Band 4 – 5 Progression Pharmacy Technician

1.1 To support the Pharmacy Technician Specialist MMT in managing an efficient, accurate and flexible near patient service to the hospital wards.

1.2 To support the maintenance of medicines management policies, procedures and standards and ensure that all relevant staff read them, either as a new staff member or when procedures are written/updated.

1.3 To support the development and monitoring of the ward top-up service to the wards, including the updating of ward top up stock sheets on a regular basis.

1.4 Assists the pharmacists in the implementation and monitoring of the self- administration programme for patients in designated clinical areas

1.5 Assists the pharmacists in providing a comprehensive patient counselling service to in-patients, particularly regarding their discharge medication.

1.6 To liaise with pharmacists each day to review activities and provide feedback on any clinical issues.

1.7 To provide medicines management duties to allocated wards, i.e. checking and assessing of Patients Own Drugs (on meeting MMT competencies); drug history taking of new patients; near patient dispensing, counselling services, ordering of in-patient and one stop medicines and annotating of drug charts (as per SOP). These activities will be supervised, and assessments will be carried out on performance until candidate completes in house training and competencies.

1.8 To manage the transfer or return of medicines, following patient transfer or discharge, by liaising with ward staff and/or by checking Cerner on the Trust computer system.

1.9 To participate in and support data collection and analysis, including clinical audits, as requested

1.10 To support the development of ward-based projects, including training of ward and pharmacy staff.

1.11 To support the implementation and setting up of satellite dispensing on the wards to help facilitate effective patient discharges and support near patient dispensing.

2. DISPENSARY RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 To support the co-ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary and its staff, with particular attention to workflow, patient waiting times and priority of workload.

2.2 To support and direct the work of all dispensary staff, ensuring standard operating procedures are followed and standards maintained.

2.3 To supervise and participate in all dispensary duties, including reception, answering queries and collecting prescription fees (BH site only).

2.4 To supervise the preparation of the delivery bags according to the porter’s schedule.

2.5 To participate in the dispensing of a wide range of medicines ensuring labelling standards are followed, including named patient/unlicensed medicines, cytotoxics and HIV medicines.

2.6 To dispense prescriptions for in-patients and out-patients (BH site only), and to counsel patients regarding all aspects of the usage of medicines supplied to them.

2.7 To fill Medicine Compliance Aids with patient’s discharge medications as required.

2.8 To query prescriptions with other health care professionals as necessary, under the supervision of a pharmacist.

2.9 To dispense, order, receive into stock, return, and destroy controlled drugs according to procedures. To complete all associated records accurately, and to investigate any discrepancies promptly.

2.10 To carry out final dispensing accuracy checks on prescriptions which have previously been screened by a pharmacist, (on attaining ACPT status).

2.11 To maintain an efficient system for the storage and retrieval of uncollected prescriptions.

2.12 To assist in maintaining a set of written standard operating procedures for all activities involved in the dispensing of medicines.

2.13 To assist in the completion of the end of day tasks check list.

2.14 To deputise for the Pharmacy Technician Team Manager (Chief Pharmacy Technician) for Dispensary and/or Distribution Services in their absence.

3. STORES – DISTRIBUTION RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 To co-ordinate the daily activities in the distribution store, ensuring work is prioritised effectively, daily deadlines achieved, and the workload tracker system is up to date.

3.2 To carry out stock control duties as requested, including stock counts, investigations, to-follow processing and allocating monthly expiry checks

3.3 To supervise and assist in the assembly of stock for wards and departments.

3.4 To supervise and assist in the ward stock topping up service provided to wards and departments.

3.5 To support the Pharmacy Technician Team manager (Chief Pharmacy Technician) in the development of the distribution service.

3.6 To assist in monitoring, reviewing and documenting errors within distribution

3.7 To ensure a final check of stock items issued is carried out before delivery to wards/ departments for un-certificated staff.

3.8 To assist the Technician Team manager in enabling distribution staff to complete the certificate of competency and checking that competence is maintained according to procedures.

3.9 To complete other tasks within the distribution/store as required by the Technician Team manager.

3.10 To assist as necessary with the ordering, receipt, issue, and safe storage of medicines for the Dispensary and Distribution areas.

3.11 To assist in quality control checks as directed when required.

3.12 To deal with complaints and queries according to procedures and to ensure Technician Team manager is informed where appropriate.

3.13 To assist in maintaining the security of the distribution store.

4. STOCK CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 To assist in the management of good stock control and participate in the procurement of pharmaceutical products for The Royal Free London Foundation Trust.

4.2 To supervise the supply of outstanding prescriptions. To ensure the ward pharmacists are informed, and the items are ordered, dispensed, and delivered to wards/patients according to procedures.

4.3 To supervise and participate in regular expiry date checks of dispensary and satellite stock, and to ensure all expired stock is removed from stock according to procedures.

4.4 To supervise and participate in regular stock level checks of dispensary stock, and to investigate of stock discrepancies using the pharmacy computer system.

4.5 To supervise and participate in the safe processing of medicines returned to the pharmacy department, in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures for this process

5. OTHER DUTIES

5.1 To attend all relevant meetings.

5.2 To supervise and participate in the duties of the out-patient pharmacy, including deputising for the Pharmacy Technician Specialist (Lead Pharmacy Technician) as required.

5.3 To liaise with the Technician Team manager as appropriate regarding any issues, problems, errors, or complaints beyond limitations.

5.4 To be proactive and to support the implementation of change

5.5 To participate in the training of Pharmacy Technicians, pharmacy support staff, students, and ward staff.

5.6 To participate in the induction of new staff.

5.7 To maintain satisfactory personal performance and professional standards and to achieve, where possible, agreed objectives described in the annual staff appraisal system undertaken by the line manager.

5.8 To contribute to the Pharmacy Technician development forum and act as a champion for workforce development

5.9 To help develop and support the pharmacy wellbeing forum and promote healthy lifestyles and work/life balance.

5.10 To support the green agenda within the department and aim to reduce the department’s carbon footprint.

5.11 To complete the HEE commissioned Practice/ Educational Supervisor course (or equivalent) to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to support staff development within the department.

6. ALL AREAS

6.1 To answer the departmental telephones in a prompt and courteous manner. To direct enquiries to suitable departments or individuals

6.2 To assist with tracking activities and maintaining appropriate audit trails

6.3 Maintain high standards of cleanliness and tidiness in working areas at all times

6.4 To assist in maintaining departmental security at all times.

6.5 Observe safe working practices to avoid placing themselves, other staff, patients or visitors at risk by their actions

6.6 To comply with all departmental procedures at all times and to ensure they are followed by junior staff

6.7 To uphold the principles of clinical governance within the Trust

6.8 To be aware of and apply relevant legislation such as Health and Safety at Work Act, COSSH, Medicines Act, GMP.

6.9 To communicate and liaise with other pharmacy staff effectively and clearly

6.10 To provide a high standard of customer service and deal with all trust staff, patients and their relatives in a respectful, polite and courteous manner at all times

6.11 To participate in the pharmacy late duty service, weekend service, and bank holiday service on a rota basis