Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities 

Possesses knowledge across a range of pharmacy procedures and practises, underpinned by theoretical knowledge, experience and relevant practices. 

To support Dispensary and Ward Based Services in a safe and efficient
manner to ensure operation in line with best practice. To co-ordinate all technical and support staff, organising work schedules and ensure that staff respond to the changing demands during the working day, ensuring an efficient skill mix.

To manage the technical staff in the dispensary and on wards to provide a
dispensing service involving assessment of medicines suitability of safe reuse.

To plan the work to maximize efficiency in accordance with agreed priorities particularly to reduce delays at discharge.

Participate in regular Senior Technical Team meetings and cascade to
relevant technical and support staff groups.

Anticipate changes in stock level requirements and liaise with Purchasing
Manager to ensure that all stock levels are appropriate.

To deliver the patient counselling program for technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and student technicians.

To counsel and educate patients and carers on the correct use of their
medication and assess their understanding of the medicines prescribed.

Delivery of dispensing activity to maintain skills including manipulation of raw materials for pharmaceutical extemporaneous preparations using laminar flow cabinets.

To work alongside the pharmacy IT team in the management of automated storage systems.

Clinical Responsibility

To support the provision and development of a technical clinical pharmacy
service as agreed with the Technical Services Manager.

This will include;

To deliver the Medication History Training program carried out by qualified technicians and pharmacists

Challenging inappropriate prescribing.

Responsible for ensuring that medicines are available to meet the patient’s individual treatment needs in a safe and timely manner.

Facilitate patient discharge in line with departmental procedures to ensure seamless pharmaceutical care across the primary/secondary care interface.

Use the Trusts incident reporting system to report any medication errors. 

Managerial/Leadership

To work independently within appropriate guidelines, referring to manager when necessary.

Management of technical and support staff; participate in appraisal, sickness absence, recruitment and selection decisions, departmental workload and allocation.

Adhere to and promote the NHS code of conduct for managers and staff.
In the absence of Technical Services Manager, represent the pharmacy
service on relevant Trust and external committees

Clinical Governance/Quality

Ensure that Clinical Governance across medicines supply aspects of the
pharmacy service is performed.

To manage enquiries/complaints referring to a Senior Manager where
appropriate

Ensure technical and support staff are aware of their responsibilities under health and safety legislation and they are appropriately trained and provided with any necessary equipment to carry out their function.

Ensure all ward based and dispensary technical and support staff comply with mandatory training requirements and professional registration.

Education and training development

To be responsible for the In-House training packages. Ensuring all relevant staff successfully complete as is required by department policies and procedures.

To foster a culture of continuing professional education and vocational
training of all technical and support staff.

To deliver appropriate training within the Trust to medical staff and health
care professionals

Deliver education/training programmes to Trust employees, internal and external to the pharmacy department.

Administration Responsibility

Ensure that all rotas for operation of the service, including late night, weekend working and bank holidays are in place.

Authorisation of annual leave for technical and support staff.

Manage the destruction and disposal of prescriptions with outside agencies in line with retention of paperwork guidance.

Research

Carries out audits to identify good practice and potential service
developments.

Strategic role

To form part of the senior technical management team within pharmacy,
contributing to the strategic development of services and the new hospital.

Organises service provision and strategic planning across the operational
pharmacy service.

HR Management

Has knowledge of and works within guidance of all Trust HR policies and
procedures.

Ensure in-house induction program is delivered to all new technical and
support staff

Ensure Trust policies on recruitment, attendance, equality and diversity, Health and Safety and other national legislation are followed and understood by the pharmacy technical and support staff.