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Job description

Applications are invited from bright, enthusiastic and motivated individuals wanting to achieving an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical services (or equivalent). This post would be ideal for individuals looking for hospital pharmacy experience with a view to developing their skills and making an active contribution to the development of our department.

We have vacancies for both full- time and part-time, permanent positions based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The positions may require the successful applicant to work cross-site at The Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and The Cheltenham General Hospital

The successful applicants will work predominantly within the Pharmacy Dispensary and contribute to the day-to-day dispensing of outpatient and inpatient prescriptions, distribution and depending on experience, moving on to ward based medicines optimisation.

The duties of Senior Pharmacy Assistant include dispensing and supplying all necessary medicines and pharmaceuticals in an accurate, efficient, cost effective and timely manner and in accordance with the Trust’s standing financial instructions.

You will need to be organised and highly motivated with the ability to think on your feet with great communication & interpersonal skills. This post is stimulating, exciting and comes with responsibility that will appeal to individuals who want to work in hospital pharmacy.

The role includes working weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis

At Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust our aim is to always to deliver the highest quality of care our patients deserve. We value the personal skills, experiences and qualities that individuals bring to the Trust; creating an inclusive working environment to attract talented people who feel motivated, involved and able to influence the future direction of our services.

The pharmacy department aspires to be forward thinking having already implemented cutting edge technology in the form of two robots that store and dispense medications. By continuously striving to improve our ways of working and putting medicines optimisation at the heart of our clinical services, we aim to enhance every patient’s experience and care

As a department, it is an innovative and exciting place to work and we are working to further enhance the high quality services provided and the roles of the pharmacy team. There are also regular opportunities for individuals to develop and progress.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:
Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Patient Services (SATO)

Division:
Diagnostic & Specialities

Department:
Pharmacy

Reporting To:
Senior Technician – Dispensary Manager

Location:
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital & The Cheltenham General Hospital

Pay Band:
3

Hours:
Full time and part time considered

Date:
13/03/2023

JOB PURPOSE

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.

The Senior Pharmacy Assistant performs a wide range of duties within the Pharmacy Department, that help the Pharmacists & Technicians to provide a comprehensive dispensing and distribution service.

Main duties are based in the Dispensary and Distribution area. It will include dispensing from a variety of prescription types, visits to wards to top-up stock, transfer medicines from pharmacy into patient bedside lockers, transfer medicines from a patient’s previous ward to their current ward, filling orders for wards and departments, reception duties covering hospital staff and patients, computer ordering, and general house-keeping duties

Pharmacy Dispensing Services

Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy

• Dispensing for In-patients, out-patients and patients that are going home, according to standard operating procedures.
• Co-ordinating the supply of items that are owed to patients and need posting ensuring they are dispensed & posted in a timely fashion. Checking order levels are adequate for supply and resolving any supply issues.
• Dispensing controlled drugs according to standard operating procedures.
• Keep a regard to stock on the dispensary shelves top up & tidy as required with backup stock from the stores.
• Expiry date check the medicines on the shelves regularly.
• Ensure that any out of date items are removed to the Pharmacy Stock Controller.
• Working alongside the medicines optimisation pharmacy technicians to:
• Transfer of medicines from pharmacy into patient bedside lockers.
• Transfer of medicines from a patient’s previous ward to their current ward
• Troubleshooting missed medication issues
• Assist in reception as necessary. This includes:
• Staff Reception: Keeping the porter area tidy & organised with delivery boxes in pigeon holes. Deal with hospital staff and porters.
• Front Reception: Meet & greet the general public, receiving prescriptions and payment from the general public. There is a need to operate whatever equipment is provided to process transactions be it card machine or till.
• Direct any other business callers as required.
• To co-ordinate others to do this task if necessary.
• To answer the telephone and deal with routine enquiries regarding work in progress and communicating with the relevant member of staff for additional advice as required. Transfer calls to appropriately qualified staff if necessary.
• Working alongside the Stores & Distribution team to:
• Provide a top up service to wards, keeping the assigned wards fully stocked with medicines, ensuring they are rotated and expiry dates are checked, as stated in the top up standards.
• To ensure that the wards stock medicine supply needs are met and that the stock is used cost-effectively with minimum waste, liaising with Ward Sisters and Ward Pharmacists as required. This will include sorting returned medicines for re-use, counting them and returning to stock via the computer system.
• Process & assemble orders for wards & departments. Involves data entry and correct selection of goods, paying heed to Pharmacy stock control systems and ordering.
• Assist in sorting returned & waste medicines:
• Assist in keeping records of workload e.g. filing, photocopying.
• To ensure the patient services section always has a readily available supply of sundry items e.g. bottles, bags to use, by topping up daily and checking status of orders as required.
• Participation in top up service, keeping the assigned wards fully stocked with medicines, ensuring medicines are stock rotated and expiry dates checked, as stated in the top up standards. Each ward is visited once a week.

General

• Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.
• Be responsible for managing self to organise own daily duties. Be willing to re-arrange duties and prioritise according to service need if required to cover for absence. Senior Pharmacy Assistant will sometimes co-ordinate cover for duties & oversee less experienced staff.
• Shares advice & knowledge to train new assistants on the standard operating procedures within the working area.
• Participate in internal audits and surveys of service delivery as required. Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.
• Provide Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday cover as per rota.
• Comply with the code of expectations & values that the trust expects

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Must be able to work well in a team or work alone when necessary.

Customer service skills and a cheerful, friendly outlook required forming contacts and relationships with patients, public and a wide variety of ward/department based staff including nursing staff, porters and drivers both by phone or face-face on a daily basis.

Will form a good communication link with the Senior Technician dispensary & the distribution area, to ensure smooth running of operations.

It is essential that the post holder knows their own clinical limitations and who to refer to.

Post holder must demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills as they will have daily contact/working relationships with the following people

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Patients
• Medical staff of General Practice
• Other healthcare professionals
• All the other Pharmacy Staff

Effective communication skills are essential, difficulties in communication maybe experienced due to language barriers, age or infirmity

Patient confidentiality will be maintained at all times as per trust guidelines

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB

Being able to cope in a very busy environment while remaining calm and ensuring that the work is carried out to a high standard.

To be given responsibility for a ward top up and maintain it to the high standards agreed at Gloucester Royal.

To stay focused on task & be able to work accurately and unsupervised in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Outpatients may occasionally be upset and agitated or cross.
• Concentration required when dispensing.
• Manual Handling skills will be required for lifting and carrying of IV fluid boxes (12 litres per box) and the assembling and packing of ward orders. Trolleys are available for moving items around the department if required.
• Physical effort is required on wards to bend and stretch in and out of drug cupboards and within the Pharmacy particularly in the stores, to reach shelves.
• Occasional exposure to toxic, corrosive & flammable substances.
• Using a computer keyboard for a large proportion of the day, to accurately enter information to the Pharmacy
• Frequent everyday use of VDU’s.
• Concentration required in all aspects of the role
• Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional situations, e.g. dealing with the terminally ill, badly injured patient or cardiac arrest
• Occasional exposure to aggressive or abusive patient’s and/or relative’s