Medicines Optimisation Technician Bank

Job summary

Following the launch of our pharmacy strategy the pharmacy team at South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacy technician to support our team. As a flexible employer encouraging a healthy work/life balance, we will consider Part-Time and flexible working opportunities for all our positions. Our application process will test your attitudes and behaviours, as well as your knowledge and skills. So that we know wed be a good match for each other. We welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs. Theres a wealth of talent among people who have a disability as well as those who have experience of mental or physical health problems.

Main duties of the job

The post will be based at Fieldhead hospital in Wakefield. The successful candidate will be providing support to the existing pharmacy and community teams to deliver a high-quality medicines management service in a fast-paced environment.

We are committed to sharing excellence and providing positive outcomes to our service users. Assisting in and ensuring the delivery of our clients pharmaceutical care needs will include:

Partake in dispensary-based pharmacy service, including accuracy checking of inpatient and outpatient prescriptions and orders.

Medicines reconciliation, one stop, inpatient medication supply management, patient own drug (POD) checks assessing suitability for re-use of PODs and further supply.

Discharge planning, patient counselling and assessment and management of compliance aid referrals.

Undertake duties of a technical nature in all aspects of our pharmaceutical service ensuring a safe, efficient, high-quality service to clients to achieve the goals of the NICE Guidelines on Medicines Optimisation (NG5).

Support the day-to-day lead of the dispensary and its staffing under guidance and supervision and with the support of the dispensary lead technician and manager.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

To provide a ward pharmacy service to allocated units external to hospital sites

To provide technical support to the mental health pharmacy services including checking patients own medication on admission, the dispensing and supply of medication to specific patients

Co-ordinate and manage the day to day workload in the dispensary.

Provide immediate line management support for allocated staff (pharmacy technicians band 4 ,pharmacy assistants or student technicians )

Provide day to day line management for the dispensary staff

To accuracy check completed prescriptions and maintain technical competency for this. .)

Maintain competencies that enable working across the trust.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

To improve the access to medicines for allocated units and in particular to assist in ensuring medicines are available:

oFor leave, for discharge and for self-medication in a timely manner.

To participate in the operation of the Medicines Management Service at ward level maintaining competencies in all aspects including:

a)Providing a supply and topping-up service at ward/team base level, to the allocated units to ensure adequate stocks are maintained for patient care.

b)Assessing suitability of patients own drugs on admission for continued use and arranging the safe disposal of those drugs which are not.

c)Complete pharmacy profiles ready for clinical checking by the ward pharmacist.

d)Drug transcription error reporting.

e)Preparation of reports for costing and usage .

f)With ward pharmacists and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists ensure the correct paperwork is completed

g)To assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the safe and secure storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.

h)Specialised medication counselling, eg, inhaler use.

i)Medicines reconciliation against home medicines and GP records

j)Support and participate in extended technician roles as they develop in the trust

To cover for all technicians within the service having the appropriate knowledge to dispense and accuracy check for all units

To cover the technicians role in other areas of the trust having the appropriate knowledge to provide technical services to all areas of the trust.

Assist in the distribution to all wards and departments of approved policies and procedures by the Drug and Therapeutics Trust Action Group.

Ensure the appropriate receipt, processing, storage and stock control of medicines and other supplies.

Participate in the supply of Clozapine to a specific group of patients ensuring compliance with the standard operating procedures ( blood tests have been taken, results obtained, valid prescriptions received, and medication dispensed and collected in a timely manner).

Ensure compliance with the self administration of medicines and compliance policy in relation to the allocated wards and departments.

Respond to enquiries and requests from staff, patients and carers, in accordance with individual competence and departmental policy.

Assist the pharmacy management team in the development and monitoring of SOPs.

Train others in the routine duties of the department and to provide services to your allocated wards/ departments in your absence.

Provide support and act as a mentor for junior staff as required.

Report incidents both within pharmacy team and any witnessed on the wards/departments using the computerised reporting system.

Use of pharmacy and other computer systems in the course of performing these duties.

Comply with the Trust's Medicine Code.

Dispense medication, for in, out, day and hostel patients ready to receive a final accuracy check including compliance aids.

Maintain accreditation, and perform the final accuracy check of prescriptions according to departmental protocol.

General

To observe the principals of Clinical Governance in general and, in particular, be able to demonstrate participation in Continuing Professional Development. This will include attendance at appropriate training courses.

To participate in the Trust's Appraisal system.

To assist in the bank holiday provision of pharmacy services

To be involved in both the Saturday morning and bank holiday rota at Fieldhead.

To work in other areas of the Trust (by previous agreement) if necessary.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people , service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Trust Data Protection Policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework ( CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

Person Specification

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy). Able to work within the whole trust boundaries

Desirable

A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)

Training

Essential

Nationally recognised accuracy checking qualification. Accredited Checking technician status

Desirable

Medicines management training Team leading training

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level 3, BTec, or similar nationally recognized qualification in pharmaceutical sciences UK Professional registration as a Pharmacy Technician

Desirable

NVQ A1 assessor qualified

Special Knowledge Skills

Essential

Supervisory skills Pharmaceutical Waste management Misuse of drugs act 1971 Regulations on Controlled Drugs in Primary and secondary care. Understanding of mental health issues, mental illnesses & their treatment Good communication skills both oral and written Good time management & organisational skills Ability to work independently Good computer / IT skills

Desirable

Hospital computer systems JAC Knowledge and experience of checking dispensed prescriptions Ward based medicines management Audit

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable experience as a pharmacy technician Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy

Desirable

Accuracy checking Hospital pharmacy experience Setting up of ward based pharmacy services Provision of medicines management to new services Linking with community pharmacies Discharge planning Self-administration of medicines Specific experience of working in a mental health environment

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