Job overview
If you are as passionate as we are about delivering the very best NHS services and want to join a dynamic healthcare service providing exceptional care in HMP Woodhill, then we want to hear from you!
The successful candidate will have a BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical sciences, experience in a secure environment is desirable but not a requirement. You will be able to demonstrate your competency and pharmacy practice skills by use of a practice portfolio. The successful candidate will demonstrate good organisation and prioritisation skills.
You will have good communication and time management skills. You will be responsible for contributing and lead towards efficient medicines management systems, along the pharmacist, to ensure safe and secure handling of medicines.
You must have exceptional interpersonal skills and a non-judgemental approach to liaise with service users who present with a wide range of complex health needs.
You will work alongside a multidisciplinary staff team in an environment which is challenging and fast paced. You will be required to work alone without direct supervision at times so you should be able to use your initiative to solve problems in a methodical manner which supports the service users and day to day operations of the service.
Main duties of the job
1. To assist the Pharmacy Team in the development and delivery of a medicines management service to HMP Woodhill using the in-house electronic prescribing
2. To delivery of a safe and effective medicines management
3. To act as an Accredited Checking Technician and Medicine Management Technician, when required.
4. To administer medicines to patients, once deemed
5. To work within the operational pharmacy team and represent pharmacy when requested/required.
Working for our organisation
HMP Woodhill is a Category B prison for men aged 18 years and over accommodating approximately 650 adult male prisoners who are sentenced. CNWL provides Pharmacy services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Practice
• Assist in the delivery of a high-quality dispensing service to HMP Woodhill, ensuring medicines are dispensed to agreed standards, calculating doses and quantities for supply. Including the supply of medicines in Monitored Dosage Systems.
• Ensure that pharmacy technical operations (ordering, handling, storage and disposal of medicines) are undertaken in a safe, secure and efficient manner that complies with medicines legislation and good practice
• Liaise with other members of the healthcare team (including doctors, consultants and nurses), providing medicines related guidance, to reduce medicines errors.
• Provide medication on an individual patient basis, effectively delivering complex information and advice to prescribers, patients and carers where necessary. This may involve use of negotiation and persuasion skills in order to overcome barriers.
• Support healthcare staff to ensure prescribing and administration of medicines takes place in accordance with local policy.
• Ensure patient related records are kept up to date.
• Provide medicines education and information to patients including undertaking non- compliance clinics to improve medicines adherence.
• Contribute to pharmacy audits / reports by collating data information and supporting with the implementation of any action plan(s) as an outcome
• Act as an Accredited Checking Technician following appropriate training and accreditation.
• Work as a member of the wider healthcare team to administer medication to patients when required.
• Provide a second check for the administration of controlled drugs when required.
• Assist with the purchase of medicines and equipment ensuring this is cost effective to the Trust.
• Review prescriptions to ensure medicines are available for patients at the correct time and place.
• Undertake in-possession risk assessments.
• Help reduce waste by evaluating returned medicines and patient own medicines for reuse.
• Audit the controlled drug record keeping across the prison.
• Dispensing stock-controlled drug requisitions to clinical areas ensuring legislation and local procedures are followed.
• Maintain up to date stock lists for all treatment areas ensuring they reflect current requirements
• Participate in Medicines reconciliation process
• Participating in Medicines Management checks for clinical areas within the Prison
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Professional:
• Undertake audits of medicines use and medicines management processes regularly, giving feedback to the Specialist Pharmacist, Prison Health as required.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary audits within defined clinical areas, making recommendations to the Clinical Governance & Audit Group based on audit findings.
• Participate in service development initiatives in order to help maintain or improve the quality of care provided to patients.
• To provide input into policy and procedures affecting the
Managerial:
• Build good working relationships with all staff in order to realise potential opportunities to improve the quality of patient care through joint working.
• To provide education and training to pharmacy and healthcare staff on an ad hoc basis and as part of a planned programme / induction as agreed with the Pharmacist.
• Deputise for the other staff if required.
• Attend internal / external meetings as directed by the Pharmacist.
• Participate in overseeing the operation of the dispensary, ensuring all essential roles are covered as under the direction of a Pharmacist.
Research and Development:
• To participate in the CNWL Trust wide Medicines Audit programme. This includes supporting collection of data.
• To identify and undertake medicines audit at the local directorates and re- audit where appropriate.
• Promote and facilitate pharmacy practice related research within pharmacy services.
• To participate in clinical trials as required
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
6. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
7. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
8. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.