Pharmacy Technician - HMP Feltham B/HMYOI Feltham A

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Management and Organisation:

• Participate in the efficient day to day running of the dispensary
• To provide medicine management
• Assist in maintaining correct Controlled Drug records in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in local/national guidance in order to maintain/deliver high quality services to the Prison.
• Under the supervision of a senior technician, to provide a timely and efficient stock topping up service to the wings with responsibility for ensuring stock levels are appropriately maintained in accordance with an agreed stock list
• Responsible for ensuring medicines are supplied and replenished to the emergency cupboards, giving medicine related advice, where necessary, to other healthcare professionals
• Check emergency bags and maintain records for audit.
• Once qualified for a suitable length of time to work towards completing the accredited checking technician’s course undertaking periodic re-assessment (every 2 years) as appropriate

Dispensary responsibilities:

• Work with a team of technicians to provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service.
• Maintain a clean and tidy working environment for the dispensing process
• Assist in the development, implementation and review of dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
• Maintain computer files for prisoner information and dispensary computer operations via update discs
• Maintain high levels of safety and security and be constantly vigilant
• Ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported to the prison gate and around the prison in a manner which maintains the integrity and security of the medicines whilst adhering to necessary safety precautions
• The post holder has a responsibility to themselves and others in relation to managing risk and health and safety and will be required to work within the prison service and CNWL Service Policies and Procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Clinical:

• Ensure that all dispensed medicines are processed in accordance with agreed dispensing standards.
• Enter patient details on the computerized record system using information from prescriptions prepared by the medical staff ensuring that drug histories are up to date and complete
• Provide regular medicines management service to each Wing to:
• Check all prescriptions and remove those out of date for filing in the prisoners’ medical notes
• Check all medication including stocks, removing unwanted items for return to pharmacy in line with departmental policies and procedures

Research & Audit:

• Assist in the collection and analysis of workload data when requested
• Help identify areas where the technical pharmacy service can be developed.

Education and Training:

• Participate in the development and delivery of training events for CNWL employed staff in the prison Healthcare to support:
• The implementation of medicine related policies and procedures
• An appropriate level of knowledge for healthcare professionals using homely remedies
• The implementation of clinical guidelines and the preferred prescribing list

Communication:

• Deal appropriately with requests from GPs, courts, police and substance misuse clinics regarding patient medication, weighing up the need for information against patient confidentiality and seeking advice from more senior staff on complex and contentious issues
• Advise selected patients regarding their medication and other relevant pharmaceutical issues adjusting the level of advice as appropriate to overcome barriers to understanding (e.g. hard of hearing, conveying complex information in an easily understandable form)

Financial:

• Support the Pharmacy Manager in providing the pharmacy service within the budgets relating to prescribing and provision of pharmaceutical services to ensure that budgets are not exceeded.
• Support the Pharmacy Manager to identify potential savings from the medicine budget for future financial years if so required.

Responsibilities specific to the prison environment:

• To be familiar with Prison Standards, Standing Orders, Circular Instructions, Notices to Staff, Prison Rules, Health and Safety, and any other relevant material within the prison setting.
• To ensure that the Healthcare Centre meets the security requirements.
• The post holder will be in contact with prisoners on a daily basis; this client group can be challenging due to the high proportion that have mental health illness and substance misuse problems.