pharmacy technician London, England
Job description
Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician / Emergency Department
The pharmacy department at Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust have TWO new exciting vacancies for Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician / Emergency Department.
One full-time permanent post at both sites (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Greenwich and University Hospital Lewisham). This is a patient-facing role, to work within our ward-based teams and fast paced Emergency Departments.
This follows a successful 3-month pilot of a technician working in ED. Drug histories were completed faster for patients, including those identified as taking critical medication. The interaction with patients soon after arriving into ED also enabled us to identify and provide required medication without undue delay. This enhanced the patient’s inpatient journey and supported patient flow. Stronger working relationships were made with our ED colleagues and support was provided to nurses enabling efficient drug administration.
This is an excellent opportunity to join our innovative pharmacy department, addressing ongoing issues around ED attendance and wait times and seeking solutions. Embedding yourself into the ED team and working autonomously will be paramount. Your ability to Triage patients so those likely to be admitted are seen earlier in their patient journey is essential.
You will be required to develop this role, to establish the technician’s position in ED while supporting our highly motivated and dedicated ward based clinical pharmacy teams, contributing to our Pharmacy Services Strategy. We encourage every team member to come up with novel ways to make and drive change in our department.
We are looking for experienced, hardworking, band 5 senior medicines management pharmacy technicians to work closely with members of the multidisciplinary team delivering high quality patient-centred care. Key relationships will include working with ward clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, matrons, nurses, doctors, ACPs and medicines management assistants.
Medicines reconciliation, transcribing inpatient orders, patient counselling, training and line management will be part of your daily duties in addition to supporting our 2 ward-based admissions satellite pharmacies with Omnicell dispensing and final accuracy checking of discharge medication. You must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and preferably hold ACPT and medicines management qualifications. Previous experience in an emergency department is desirable, but not essential.
Part time or flexible working options will be considered, so we encourage you to contact us for more information.
For your commitment to us, we will ensure you receive personal development in management skills and extended clinical training. Please complete your application in line with the Person Specification and Job Description to ensure both current and transferable skills are demonstrated as failure to do so may lead to non-progression to the short-listing stage of the process.
This is an excellent opportunity to be part of our friendly pharmacy team and contribute to our Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy Services Strategy. We strive for excellence and aim to provide the highest standards of care for our patients. You will be supporting a highly motivated and innovative ward based clinical pharmacy team.
You must be qualified and registered with the GPhC.
Interview 8th or 9th AUG 2023 TBC
Post Title: Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician - Emergency Department
Grade: Band 5
Department: Pharmacy
Site: University Hospital Lewisham
Responsible to: Chief/ Deputy Chief Pharmacy Technician for Clinical Services
Line manages: Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistants and Rotational Pharmacy Assistants/Apprentices
Supervises: Foundation Pharmacy Technicians, Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistants, Rotational Pharmacy Assistants/Apprentices, Preregistration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians and Preregistration Pharmacists
Accountable to: Director of Pharmacy
Key Result Areas & Performance:
Communications and Relationships
1. To liaise and communicate with pharmacy staff in different sections of the department regarding medication, supply, storage, health and safety.
2. To liaise and communicate with nursing staff on relevant information regarding patient care and facilitating discharge.
3. To liaise and communicate with patients regarding medicines supply and to identify administration or adherence problems.
4. To liaise and communicate with carers, GPs, members of the public and other healthcare professionals.
Ward Based Medicines Management
1. To compile and verify electronically or on paper a patient’s drug history by communicating with the patient, carers, GPs and other health professionals.
2. To endorse electronic or paper prescription charts with relevant medicine related information following trust policies and procedures.
3. To document allergies to medicines.
4. To undertake a review of patient’s own drugs to accurately assess the suitability of continued use while the patient is in hospital.
5. To participate in the discharge planning of patients with ward staff and other healthcare professionals both in secondary and primary care.
6. Document consultations where appropriate in the patient’s records.
7. To minimise delays in discharge by ensuring that medication is available at the appropriate time.
8. To dispense prescriptions if required.
9. To assess patients to see if a compliance aid is required to help concordance.
10. To provide verbal and written medicines related advice and information for patients and/or carers regarding prescribed medication and their devices with the primary aim of improving patient outcomes through medicines optimisation.
11. To be responsible for stock control and stock management of medicines on designated wards in communication with the ward pharmacist, ward managers, medicines management pharmacy assistants and rotational pharmacy assistants/apprentices.
12. To be responsible for workload on designated wards in communication with the ward pharmacist, ward managers, Foundation Pharmacy Technicians, Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy, Technicians, medicines management pharmacy assistants and rotational pharmacy assistants/apprentices and Preregistration Pharmacists.
13. To identify and return unwanted or out of date medicines to Pharmacy for disposal or for safe return to Pharmacy stock in accordance with local procedures.
14. To arrange the supply and return of controlled drugs from the wards in an efficient manner.
15. To transcribe and order medication that are clinically screened or awaiting a clinical screen by a pharmacist in accordance with trust policy.
16. To support the implementation of self-administration by patients and/or carers where possible
17. To support the efficient transfer of medicines between wards.
18. Ensure the safe and secure handling of medicines during medicines management visits; identify issues and feedback to ward/team managers.
19. To communicate with external organisations as necessary for admission and discharge processes (e.g. community pharmacies, GP surgeries).
20. To undertake and complete the relevant sections of the Medicines Optimisation Program or its equivalent.
21. Supervise and train Foundation Pharmacy Technicians, Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy, Technicians, medicines management pharmacy assistants and rotational pharmacy assistants/apprentices and Pre-registration Pharmacists as appropriate.
22. Obtains consent from patient for all appropriate actions.
23. To carry out and record daily monitoring of fridge and ambient temperatures for where medicines are stored e.g. satellite rooms.
Patient Services
1. To use Ascribe, the pharmacy labelling and dispensing system
2. To dispense medication accurately in accordance with standard policies and procedures.
3. To dispense Controlled Drugs.
4. To provide accurate record-keeping of Controlled Drugs within the Pharmacy including supplies to wards and departments, orders received into the Pharmacy and regular audits of the accuracy of computer and paper records.
5. Participates in the three-monthly Controlled Drugs audit, Drug Stock Security audits and expiry checks.
6. To undertake, and work as an the Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) in order to provide a final accuracy check on dispensed medicinal products on completion of the scheme.
7. To undertake other duties within the dispensary, to allow the smooth daily running of the department may include:
- Take a lead role in running specific areas within the dispensary
- Supervise Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians, assistant technical officers and Pre-registration Pharmacists as appropriate in labelling and dispensing techniques.
- Communicate with Nurses, Doctors and other medical staff when necessary to ensure accurate interpretation of prescriptions.
1. To take an active role in recruitment and selection of staff.
2. To provide detailed induction to new staff members in compliance with local and Trust requirements.
3. To carry out staff appraisals and develop staff in line with their objectives.
4. To arrange undertake and document regular 1-2-1 meetings with staff.
5. To undertake return to work meetings with staff after periods of absence
6. To performance manage staff where appropriate including managing sickness absence, capability issues, conduct and resolving grievance issues in line with Trust policies
7. To undertake health and safety risk assessments for the member of staff they manage.
8. To oversee the team and organise the daily distribution of staffing and workload in the absence of either the Chief or Deputy Chief Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Clinical Services.
Financial & Physical Resources
1. To liaise with the dispensary regarding to-follows.
2. To meet with Ward Managers to update ward stock lists as appropriate.
3. To undertake stock control and ordering
4. To facilitate stock rotation to prevent wastage.
