Job overview
We are looking for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join our forward-thinking department. The role involves working at ward level, and within the department supporting dispensary services. We strive for the highest standards of medicines management duties, with Pharmacy Technicians being key to the success of our award-winning service. You will oversee daily workload, and support the safe, efficient deployment of resources and kit.
The right candidate will be a team player with clinical experience, well-developed communication skills and a desire to use your knowledge, skills and experience to improve patient care and influence healthcare professionals in the best use of medicines. You will be able to demonstrate consistent leadership and the ability to train. We are looking for leaders of the future, who can meet the changing needs and dynamics of our busy and professional department. In return, we offer a training programme developed to offer Pharmacy Technicians the opportunity to enhance their skills widen their knowledge base.
Ability to participate in late night, Bank holiday and weekend rotas is essential. The main base will the RBTH site, but the post-holder must be able to cover both sites if required.
Main duties of the job
At ward level, our Pharmacy Technicians ensure patients have sufficient supplies of medicines and flagging critical medicines and arranging supplies. They make interventions, avoiding missed and delayed doses of medicines, reconciling inpatient charts against GP records, and supporting the discharge process.
Pharmacy Technicians are responsible for ward-based medicines management duties including audit, controlled drug management and compliance with Trust policies, and experience of this within a clinical setting is desirable for this post.
Our pharmacy Technicians at this grade provide oversight and leadership of the dispensary during designated sessions and oversee the workload for groups of wards.
Working for our organisation
East Lancashire Hospitals has a history of innovation and is an exciting place to work. We have gone live recently with a full Electronic Patient Record, which incorporates ePrescribing and medicines reconciliation activities. We were the first Trust in the country to launch Refer-to-Pharmacy. The pharmacy teams utilise ELHT's unique e-patient tracking system to identify and target patients requiring medicines reconciliation, and as an e-pharmaceutical care planning tool.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Support the Assistant Directors of Pharmacy in providing a high quality, cost effective and efficient patient centred pharmacy service to the Trust
* Maintain and develop the highest standards of patient-focused care in the provision of technical services
* Support the governance and medicines risk management agenda locally
* Support the development of the technician and assistant teams to complement and facilitate multidisciplinary working
* Act as a role model in the field of clinical technician pharmacy practice and provide a consistently high level of pharmaceutical service in line with corporate objectives and government initiatives
* Support the agreed policies and procedures for safe medicines use and support mechanisms to promote high quality medicine use, effective risk management, clinical governance and adherence to Trust policies and guidelines concerning medicines use
* Contribute to the development of the service
* Support the professional development of technicians and assistants
See attached job description.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
* NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification – approved for registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Member GPhC
* BTec Accuracy Checking Technician Qualification or equivalent
Desirable criteria
* A1 NVQ Assessor Qualification or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
* Practice in one or more relevant areas, including clinical
* Experience of supervising pharmacy services in primary or secondary care
* Working within GMP/GDP/GCP guidelines
* Able to identify, prioritise and evaluate work, meets deadlines
* Reflects on own practice and learns from experience
Qualities
Essential criteria
* Can balance strong leadership and demonstrates flexibility when working within a team
* Demonstrates a systematic approach and works well under pressure
* Flexibility in working hours due to service demands
* Evidence of CPD
* Experience in the use of IT systems/ keyboard skills
Skills
Essential criteria
* Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance i.e. Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, MHRA Alerts
* Able to communicate information of a technical, clinical, or supervisory nature
* Ability to prioritise demands on service and plan workload of self and others
* Skills in training and development of a range of staff
* Excellent verbal and written communication