Senior Pharmacy Technician, Dispensary

Senior Pharmacy Technician - Dispensary (Based at University Hospital Lewisham)- Permanent

Full time (37.5 hours) per week (plus rotational weekends and bank holidays) An opportunity has arisen within the Pharmacy Department at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, for a motivated and enthusiastic pharmacy technician to join the University Hospital Lewisham dispensary team. This is an ideal opportunity for pharmacy technicians from hospital and/or community backgroundwith ACPT qualification and relevant experience looking for a challenge to develop their skills as a senior technician in dispensary and pharmacy operations. We are recruiting pharmacy technicians, that are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Main duties of the job The pharmacy department consists of a range of staff from assistants, through to registered technicians and pharmacists and provides training for staff at all levels. The dispensary team is fully technician lead and made up of a mix of 10-20 multi-skilled staff including a core static team of senior technicians and senior assistants. The Trust provides a free and confidential support service delivered by Workplace Wellness, who are independent from the Trust, and offer you unlimited access to advice, information, coaching and counselling where appropriate. This Employee Assistance Program is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year , and is there to help you manage all of life's events and support you through the challenges. About us Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job description Job responsibilities Job Summary:

• To support the dispensary manager with the day-to-day management of the dispensary, including organisation of workload and supervision of all staff in the dispensary
• To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT)
• To line-manage staff

Key Result Areas & Performance: Dispensary

• To organise the provision of all dispensary-based services, including inpatients, outpatients, controlled drugs and clinical trials to agreed performance targets with guidance and support from the dispensary manager/patient services manager.
• To deputise for the dispensary manager in their absence, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the dispensary and resolving problems as they arise.
• To use the right first time procedure to manage the quality of dispensing in the dispensary. This will involve reviewing in-process errors and ensuring that actions are taken to address poor performance and reporting progress to the dispensary manager.
• To assist the dispensary manager with good stock control in dispensary, ensuring the efficient use of all resources, keeping waste to a minimum and encouraging the re-use of medicines when appropriate.
• To cover, where appropriate, the duties of the other senior dispensary staff in their absence.
• To assist with the preparation of a weekly rota ensuring that all dispensary duties have sufficient staffing and that any issues are resolved.
• To provide regular activity and quality monitoring information and to use this information to maintain a quality service.
• To accurately dispense prescriptions for both in and outpatients. Prescription types will include: outpatients inpatients discharges controlled drugs and clinical trials. This will involve inputting of patients details into the Ascribe computer system and subsequently produce dispensing labels. The label, prescription and product are collected together and assembled. Any additional items such as spoons and bags are also added. The prepared items are checked for accuracy and passed to the pharmacist/accredited technician for final checking.
• To work in the dispensary for outpatients. This involves: taking prescriptions from outpatients and verifying their details taking a current drug history from the patient, carer or parent. To give out the medication and counsel them on their medication to promote concordance. This will include the name of the medication, dosage, common side effects and administration details including use of devices. In addition, answer any queries or concerns a patient may have about their medication or refer to a pharmacist if appropriate.
• To deal with verbal complaints and safety issues, informing the dispensary manager at the earliest opportunity.
• To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and patients and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.
• To investigate stock level discrepancies within the dispensary in line with current procedures.
• To assist with/write standard operating procedures for the dispensary.
• To assist in the distribution of FP10 prescription pads, ensuring secure storage arrangements in the pharmacy and when in use throughout the hospital.
• To assist with investigations into clinical incidents that occur in the dispensary.
• To ensure the daily workload for the dispensary is completed and information handed over to the pharmacist responsible for locking-up the department.
• To organise and conduct dispensary induction and training for staff whenever necessary
• To manage dispensary workflow and ensuring dispensary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets are achieved.
• To investigate and report dispensary incidents
• To ensure smooth and efficient running of dispensary services, working with the dispensary manager and other senior technicians.
• To ensure safe management of Controlled Drugs in the dispensary

Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) duties

• Complete Accreditation (ACPT) according to CPPE scheme and local ACPT Policy.
• Conduct checking duties in dispensary for a minimum of 8 hours per month.
• Provide constructive feedback when informing dispensers that they have made mistakes during dispensing.
• Report in-process errors using the Right First Time Procedure.
• Arrive promptly for arranged checking sessions.
• Ensure that your knowledge is up to date by reading all pharmacy procedures relevant to the accuracy checking of dispensed medicines and the ACPT Policy.
• Contribute to the quality management of dispensing by suggesting improvements to practice and procedures.
• Inform the ACPT Educational Supervisor (ES) on your base site before your accreditation expires, so that they can arrange for your reaccreditation.

Staff Management & Training

• To line manage staff, including:
• Regular appraisal of performance and objective setting
• Identification of training needs, personal development planning and evaluation
• Ensuring that all human resource policies, procedures and standards are understood and maintained
• Ensure all relevant paperwork regarding the above is up to date
• To participate in recruitment.
• To undertake training of pharmacy, medical and nursing staff and other members of the healthcare team as appropriate and to specifically ensure that all Pharmacy staff receives GCP training commensurate with their roles and responsibilities in relation to trials.
• To identify own training needs, and actively seek opportunities to meet these, internal and external

General

• To ensure a very high standard of customer care.
• In the absence of the dispensary manager, to be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for technicians and assistants, ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.
• To participate in the weekend and bank holiday pharmacy service. As a team leader, being responsible for opening and locking up of department, ensuring the security of the department.
• To maintain a portfolio of Continuous Professional Development.
• To work in a customer focused manner with: patients, carers, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, to ensure a very high standard of customer care
• To liaise with other senior staff with in other areas of pharmacy to ensure effective communication.
• To attend in house and externally arranged study sessions as appropriate.
• To maintain current knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.
• To enter information onto the Safeguard computer system.
• To provide cover in the absence of staff to visit wards and departments to replenish stock drugs to a pre-set level, ensuring stock is correctly stored and expiry date checked.
• To undertake any duties as may reasonably be expected by the Chief Pharmacist.

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills QCF or equivalent
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) qualification or willing to undertake

Desirable

• GCP training

Experience Essential

• Post registration experience in hospital pharmacy for at least 1 year or in a community pharmacy for at least 2 years.
• Working within a busy dispensary
• Demonstrable experience of training others

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in Clinical Trials setting
• Supervision of staff

Knowledge Essential

• Good communication skills, both written and oral, of specialist clinical information.
• Able to make interventions assertively and appropriately
• Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to prioritise and plan work effectively alone and for a team including the ability to delegate appropriately

Desirable

• Ability to manage difficult and complex issues or refer appropriately.
• A good understanding of Good Clinical Practice

Employer details Employer name Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Address University Hospital Lewisham High Street London SE13 6LH Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply. 197-UT5218-A

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