Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties 

• Configuring drug templates for the ePMA system. 

• Configuring order sentences and sets for the ePMA system. 

• Ensuring a working integration continues to function between the ePMA and dispensing system. 

• Building and running reports relevant to medicines optimisation. 

• Supporting the resolution and escalation of clinical queries in relation to ePMA. 

• Report computer problems to the I.T. Helpdesk.  Communicate with the two I.T. Helpdesks within our Trust and the supplier. 

• Dispensing and checking of prescriptions, including competence in the use of the computer system. 

• Providing medicines related information to patients, carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.  Work on own initiative to ensure that medicines are being ordered, stored and administered in compliance with guidelines and legal requirements.  Helping staff to ensure medication has been appropriately verified and to ensure that medication has been supplied, stored and administered properly. 

• Ensure that medication is not being over ordered, and alert the Pharmacist to any prescribing problems, such as the need to review medication. 

·       Undertake patient counselling for self-medication, discharge counselling and inhaler counselling at the request of the Pharmacist.  Liaise with care staff providing general drug information, also offering patient information leaflets if required, and assess when service users need help to self-medicate. 

·       Liaise with Community Pharmacists to help our service users receive their medication in forms appropriate for them. 

• Provision of a topping up service of agreed pharmaceutical items to the units. Communicate with the Pharmacists and nursing staff to prevent stock piling and ensure stock rotation and thus promote economy in the use of ward stocks.  Discuss with the Pharmacist any increased/ decreased drug usage on the wards with a view to altering the stock levels. 

• Assist the Pharmacist to deal with enquiries and medicines information to community and hospital based healthcare professionals by effective liaison and communication with them. 

• Check care plans to ensure that medication is given when needed, liaise with staff on the unit to check if any take-out/ home medicines are required. 

• Be proficient in all aspects of the Pharmacy computer system.

• Assist with training staff and providing core training to include ePMA use, medication administration and updates. 

• Deputising for the Pharmacist in the continuing supply of non-stock items for patients (Pharmacist non stock top up). 

• Responsibility for the security of the Department throughout the day.  Unlock and lock up the Department each day and set/ unset the alarm.  Authorised key holder. 

• Monitor and defrost medicines fridges in the unit ensuring the temperatures are checked and recorded each day.  When topping up the wards, check their drug fridge temperature and report any problems to the unit manager and Pharmacist. 

• Check emergency drug cupboards for the hospital on a regular basis to ensure they contain what is intended and remove and replace any expired items. 

• Filing all paperwork and arranging archiving when necessary.  Photocopy any necessary documents on the site photocopier. 

• Organise and implement regular stock checks for all medicines including controlled drugs within the service, identify and investigate any incorrect levels that need adjustment. 

• Organise the drug returns to stock as in the Standard Operating Procedure and identify and return any unwanted or overstocked items to the supplier for credit. 

• Organise the secure transport of drugs including controlled drugs to all clinical areas and between sites. 

• Ensure all blue 222 cardiac arrest boxes are in date in the hospital and arrange for their replacement when they are used or expire. 

• Ensure wards are recharged for items borrowed from other wards via the borrowing forms brought back to the Pharmacy. 

• Dispense medication, including cytotoxics as prescribed checking for legality, interactions with other drugs, doses, compliance with the British National Formulary and taking the appropriate action if necessary to ensure the patient receives the correct medication.  Provide patient information leaflets on the patient’s discharge from hospital via their discharge drugs.  Dispense unlicensed medication ensuring the Consultant has completed a disclaimer form. 

• Deal with all supply requests and telephone queries from the units in a timely fashion. 

• Obtain drugs that are not stocked by checking other hospitals files to find out who keeps the item.  Arrange for it to be transferred or ordered by the Pharmacy stores.  If urgent and routine transport has been missed, arrange transport for the item. 

• Dispense controlled drugs ensuring the controlled drug register is completed.  Also receive controlled drugs into stock from the supplier completing the controlled drug register.  Supply new controlled drug stationery to the wards when necessary.  Arrange for their collection from the Pharmacy to the wards or deliver personally.

• Prepare monitored dosage systems (plus pack, medimax etc.) for patients requiring this service.  Ensure follow up arrangements are in place following the patient’s discharge from hospital.  Communicate with outside Pharmacies regarding the patient’s requirements/ prescription.

• Checking dispensing carried out by the Pharmacists.  If the post holder has completed the Accredited Technician Course, checking dispensing carried out by other Technicians and Assistant Technical Officers.

• Develop, write and implement Standard Operating Procedures within the Service.

• Update the Stock Drug Location Index for the hospital.

• Comply with the Medicines Act, Health and Safety at Work Act, follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Trust Policies and Procedures and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations during daily activities.  Complete incident forms as necessary.

• Order drugs and stationery required by the service.

• Once a year, distribute the new British National Formulary (BNFs) to the units.

• Supervise any locum staff around the unit, introducing them to staff.  Show them where drug sheets are kept and how to initiate supply of new no-stock items.  Show them anything else required to carry out their duties for the day.

• Supervise any non-Pharmacy staff that work in the Pharmacy Department, e.g. any visitors coming to the Department for stock deliveries.

• Supervise collection of clinical waste from the Pharmacy and sign the Driver’s form.

• Participate in audits at the request of the Head Pharmacist.

• Deal appropriately with telephone queries in the absence of a Pharmacist and if necessary, contact Medicines Information at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) regarding queries that cannot be answered with the information available and have that information faxed over to the Department.

• Be involved in areas of work not described to take into account any future developments of the Service. 

• To attend meetings in the Division, Speciality and Trust as necessary in order to fulfil job functions. 

• Work as part of the Pharmacy Team to cover for emergency duties and unplanned absence. 

To undertake other duties commensurate with this grade of post in agreement with the relevant line manager. 

To minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use.  Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel.  Where the role includes the ordering and use of supplies or equipment the post holder will consider the environmental impact of purchases.