Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Knowledge, Training and Education

·         Attends trust induction and completes core skill training according to trust policies and maintains compliance with mandatory and essential courses.

·         Good working knowledge of computer packages used within the pharmacy department

·         Possesses good working knowledge of local SOPs for various pharmacy areas and maintains this knowledge and understanding as new and revised SOPs are introduced

·         Possesses a good working knowledge of various pharmacy systems and assists new staff to orientate.

·         Qualified to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 in pharmacy service skills and be willing to undertake courses applicable to the role.

·         Basic understanding of good manufacturing practice (GMP), pharmaceutical quality system and also regulatory requirements.

·         Able to successfully complete appropriate competency training in accordance with procedures.

Planning & Organisational Skills

·         Manages own time to perform tasks required at a time that will cause least disruption to services e.g. ward top up’s, Omnicell cycle count, dispensary top up’s etc.

·         Assembles medications in a timely manner for both out-patients and in-patient prescriptions

·         Dispenses medicines and ensures accurate completion of all relevant documentation. Manages the to- follows in various rotations.

·         Deals with urgent requests for stock and non-stock medicines.

·         Supervises transfer of stock from stores to various locations within pharmacy.

·         Performing stock checks and stock rotation appropriately

·         Alerts purchasing team to place orders for medicines that are not in stock by reviewing the stock levels and stock related reports.

·         Organizes items and boxes to be delivered to wards by porters.

·         May need to plan for additional duties to cover staff that are sick or on annual leave and helps to delegate tasks to ensure service is maintained.

·         Follows Pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies.

Physical Skills

·         Sits for long periods of time while labelling batches requiring concentration.

·         Repetitive lifting of boxes containing packs for labelling and boxes containing products ready for dispatch.

·         Enters drugs returned from wards onto the computer system.

·         Ensures dispensing areas are kept clean and tidy

·         Packs and supplies drugs and medicines to wards and departments exerting light to moderate physical effort.

·         Provides a ward top up service which includes checking medicines stock levels, expiry dates and ordering stock including replenishing Omnicell cabinets.

·         Photocopying, sealing and using the guillotine when required as well as assisting with other admin duties as per requirement.

·         Disposes of waste substances ensuring hazardous/cytotoxic waste is disposed of according to Standard Operating Procedures.

·         Records the issue and return of blood products according to Standard Operating Procedures.

·         Responsible for entering returns of drugs from wards on the computer system.

·         Skills needed to use standard and local computer packages.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care

·         Provides a pharmacy service for patients of the Trust including dispensing drugs (including clinical trial medication) to patients and providing information on common drug dosage and use under supervision.

·         Skills for accurately dispensing with narrow margin for error. All work is checked by a qualified member of staff.

·         Enters patient details on computerized record system from prescriptions, to produce labels according to SOPs.

·         Participates in ward and department top-up services and trains new assistant technical officers and other members of staff as required.

·         Ensures stock checks, stock rotation and date checking are conducted regularly according to SOPs.

·         Stock discrepancies investigated and rectified under supervision.

·         Returned medicines are dealt with according to department procedure.

·         Ensures compliance with GMP/ Medicines legislation, MHRA and GDP requirements including Controlled Drug legislation and supplies under supervision.

·         Accurate preparation of pharmaceutical products with narrow margins for error under supervision.

·         Monitor and record fridge temperatures to ensure compliance with storage conditions according to SOPs.

·         Deals with routine enquiries from internal and external staff/customers

·         Processing, filing and storage of paper-based prescriptions and patient details.

·         Clear benches of drugs/medicines which are no longer required and monitors and keeps various sections tidy.

·         Assist in providing and maintaining a supply of bottles, caps/lids, cartons, oral dose syringes, spoons and other items of equipment for dispensing of medicines and reviews usage of sundries.

·         Regularly empty, correctly label and store green boxes returned from wards.

·         Occasionally processes prescription details on the computer-based prescription tracking system, and supports the homecare team under the supervision of the senior technician.

Responsibility for Policy/Service Development

·         Works within the standard operating procedures for the department and suggests ways of improving service.

·         Work within set routines, policies and procedures with staff available to answer queries.

·         Undertake surveys and audits for own work and as required for other members of staff.

·         Raises concerns about service as appropriate.

Responsibility for Financial Resources

·         Assists in the provision of a manufacturing service producing medicines for use in London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, and for sale to other hospitals, community pharmacies and research units.

·         Undertake stock checks and stock rotation in the pharmacy department.

·         Return medicines under supervision into stock on the pharmacy computer system.

·         Responsible for security of stock, checking, storage and distribution of medicines.

·         Participate in the sales and supply of manufactured medicinal products to external customers.

Other Aspects of the Role

·         Flexible and work within the roles of the pharmacy department.

·         Participates in the late duties, weekend and bank holiday rotas