Job overview

This role involves working within a mental health inpatient setting. For safeguarding reasons, applicants must be 18 years or older.

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, hard working and patient-focused person with an interest in pharmacy to train as a Pharmacy Support Worker. 
The successful applicant will work as part of our clinical inpatient team of Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Workers deliver excellent patient care and ensure safe and effective medicines management processes within the service.
You should be self -motivated with excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a willingness to undertake a Level 2 apprenticeship the fixed term employment contract.

As a purely clinical service there is no pharmacy-based dispensary commitment, bank holiday or weekend working. We can also offer flexible working hours and are committed to improving working lives. 

The Pharmacy Service within Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust is a well-established team with a wealth of expertise in both Mental Health and Community services and continues to provide high quality clinical input into all aspects of the health provision delivered by the organisation. We are a supportive team committed to the education and development of our expanding service.

Please note: This post is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check 

Main duties of the job

•    To monitor fridge and ambient temperatures in the dispensary according to procedure, reporting discrepancies and taking remedial action immediately.
•    To develop skills in compiling stock orders ensuring they are transmitted to the Acute Trust in a timely manner. 
•    To ensure all stock is received, delivered and checked into the ward in accordance with Trust procedure and is placed in the correct stock cupboards.
•    To monitor for expired stock and ensure it is disposed of in accordance with Trust procedure.
•    To work with the Pharmacy Technicians to learn how to review and alter stock lists.
•    To learn how to check suitability for re-use of any unwanted stock items and process according to audit procedures.
•    To develop skills in electronic systems to ensure that stock lists are updated and maintained and to understand the retention period for paper records

•    To learn and develop skills in using the Ascribe pharmacy medicines management computer/labelling system.
•    To learn the skills required to accurately undertake the dispensing of medication
•    To learn the skills required in ensuring that all computer transactions relating to medication and patient details are accurate.
•    Undergo a dispensing validation assessment.
•    To develop a good working knowledge of which medicines are stocked, their forms and strengths to minimise the risk of selection errors. 

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you’d like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.