Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

• Ensure timely medicines reconciliation on the designated in-patient unit as appropriate to facilitate a smooth admission to services.
• Appropriately refer interventions to the clinical pharmacists or liaising with other members of the MDT within scope and experience. Escalating to the Head of Medicines Optimisation as necessary.
• Ensuring the appropriate management and administration of medications in accordance with Legislation, Trust Policy and Professional Standards.
• Assess, use and destroy patients own drugs and encouraging patients relatives/carers to use patients own medicines.
• Destroy expired or unwanted medicines as per trust procedure.
• Ensure wards have appropriate stock rotation, stock lists and medicines storage and review regularly with the ward pharmacist and ward manager.
• Initiate requests for ward non-stock and when relevant ward stock items.
• Facilitate resolution of medicines supply problems when requested.
• Assisting in training of ward staff involved in medicines management and administration as appropriate.
• Record all patient interventions and medicines management activity in the patient record.
• Assist with the medicines management audit agenda working with NCH&C colleagues.
• Provide patient counselling on the use of medicines to selected patients as identified by the MDT.
• Accuracy checking the quantity, quality of drug, strength, form, dose and directions of medicines contained in bedside medicines locker to ensure there are no discrepancies and sufficient supply for discharge
• As part of the clinical pharmacy team organising timely supply of new or additional items required for discharge.
• As part of the pharmacy team organising where necessary compliance aids for individual patients (medication reminder cards, dosette boxes etc.).
• Minimising clinical risk associated with medicines use by ensuring that:
  • Prescriptions are legible, unambiguous and legally acceptable
  • Medicines are administered according to standards and guidelines
• Support staff when medicine error incidents occur and identify ways to improve safe handling of medicines.
• Liaise with other health care professionals with regard to pharmaceutical discharge needs of patients including checking appropriate risk assessments have been undertaken.
• Liaise with other units and pharmacists on transition for patients from one NHS unit to another.
• Liaise with community pharmacists and General Practitioners regarding difficulties in supply of medicines to smooth the discharge plan.
• Undertake necessary continuing pharmacy education and keeping abreast of new developments in medicines optimisation and pharmacy.
• Undertake other duties as required by the pharmacy team and Head of Medicines Optimisation.
• Undertake prescribed physical and mental health observations as required reporting exceptions as appropriate and using tools available e.g. SBAR, Track & Trigger.
• Monitor and report all omissions in line with the Trust policy and contribute to service trend monitoring.
• Actively monitor and review the effects of prescribed medication for the patient group noting its efficacy and the effect of potential side effects and acting promptly to escalate concerns or seek advice regarding potential medication changes.
• Participate in team meetings, service away days and service development initiatives as required.
• Have a good knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures and raise concerns as required.
• This position will have a degree of autonomy to act on individual patient medicine pharmaceutical care, to bring improvements to safety to the patient as discovered. There is an expectation that the post holder will practice within safe limits and always refer to designated clinical ward pharmacist and Head of Medicines Optimisation when unsure or when there is a need to resolve complex or more challenging situations.
• There is a need to be able to communicate succinctly and effectively with patients and other healthcare staff to deliver the role. Interventions that produce direct improvements in patient safety will be recorded to demonstrate effectiveness. Participating in agreed policy and systems audits will also demonstrate performance and quality of service.

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 - pharmacy services / BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent
• Accredited checking technician status or likely to achieve within 3 months
• Current GPhC registration - Pharmacy Technician

Desirable

• Post registration clinical/ foundation credential qualification and/or significant relevant medicines optimisation experience to demonstrate similar level of knowledge
• Medicines reconciliation accreditation
• Medicines related patient consultation skills accreditation
• Supervisory skills
• Medicines Management accreditation
• Member of APTUK

Experience

Essential

• Medicines optimisation knowledge and experience
• Experience of working in ward, community services or primary care environment
• Post qualification experience
• Evidence of CPD
• Basic knowledge of primary care
• Digital pharmacy experience

Desirable

• In depth post qualification experience of pharmacy
• Hospital based experience
• Experience of POD scheme
• Experience working in community services
• Evidence of team role and multidisciplinary work
• Experience of clinical audit

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of a ward-based technicians role including reuse of patients' own drugs, one stop dispensing, self-administration and discharge of patients
• Knowledge of the changing NHS environment
• Ability to work as an individual and as part of a team
• Ability to organize and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines and targets
• Word processing and computer skills including the use of email, internet, Microsoft Word and Excel
• Accurate numeracy skills including data analysis and interpretation
• Good interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to recognise personal limits and when it is appropriate to seek advice

Desirable

• Assessment, planning and evaluation skills
• Good clinical, pharmaceutical and health promotion knowledge
• Ability to investigate, analyse and interpret data
• Fast and adaptable learner
• Project management skills
• Understanding of broader social and health care system
• Knowledge of the use if electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems

Communication

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication
• Good person-centred care skills
• Able to relate well to wide range of people
• Ability to work independently and use own initiative
• Ability to share own knowledge, skills and experience
• Good written communication skills including report writing, procedure writing and record keeping

Desirable

• Report writing skills
• Good patient counselling skills

Personal and People Development

Essential

• Good time management skills
• Able to work under pressure
• Attention to patient centred care
• Adaptable in approach to work and projects

Personal Attribute / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promote the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
• Highly motivated and reliable Effective role model, demonstrating NCHC values of People community, compassion & creativity
• Enthusiastic and willing to learn
• Able to work as part of a team or as an individual with a flexible approach to duties
• Professional attitude

Other

Essential

• Committed to self and service development
• The post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations if necessary. Some roles require additional level of checks as part of the employment process i.e. roles which come into contact with children, vulnerable adults or their families
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites

Desirable

• Full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).