Job overview
The post holder will be responsible for supporting a high-quality medication service to the Islington Reablement service. The post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and motivated pharmacy technician looking to develop their skills and support the expansion of integrated pharmacy services across North Central London
The post holder will be heavily involved in the day to day running of the Reablement service, working collaboratively with a large, varied group of staff with all aspects of the medication service provided to patients. Other key responsibilities will include;
-Education and training of Reablement staff
-Undertaking quality improvement projects and service improvement audits,
-Working closely with patients in their own homes to support them with their medication use
-Support the implementation of policies and maintain up‑to‑date guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
They will also provide support to Take Home and Settle team and work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Reablement in making sure Reablement is safe, effective and meeting statutory requirements.
The post is hosted by Whittington health but embedded full time with the Islington Reablement service and will be based at Islington council offices. Clinical support and training will come from the Whittington Health pharmacy department.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will deliver, develop and support a medication service within Islington Reablement, overseeing the provision of pharmaceutical support to patients following discharge into the service. They will support and facilitate Reablement staff to provide a safe and effective medication service, while promoting and contributing to integrated working within the pharmacy department. The role involves close collaboration with support workers, therapists, social workers, team leaders, GPs, acute trusts and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the safe provision of medicines in the community. The postholder will undertake home visits independently or jointly with community teams for complex patients and work in liaison with pharmacy and medicines management staff across other NHS Trusts and Social Services to ensure safe, collaborative medicines management across care interfaces. They will raise the profile of pharmacy locally, engage in new projects, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the clinical aspects of medicines management. The role includes supporting the implementation of national medicines management guidance, ensuring statutory requirements are met, demonstrating the clinical and financial value of pharmacy within Reablement, leading and contributing to quality improvement initiatives, actively monitoring service quality within a just culture, and acting as a mentor and role model to junior pharmacy staff.
Working for our organisation
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
LEADERSHIP
·To identify and promote best practice with medication management in the Islington Reablement service
·To ensure the input of pharmacy teams is recognised and skills are used appropriately
MANAGEMENT
·Provide leadership and guidance, in collaboration with Islington Reablement service managers, to staff involved with medication support
·To support the work of the Reablement Pharmacist and wider Adult Community Services team.
·To lead on, update and deliver training to Islington Reablement service staff.
CLINICAL DUTIES
1. To provide safe and effective, patient focussed medicine optimisation to patients in their own home.
2. To support the medicines reconciliation process and promote patient independence with regards to managing their medications
3. To support with the medication transcribing process onto the electronic Medication Administration Record (eMARs) charts
4. To support with the monitoring of eMARs, ensuring medication is accurate, up to date and in line with what the patient should be taking.
5. To support with the clearing of medication alerts on the eMAR system.
6. To support with answering medication queries for the Islington Reablement Service and the Take Home & Settle Service.
7. To attend and contribute to the weekly MDT meetings
8. To identify patients with complex clinical medication needs who require the intervention of the Reablement pharmacist.
9. To promote, adhere and contribute to medication review and support compliance with the local policies and objectives.
10. To contribute to the review of the Medicines Policy and associated Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines for local implementation.
11. To develop and deliver staff training packages regarding medicines management including medicines reconciliation and administration
12. To contribute and be part of multidisciplinary teams in clinical practice to ensure that’s patients have their needs met in relation to medicines including adherence support and devices.
13. To support the safe return and disposal of medicines in community settings.
14. To support the patient self-medication process
15. To ensure that staff and patients/carers have access to medicines information.
16. To liaise with staff involved in the patients care during their time on the Reablement service and transfer process
17. To advise on the safe and effective provision of medicines for patients referred to the service.
18. To be involved in necessary audits and data collecting to provide support for the role
19. To report medicines related incidents using the approved incident reporting system
20. To liaise with dispensing pharmacies including hospital and community pharmacists
21. To support and mentor other team members where agreed.
22. To provide assessments of Reablement staff and their ability to administer medication and mange devices.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
·To maintain a CPD portfolio, linked to the GPhC’s Revalidation requirements
·To support the training needs of the Islington Reablement service and other staff providing a medication service
·To participate in education and training of other health and social care professionals and participate in any MDT teaching or professional development opportunities
·Provide high‑quality educational and professional development opportunities within the Pharmacy department, supporting structured rotation and learning for trainee pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
OTHER DUTIES
·To undertake any other duties linked to the grade of the role or as requested by Pharmacy senior team.
·To be an active champion of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity and acting as an ally when appropriate
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
23. To always behave in a manner that is professional, positive and polite.
24. To be accountable for own professional actions.
25. To be responsible for ensuring that they remain aware of current developments in pharmacy and relevant specialist clinical practices.
26. To be responsible for their own professional development and participate in own ‘Performance and Development planning’.
27. At all times to practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council
Person specification
Education /Qualifications
Essential criteria
28. Relevant BTEC and NVQ level 3 or higher qualification in Pharmacy Services
29. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Desirable criteria
30. ACPT Qualification
31. NVQ Assessor qualification
32. Membership of APTUK
33. Member of relevant professional clinical groups (e.g. PCPA)
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
34. Confidence to engage in appropriate dialogue with other clinicians and professions around complex clinical cases.
35. Good written and oral communication skills and able to communicate with patients and all grades of healthcare and social care staff (verbally and in writing).
36. Good negotiation skills and the ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management.
37. Experience of supervising and training junior technicians and wider pharmacy team members
38. Good interpersonal and negotiation skills.
39. Ability to work in a fast paced, rapidly changing environment and prioritise appropriately
40. Good problem solving skills.
41. Excellent numeracy skills.
42. Comfortable with working autonomously and visiting patients in their homes in the community
Desirable criteria
43. A good understanding of integrated pharmacy services
44. Experience of providing education and training to social care staff
45. Ability to identify and plan service improvement
46. Understand the principles of change management
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
47. Demonstrates an integrated, patient-focused approach to work.
48. Understanding of current national standards, guidelines and service developments within domiciliary care
49. Relevant clinical experience from working in multiple organisations across Primary and Secondary care or integrated posts
50. Experience of working as a senior technician, with team leadership or line management experience
51. An understanding of the relevant legal frameworks guiding the safe and secure handling of medications
52. Involvement in the writing of clinical guidelines, policies and procedures
53. Experience in education and training
54. An understanding of using digital tools to provide medication administration
Desirable criteria
55. Experience of working with frail / elderly / housebound individuals and an understanding of the medication needs of this group of people
56. Experience of or reducing medication waste through good medication optimisation
57. Understanding of the principles of Quality Improvement
58. An appreciation of the NHS agenda including acute, primary care and PCN structures
59. Experience of appraising staff and giving feedback
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
60. Reliable, Self-motivated
61. Able to work under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
62. Able to work on own initiative or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
63. Demonstrates initiative, and motivation & enthusiasm for the post.
64. Commitment to continuing personal development
65. Ability to articulate their own leadership style
66. Ability to work autonomously while understanding limitations
67. Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues and how personally can make a positive difference to this agenda
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
68. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
69. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
70. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
71. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
72. Participate in required training and supervision.
73. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.