Pharmacy Technician - Accredited Checking & Medicines Optimisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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.

Work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation/discharge duties on the wards, improving the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines optimisation system. This will include undertaking medicines reconciliation, assessing patients own medicines ensuring they are suitable for use in hospital, one-stop dispensing to wards in preparation for patients discharge, maintaining and ordering non-stock medicines for patients and counseling patients on use of their medicines and provide information where required.

Work in the dispensary final accuracy checking prescriptions and provide support to the dispensary manager and lead technician in the co-ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary

All Pharmacy staff involved in all aspects of the Pharmacy supply chain has a personal responsibility to ensure that all activities undertaken within our hospital Pharmacy are compliant with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and all relevant department procedures are followed effectively.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Medicines Optimisation & Discharge:

Under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy.

Work with minimal supervision to provide an admission, supply and discharge service to nominated wards. Liaising directly with pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff over clinical issues as appropriate.

On admission, checking that the medicines prescribed for each patient conform with information from the patient, SCR, GP letter and/or Nursing Home, carrying out medicine’s reconciliation for individual patients, operate the patient’s own drug scheme at all levels, assessing whether any medicines brought in by the patient are fit for use and removing (with patients permission) any medicines not needed.

Participate and develop a one stop dispensing pharmacy service, ward based including the education of training of nurses and ward staff in the systems operated.

Initiate & accurately supply medication labeled ready for discharge and medicines needed on an individual basis for patients on the ward, counsel patients to use their medication and providing written information as required,

prioritising and organising daily workload to ensure that all required tasks are completed within allocated timescale.

Aid discharge planning in conjunction with ward pharmacist and ward staff.

Liaise with GP surgeries, Community Pharmacies, Patients and Carers to ensure that continuing supply of medicines are provided in compliance aids at discharge

Check transcriptions of discharge prescriptions and check medications before bagging up for discharge involving checking the accuracy of the take home prescription against the drug chart and locker contents.

The post holder will be responsible for the general medicinal housekeeping of the wards, e.g.: 3 monthly CD balance checks (stock & patients own), returning unwanted medicines into stock, keeping control of general ward stock levels, and the cost effective use of medicines

Participate in the audit of the medicines management service through quality standards and robust auditing methods and to maintain such documentation and records of work as may be required

Share best practice, seeking out new developments, informing other staff and implementing new practices where appropriate.

Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and junior pharmacists concerning the medicines management role on the wards.

Dispensary

Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy.

Final accuracy check prescriptions, orders and Controlled Drugs carrying out all tasks required to maintain checking technician status.
To ensure the ward based one stop service and the dispensary develop and grow together and to contribute to policies as such.

Accurately dispense prescriptions for patients (inpatients, outpatients or discharge), liaising with medical & nursing staff where clarification is required and also when there are drug supply problems.

Accurately dispense controlled drug orders for wards & departments, and patients, making register entries, checking stock balances and reporting discrepancies that cannot be resolved to the Senior Pharmacy Technician.
To receive prescriptions and fees from the general public at the front hatch and process the payment through the till.

To answer the staff hatch to other hospital staff, dealing with their requests.
To answer the telephone if required, dealing with queries regarding work in progress, dealing with the enquiry to the callers satisfaction or passing the call on to the most relevant person.

Use the prescription tracking system to book in and track prescriptions at each stage in the process.

Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre-registration pharmacists & junior pharmacist concerning the technician checking role or other dispensary roles & duties.

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.

Foster & maintain good relationships with pharmacy, medical & nursing staff. Promote positive & effective communication within the department & service users.

Be pro-active in risk assessment and ensuring safe systems of work. Contribute to policies & procedures.

Be willing to re-arrange duties and prioritise according to service need if required to cover for absence and assist in ensuring that wards have adequate cover during absence.

To be actively involved in instruction, mentoring, training and appraisal of technicians undertaking the regional medicines management course, and students, junior technicians and assistants within the dispensary.
Participate in internal audit & surveys of service delivery as required, gathering reliable data and being able to collate it into a report if required to do so.

Provide Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday cover as per rota.
Comply with the code of expectations & values that the trust expects.