Senior Pharmacy Technician

Job summary

This is an opportunity for an experienced and diligent Pharmacy Technician, registered with the GPhC, to take a broad-ranging role in quality management processes within Pharmacy. This will encompass Good Distribution Practice, medical gases, environmental management and other project work relating to the Trust's compliance with the MHRA Wholesale Dealers Authorisation.

You will be the type of person who has singular focus and attention to detail, but be a good communicator with all grades of staff. We are particularly looking for someone who has helped to prepare for regulatory inspection previously and has a good level of familiarity with quality management processes.

Main duties of the job

- Be responsible for a wide range of duties to maintain compliance to the Trust's MHRA WDA Licence, acting as core member of Quality Management Group.

- Be responsible for all processes relating to environmental monitoring and mapping within Pharmacy.

- Be responsible contact for all Estates and Facilities Management for the site

- Assist Pharmacy Director with Medical Gas Committee actions

-Work within the dispensary where duties include dispensing a variety of prescription types.

- Final Accuracy Checking a variety of prescriptions as per SOPs.

- Undertake general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a Section Manager or deputy, assisting in the provision of a safe and effective Pharmacy service in line with current policies, procedures and legal requirements.

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir. Both hospitals are located in the city or town centres, with access to shops and cafes.

The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff. The 2 sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards.

Pharmacy is at the forefront of many exciting projects including an award-winning service provided by pharmacist prescribers in orthopaedic pre-admission clinic. We are also a MHRA compliant wholesaler of medicines to various outside organisations.

Within the department are specialist clinical teams; the Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy facilitates delivery of Specialist services for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities. The cancer services team provide a pharmacy service at both sites for oncology & haematology and satellite pharmacy.

We are a friendly, inclusive department who wish to nurture and develop our staff at all grades.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

Quality Management

Working alongside the Senior Pharmacy Technician for Procurement, Distribution & Stores, and the Chief Pharmacy Technician and the wider Quality Management Team to;

- Be responsible for a wide range of duties to maintain compliance to the Trusts MHRA WDA Licence at GRH

- To ensure that GDP processes are implemented and followed in all relevant areas of pharmacy, ensuring that Pharmacy is inspection-ready at all times.

- To initiate, peer review and maintain records of all CAPA and initiate/assist with the review of all Change Controls relevant to the Trusts MHRA WDA activity

- To conduct Internal and External Audits as part of compliance checks

- To maintain the Action Log of QMG meetings.

- To maintain all Technical Agreements with third-party suppliers/ contractors as part of WDA

- To complete and maintain all supplier bonafide checks in-line with MHRA guidance

Environmental Monitoring

- Responsible, with Pharmacy Clinical Apps team, for monitoring/managing the Pharmacy Temperature monitoring system following routine schedule to ensure that early detection of future temperature excursions is possible.

- Responsible for responding to ad hoc temperature alarms/excursions and subsequent corrective/preventative action(s).

- Responsible for all temperature mapping exercises involved in WDA activity including transit validation.

- Responsible for the calibration/validation of all new equipment relating to WDA activity.

Facilities Management

- Act as facilities lead for the Pharmacy Site ensuring all contracts for equipment and servicing are kept up to date and fit for purpose, including arranging service visits, monitoring expiry and dealing with control of contractors as required.

- Responsible for scheduling all routine maintenance of key equipment within Pharmacy and maintaining records of this.

- Liaising with and notifying staff when planned maintenance is due to take place.

- To be the first point of contact with Estates & Facilities (GMS) to ensure that all critical facilities within pharmacy are maintained.

- To ensure that Pharmacy is compliant with all relevant HSE/ChemRegs recommendations/legislation (such as safe use of Liquid Nitrogen). To include being the first point of contact for annual inspection by HSE.

- To be one of the COSHH Leads/Trainers for Pharmacy at GRH.

- Attend department H&S meetings. Also to act as Vice-Chair for these meetings.

Medical Gases

- Manage the work plan for the Medical Gas Committee, acting as support to Chief Pharmacist and committee; building agenda, writing minutes & ensuring minutes available and chasing actions as necessary.

- Liaise with Portering Services and other hospital areas with regard issues relating to medical gases.

- To ensure Pharmacy compliance with all relevant legislation and effective systems are in place for the ordering, tracking and retrieval of medical gases.

- Member of the Medical Gas Committee.

- Review & report related DATIX incidents and support improvement activities

- Support and report audit of key standards in delivery of gases as medicines

- Undertake financial reporting, tracking use and expenditure against GHT budget

- Work with GHT clinical teams to improve stock management, sustainability and reduce wastage.

Project Work

- Provide project leadership or support on a range of Pharmacy Projects for example:

Medical Gas cylinder management project

Ad hoc project support

Support data input and analysis across a broad range of specialities within Pharmacy

Dispensary

Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy:

- Final accuracy Check a variety of prescriptions types according to agreed Job Plan.

- Dispensing for In-patients, out-patients and patients that are going home (including Controlled Drugs), according to standard operating procedures.

- Handing out completed outpatient prescriptions to patients or their representatives, according to standard operating procedures, including providing straightforward advice on further supply and common dosages.

- Ensure that any out-of-date items are removed from the Pharmacy Stock.

- Supervises and trains new staff members and student/ apprentice technicians.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Professional registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC Accredited with Accuracy Checking from recognised educational provider

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of Wholesale Dealers Authorisation, GDP, and other relevant regulations, guidance and quality standards

Experience

Essential

Acting a leadership/supervisory role Substantial experience of working within a hospital setting Managing own workload to meet the needs of a service Knowledge of Distribution & Stores procedures acquired through training & experience

Desirable

Working within a quality management role or experience of preparing for external inspection Project management responsibilities Minute-taking

Knowledge

Essential

Excellent IT skills including Pharmacy Stock Control system(s) and Microsoft applications Excellent literacy & numeracy Demonstrates good interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, undertake and give instruction Be able to communicate effectively in written and verbal formats with all grades of staff Able to make sound judgements where there are a range of options and know when to refer to someone with correct expertise Exceptional attention to detail

Personal Qualities

Essential

Self-starter Ability to maintain a professional image and follow GPhC professional guidelines Excellent time management Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to comply with GPhC requirements Willing to work Trust-wide as and when required to do so

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