Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• To support the Pharmacy Technician Team Manager deliver ward based services to an agreed range of patients in collaboration with pharmacists, technicians and assistants
• To provide Clinical technician support to existing Clinical Pharmacist Services
• To administer medicines on wards.
• To accuracy check, clinically checked out-patient prescriptions, CD tins, Discharge letters and One Stop Dispensing orders.
• To communicate in a professional manner, factual information about availability of medicines to patients, other Trust staff and external departments.
• To be aware of the overall medication needs of the patients on the ward. In particular:-
• Take an effective medication history from patient or other reliable source.
• Assessing suitability of patients own drugs for re-use on ward
• In Liaison with Dispensary staff to organise the most appropriate supplies of medication to patients and wards and maintain relevant stock lists.
• To ensure that urgent medication requests are fulfilled.
• To counsel patients during their stay and prior to discharge on all aspects of their medication requirement.
• To have an understanding of and to implement relevant departmental procedures ensuring standards are met and agreed at all times.
• To suggest improvements to departmental procedures through line management.
• To receive, interpret, dispense and handout prescriptions in line with departmental standard operating procedures.
• To assist in the supply of medications to wards, departments and external agencies.
• To review and revise stock lists for wards.
• To issue controlled drugs to patients, wards and departments maintaining relevant registers.
• To participate in clinical trials under direct supervision ensuring relevant details are maintained in trials documentation.

Planning and Organisational Duties

• To recycle or destroy medicines returned from wards, departments and external agencies.
• To assist in the ordering, issuing and receiving of medication.
• To assist in the maintenance of the pharmacy stock system.
• To check expiry dates and safe storage of medicines within areas of responsibility ensuring effective action is taken when necessary.
• To assist in audit and surveys as directed by line manager.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• To organise own work patterns within framework provided by Line Manager.
• To be an active member of relevant pharmacy groups, contributing to the development of high quality and consistent pharmaceutical policies, procedures and services within the Trust.
• The post holder will be responsible for reading and complying with agreed SOP’s in order to provide a consistent, efficient and effective service.
• To be a positive role model for the Pharmacy service. To develop effective working relationships with other healthcare professionals within area of responsibility.

Responsibility for Finance

• To handle prescription charges & issue relevant receipts.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• To provide support for pharmacy assistants, senior pharmacy assistants, Student Pharmacy technicians,  Pre-registration Pharmacists,  workplace experience students and new starters  within boundaries of knowledge, skill, experience and training.
• To participate in Trust Compulsory training programme and Trust Appraisal system.
• To participate in Continuous Professional Development in line with GPhC requirements

Responsibility for Health & Safety

• To ensure patients and staff are advised of risks with medicines and to minimise those risks through effective medicines management.
• To ensure known risks are brought to attention of line managers immediately.
• To report medicines related incidents using the Datix system. In conjunction with managers to ensure appropriate systems are put in place to prevent recurrence where possible.
• Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Provide assessment for NVQ level 3 Pharmacy Student Technicians.
• To organise and where needed deliver Level 2 Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Dispensing and Pharmacy Assistant Training for ATO’s.