust where needed and take responsibility (directly for senior staff and delegated to senior staff for more junior staff) forl the following, according to Trust procedures:

- Appraisals and objective setting

- Sickness absence

- Disciplinary and grievance matters

- Recruitment and selection

- Personal development

- Departmental workload allocations

In conjunction with other lead pharmacy technicians, be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants, ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.

Work alongside the Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to identify the training and development needs of all pharmacy staff involved in the medicines optimisation service.

Facilitate the training and development of medicines optimisation pharmacy staff on wards in line with service needs and personal development plans.

Work with the Lead Pharmacy Technician (Education and Training) to support the lead pharmacist with responsibility for education & training in co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff as required.

Co-ordinate and provide advice on continuing professional development (CPD) for all technical staff within Pharmacy.

Education & Training

The post holder will:

Support, co-ordinate and deliver training to the pharmacy team on issues associated with medicines optimisation & in-house service developments as necessary.

Support the provision of training regarding ward-based pharmacy services to nursing and medical staff, ranging from one to one communications to more formal presentations in order to promote medicines optimisation services and practice.

Evaluate and develop own management and professional knowledge competencies by attendance at in-house training programmes, external training programmes, self-education and practice research.

Support the Chief Pharmacy Technician to co-ordinate and deliver pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant training across the department to ensure students receive the vocational training required. This will be by providing appropriate support and delivery of underpinning knowledge sessions to complete the qualification within the timescale.

Research & Development

The post holder will:

Support the publication of practice research in medicines optimisation.

Support the integration of research evidence into practice.

Identify gaps in evidence base and, working with the Lead Pharmacist with responsibility for Practice Research, develop potential plans to research specific areas of practice.

Governance, Information & Data Management

The post holder will:

Support the collation of quantitative and qualitative performance measures, co-ordinate their use and be involved in disseminating and acting on the information gathered, as relevant for the medicines optimisation service.

Collate and review audit data relating to outcome measures associated with medicines optimisation services and utilise available information to influence and develop services in the Trust.

Support the investigation of medication related incidents and the formulation and delivery of actions plans across the Trust to address problems identified where appropriate.

Ensure that the principles of safe and secure handling of medicines are adopted and to take part in quality assurance systems for pharmacy services.

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of change/project management
• Knowledge of a relevant Pharmacy computer system.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office especially spreadsheets.
• Good analytical skills
• Good organisational skills, including planning and prioritising.
• Good communication skills, including negotiation.
• Ability to manipulate, present and explain data to varying levels of staff

Desirable

• Evidence of self-development
• Demonstrable management skills

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in an acute hospital setting
• Extensive experience of working in a ward environment and relevant medicines management experience.
• Experience of a specialist pharmacy technician role or experience of supervising a relevant technical area
• Experience of training staff.
• Experience of pharmacy/prescribing computer systems

Desirable

• Experience of pharmacy practice research
• Experience of working as a qualified senior Pharmacy Technician in a primary care or community pharmacy setting
• Experience of HR practices

Special Requirements

Essential

• Able to build good relationships with colleagues
• Ability to communicate complex information where there may barriers to understanding and where information may be challenged or where opinions may differ
• Team player who delegates appropriately
• A problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
• Desire to develop clinical skills
• Able to prioritise own workload
• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
• Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC)
• Obtained an appropriate higher qualification to at least degree level or willing to commence within 12 months
• Accredited checking qualification
• Commitment to CPD and personal development

Desirable

• Leadership/supervisory 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.

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Employer's website

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