Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to join the RM Medicinesas a Pharmacy Assistant who is passionate about improving the lives of patients with cancer.
RM Medicines is a wholly owned subsidiary, created by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust to provide outpatient pharmacy services, focussed on ensuring efficient and safe supply of medicines to patients.
Individuals recruited to the RM Medicines team will be supported to provide expert care to oncology patients and will benefit from training and the learning experiences of working closely with an institute providing outstanding, leading-edge treatment to cancer patients.
This post would suit a candidate with community pharmacy experience wishing to make a change into the hospital environment, for which appropriate training will be provided.
Note: It is not possible for RM Medicines to provide sponsorship for this role. Right to work in the UK is required.
Main duties of the job
1. To accurately, safely and in a timely fashion, label and dispense medicines under the supervision of a registered pharmacy professional following pharmacy procedures
2. To assist with general administrative duties including receiving prescriptions from patients and members of staff and over the counter sales of pharmacy medicines under the supervision of the pharmacist, when required
3. To work with customers in a polite and efficient manner - face to face, over the phone, or by electronic methods, to deal with enquiries of a routine nature from a wide range of staff groups, referring appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team. Taking orders and responding to customer needs and queries within the limits of their knowledge, responsibilities and legal requirements
4. To dispense medicines for patients under the general direction of a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacist, including the supply of controlled drugs, ensuring maintenance of associated records, in accordance with standard operating procedure
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
5. To liaise with various members of the pharmacy team, ward staff and patients when solving supply problems and ensuring the best service to patients and customers
6. To maintain standards of safety, tidiness and cleanliness within the department in accordance with COSHH and Health and Safety regulations
7. To be responsible for reading, understanding and following all appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) applicable to their role
8. Ensure that prescription documentation is maintained and stored appropriately in accordance with the law, and policies and procedures
9. Maintain effective stock control including performing counts, monitoring storage conditions, ensuring stock is rotated and checking items have not exceeded their expiry date. Report any discrepancies to the Store Manager
10. Evaluate the suitability of returned medicines for re-use in line with Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) by comparing against documented criteria. Either credit stock to original issue point on the pharmacy computer system and return to appropriate location or if to be discarded, ensure waste is processed correctly according to local procedures
11. To participate in educational programmes offered to staff, as required
12. To commit to flexible working patterns (late evenings, weekends & bank holidays) to meet the needs of the patients and service.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. Good Standard of education to G.C.S.Es level including English & Maths
14. To be working towards or hold an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or relevant GPhC accredited Training Programme equivalent to Level 2 Or To have the ability to undertake and achieve QCF/NVQ Level 2 and underpinning knowledge in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Apprenticeship framework)
Experience
Desirable criteria
15. Experience of working in a pharmacy setting
16. Experience of working in NHS or other health care setting
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential criteria
17. Ability to work effectively as part of a team
18. Good time management and organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively
19. Ability to communicate effectively with members of the public and other healthcare professionals
20. Ability to use Microsoft office applications e.g. Word, excel and outlook
RM Medicines is a separate entity set up by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, to provide outpatient pharmacy services, focussed on ensuring efficient and safe supply of medicines to patients treated at the Royal Marsden
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.