Job summary
Thisis an exciting new opportunity to be part of the in-patient unit and pharmacyteam based at Birmingham Hospice Erdington.The post holder will be a key member of the team expected to support thedelivery of care to patients. Thehospice has a 11-bed in-patient unit, and the post holder will be expected toprovide expert pharmacy technical support to professionals involved in the careof hospice patients as well work directly with patients themselves.
Theywill participate and support the delivery of a safe and effective medicinesmanagement in all areas of the hospice and work closely with our medicinesprovider to ensure safe and secure access to medicines.
The post holder will be supported by a wider teamacross the organisation and may be required to work at our other site in SellyPark (Birmingham) on occasions.
Main duties of the job
This is an excitingopportunity for a highly motivated Pharmacy Technician who has a passion for working with patients. You'll have a uniqueopportunity to provide high-quality medicine management service on ourIPU unit at our Erdington site. We have an established pharmacy team across our two sitescomprising of clinical pharmacists and medicines management technicians, whowill be able to offer peer support and training to you.
You'll be an importantpart of the in-patient team and work closely with them to support all aspects ofmedicines management. You will bedelivering medicines management initiatives within the organisation, including,medicines reconciliation, self-medication and technician led dischargecounselling. You willbe the key contact between the hospice and our SLA pharmacy, to ensure safe andtimely provision of medication.
We are looking for anexperience patient focussed technician with a proven track records in deliveringhigh quality medicines management. Youwill require excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able towork flexibly as part of a MDT to provide high-qualitycare. Whilst part of a team you will beexpected to demonstrate initiative, and will have the opportunity to workindependently.
The role will be primarilybased at our Erdington site, however you may be required to work at our othersite (Selly Park), occasionally.
For an informal chat aboutthe role, please contact Lisa Wall-Hayes;
About us
BirminghamHospice provides expert palliative and end of life care for people and theirfamilies living with life-limiting illnesses.
We believethat all people in Birmingham should have access to the best specialist careand support - when, where and how they need it. Our vision is a future whereeveryone with a life-limiting illness will live and die with dignity and incomfort. Our mission is to enable more people from all communities to accessthe care of their choice at the end of life.
During arecent CQC inspection our sites have been rated outstanding, withindependent health care regulators highlighting that colleagues and servicesare caring, responsive and well-led.
Ouroutstanding teams are passionate about providing the very best care, andpatients and their loved ones are at the heart of everything we do.
Our values ofkindness, respect, innovation, togetherness, positivity and openness are at thecentre of who we are, what we do and how we behave. We pride ourselves on beingan inclusive, welcoming, caring and supportive team. Were offering acompetitive salary, with generous holiday allowance, a contribution pensionscheme, and a commitment to investing in our people through employee benefitsand ongoing professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PatientCare
Reconcilepatients medications on admission to the hospice, ensuring an accurate,current list of medications is available and documented in a timely manner. Escalating any issues found during themedicines reconciliation process to the relevant health care professional.
Documentclearly in the patients electronic records and medication charts
Toassess the suitability of the use of patients own medications, ensuringpatients consent to use or dispose of their medication whilst in the hospiceand to arrange the efficient and prompt supply of medicines where needed.
Toassess whether the patient has any difficulties managing their medicines orconcerns about their medicines and work with the patient, family andmultidisciplinary team to address these
Tosupport discharge through working as part of the ward based team, includingordering of urgent items, ensuring timely ordering and delivery of TTOs (ToTake Out) and assessing patients own drugs to use on discharge
Contributeto the efficient discharge of patients by ensuring the patient has themedicines they need when they are discharged, and understands how to take themand get continued supplies
Stock Maintenance
Supportthe ward in managing and maintaining safe and efficient stock levels ofpharmaceuticals
Toundertake ward top-up services, in accordance with Service Level Agreements(SLA)
Workcollaboratively with our SLA provider to ensure processes are followed and anyissues identified
Disposeof and collect ongoing data on returned and wasted medicines
Maintainstock levels and tidiness of medicine cupboards, ensuring waste is minimised
Toensure appropriate maintenance of the bedside medicine cabinets by activelyputting away patient specific dispensed medicines and PODs (patients owndrugs), ensuring they are transferred with patients in the event of bed moves,being aware of when medicines will runout and ensuring continuity of supply.
Toensure any stopped or suspended medicines are removed from the bedside medicinecabinets in a timely manner. Cleaning ofbedside medicine cabinets when vacated or when spillages etc are found
Miscellaneous
Assistthe authorised witness in the destruction of controlled drugs no longersuitable for use.
Assistwith the medicines audit programme
Helpco-ordinate medicines management updates and training
Administrativetasks end of month paperwork filing, photocopying pharmacy documentation,scanning and filing pharmacy documentation to ensure records are fullymaintained
Toparticipate in other initiatives designed to improve the efficiency ofmedicines management activities as necessary and in line with competencies
Toidentify good practice in medicines management which could then be used toimprove services to patients
Education andTraining
Assistingthe Pharmacy Team to deliver Medicines Management training
Beresponsible for own continuing professional development in line withprofessional requirements in order to continue to update knowledge and skills.
Maintainown mandatory training requirements
Risk Managementand Clinical Governance
Ensureall medication incidents are reported in accordance with Hospice policy
Assistwhere appropriate in investigating errors in prescribing, dispensing or drugadministration
Assistthe team in ensuring compliance with the CQC standards for medicines management
InformationTechnology
Becompetent in using basic computer programmes
Accessthe internet on a regular basis to ensure access to up-to-date information onmedicines related issues and access work emails
To becompetent in using relevant parts of electronic care record systems in order toeffectively carry out the job.
Finance/Resources
Toensure stock levels are maintained, stock is rotated and waste is kept to aminimum
To highlight and make suggestions to ensure best useof Hospice finances in relation to the cost effective use of medicines.
The job description is notexhaustive and may be amended following appropriate consultation in the lightof business needs.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Qualified pharmacy technician (NVQ level 3, BTEC in Pharmacy or equivalent qualification)
2. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
3. Evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD) record
4. Trained in Medicines Reconciliation
Desirable
5. Communication Skills Training
6. Recognised, current Medicines Management Qualification
7. Recognised Accredited Checking Technician Qualification
Personal Skills and Attributes
Essential
8. Excellent verbal, written and personal communication skills
9. Numerical skills able to accurately undertake complex pharmaceutical calculations
10. Computer literate able to use Word, Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet
11. Good organisational skills and personal effectiveness
12. High degree of self-motivation and ability to work independently without direct supervision
13. Reliability
14. Able to work under pressure and prioritise tasks
15. Flexible and resourceful, responding positively and effectively to solve unexpected problems
16. Good listening skills and an empathetic approach
17. High level of integrity
Desirable
18. Drive and energy
19. Ability to gain the confidence and credibility of a range of professionals
20. Full UK Driving license and access to own vehicle, or otherwise independently mobile
Experience
Essential
21. Experience of working as a medicines management technician, or as a pharmacy technician in a similar role
22. Experience of working on a ward or in a similar healthcare environment
23. Knowledge of Controlled Drugs and medicines legislation
Desirable
24. Experience of working in palliative care
25. Experience of working more than one sector of Pharmacy
26. Evidence of involvement in education and training other professionals
27. Experience of producing policies, procedures, audits, and reports
28. Previous experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team including consultant, nurses, doctors or other healthcare professionals
29. General knowledge of palliative medicines
30. Working knowledge of SystemOne
31. Awareness of healthcare priorities and policies