Senior Pharmacy Technician

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To maintain and develop Patients Own Medicine (POM) scheme on identified wards in accordance with policies, procedures and safe systems of work, which prevail at the time.

To liaise with clinical pharmacists and nursing staff to enable development of the service.

To participate in audit of scheme enabling improvements and development of service as appropriate.

To carry out and check, if appropriate, the dispensing and issuing of medicines from the pharmacy department in accordance with the policies, procedures and safe systems of work which prevail at the time.

To check for prescribing and other errors within those limits compatible with technician training and bring these to the attention of the supervising pharmacists via the agreed procedures and when required liaise with GP’s, Nursing Homes and ward staff.

To assess POM’s for suitability for continued use and ensure sufficient supplies of medication are available on ward for individual patients.

To ensure that appropriate instructions, demonstrations and counselling of patients with regard to their drug therapy, is offered and delivered in a professional manner as advised or directed by the supervising pharmacists and according to the prevailing departmental policies and procedures.

To check the accuracy of technical aspects of the dispensing, manufacturing and assembly processes after satisfactory completion of the departmental (or other approved) training programme.

General responsibilities

To deputise as required in the absence of  the Technical Services Manager

To mentor and manage pharmacy technicians and assistant technical officers (ATOs) employed within the department.

To participate in and co-operate fully with the training of work experience students, clerical officers, HCAs, ATOs, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and staff undergoing induction, and when necessary and appropriate to supervise and check their activities.

To fully use the Meditech electronic prescribing module training all prescribers both medical and non-medical in its safe and effective use and also ensuring other pharmacy members stay up to date with their training.

To fully co-operate with senior managers in the timely and accurate collecting and collating of information.

To participate in and fully co-operate with project work, and carry out developmental projects in the line with the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Directorate.

To participate in and fully co-operate with individual personal assessment and continuing education programmes in order to maintain and improve standards of practice and facilitate personal development.

To fully co-operate with the overall provision of a high quality, efficient and cost effective pharmacy service.

To work in all sections of the department as required by the Technical Services Manager.

Together with other members of staff, to ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH, and that other pertinent recommendations and standards are complied with.

To uphold Trust and Pharmacy Directorate policies and procedures at all times.

To participate in and fully co-operate with Bank Holiday, Statutory Holiday, weekend, early morning and evening services as per departmental arrangements.

To undertake such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time.

To adapt and adhere to changes that may occur, which affect the current practices within the pharmacy directorate, such as the introduction of new equipment, policies and hours of working, after discussion and reasonable notice.

To ensure that total confidentiality throughout the Trust is upheld at all times.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

Ability to understand role and service priorities

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent time management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability and willingness to adapt to change

Ability to future plan                  

Qualifications & Learning

B/TEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences + NVQ 3 in Pharmacy services (or equivalent)

Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Accredited Technical Checking           

Experience

Demonstrable Dispensary experience           

Patient counselling

Experience of working on wards

Ability to train staff                    

Personal Attributes

Ability to suggest developmental change

Attention to detail

Ability to work accurately

Ability to empathise with patients

Works on own initiative

Works as team player

Flexible