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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (per annum plus HCAS)
Job ref
197-UT5221
Employer
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
University Hospital Lewisham
Town
London
Salary
£35,392 - £42,618 per annum plus HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust logo

Lead Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services

Band 6

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over  staying comfortable; Listening  over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

Lead Pharmacy Technician Medicines Management

Band 6

Full time permanent contract: 

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Pharmacy Clinical Services Team at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT).  We are committed to providing exceptional patient care and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and general wellbeing. Our Clinical services team are hard working professionals who thrive on providing the best care and outcomes possible to our patients.

Are you a Senior medicines management technician looking for the next step in your career. We are looking for a self-motivated, dedicated and  experienced pharmacy technician to join us as Lead Pharmacy Technician  Medicines Management based at our University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) site.

This post offers you a chance to contribute to our Pharmacy Services Strategy and continued development of ward-based pharmacy teams. We encourage every team member to come up with novel ways to make and drive change in our department.

To be considered for this lead role you must be registered with the GPhC, have extensive post- registration ward-based hospital experience and have a proven history in providing training to BTEC level.

Part time working will be taken into consideration so please enquire as soon as possible.

 

Main duties of the job

As the Lead Pharmacy Technician Medicines management, you will

  • Ensure the day-to-day provision of an efficient ward based pharmacy service, delivering both clinical and technical elements to the highest standards.
  • Be responsible for training and developing, medicines management pharmacy technicians / assistant and Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians
  • Undertake line management duties
  • Give supervision and mentoring.
  • Deputise for the Principal Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Services.
  • Support the Principal Pharmacy Technician in identifying, training and supporting present and future extended roles for the Pharmacy support staff.
  • Perform the final accuracy check on dispensed items.
  • Act as Education Supervisor (ES) for trainees. 

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
  4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary

1.    To support and manage the pharmacy technical team in the delivery of ward-based clinical pharmacy and operational services across the Trust. This will include the promotion of safe and cost effective drug use, appropriate medicines storage and security, and providing a high quality service.

2.    To support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidance relating to patient services. This includes undertaking audits, producing reports and implementing any changes that are necessary.

3.    To provide technical operational and clinical support to the pharmacy department as required by the needs of pharmacy service. This includes line management, supervision, training and support to junior pharmacy technicians, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff as necessary.

4.    To support your section lead with the delivery of any service developments associated with pharmacy services required to meet local and national requirements. 

5.    To support the Principal Pharmacy Technician, Education and Training in the co-ordination, implementation, development and delivery of training programmes for pre-registration pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and trainee pharmacists.

6.     To deputise for the Chief/Principal Pharmacy Technician for the section of department responsibility.  

Service Development & Delivery


1.    To support the development of operational / clinical pharmacy services in the Trust.
2.    To be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician.
3.    To actively support and facilitate the provision of operational / clinical pharmacy services within the department or at ward level as necessary to agree performance targets with guidance and support from the section lead.
4.    To support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidance for Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants to support best practice of operational /  clinical pharmacy services.
5.    To support the development, review and maintenance of pharmacy accreditation programmes for technical staff working within pharmacy services.
6.    To provide supervision for pharmacy technical staff working within the pharmacy department.
7.    To monitor and evaluation the practice and competency of pharmacy technical staff working in the pharmacy department.
8.    To identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning safe and secure handling of medicines are required, make relevant recommendations and support actions by seniors. 
9.    To identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning controlled drugs are required, make relevant recommendations and support actions by wards.
10.    To organise projects and training in relation to operational / clinical pharmacy and as required. 
11.    To perform audits of workload as necessary to streamline quality of service on a        regular basis.
12.    To provide the details of output, performance, and activity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Pharmacy Performance Quality Review meeting.
13.    To attend and contribute to relevant departmental and Trust meetings as required.
14.    To contribute to the determination of the future direction of operational / clinical pharmacy services through identification of customers and their needs.
15.    To deputise for the Principal / Chief Pharmacy Technician in their absence.
16.    To liaise and work closely with other Lead / Senior Pharmacy Technicians, specific areas and across the trust.
17.    To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and patients and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.
18.    To investigate / supervise clinical incidents occurring within the pharmacy department. 
19.    Results of the investigation may be entered onto the Ulysses risk management system if appropriate.
20.    To write and maintain standard operating procedures for areas of work within the section assigned to and to participate in the production of clinical policies and procedures.
21.    To ensure daily workload for the designated area is completed and junior staff handover any relevant information to the appropriate person in the department.
22.    To act as an Educational Supervisor, Practice Supervisor and / or expert Witness as required.

Leadership and Service Development

1.    To participate in the ‘front-line’ provision of operational / clinical pharmacy services as appropriate and when required.
2.    To lead and develop the operational / clinical pharmacy service as required. This includes setting and monitoring quality standards for operational / clinical pharmacy services and the provision of feedback to the Principal / Chief pharmacy technician. 
3.    To liaise with other senior pharmacy staff to ensure the effective provision of pharmacy services.
4.    To collaborate in the development of Standard Operating Procedures, Patient Group Directions and any other required policies within the department.
5.    To identify resources required to improve pharmacy services within the department.
6.    To support the development, implementation and adherence to local and national guidelines/policies to ensure cost-effective and safe delivery of services within the department. 

Staff Management & Training 

1.    To manage the induction and development of pharmacy staff, according to their identified needs and development and funding framework of the department n liaison with the Principal Pharmacy Technician for Education and Training.
2.    To be the direct line manager for senior Pharmacy staff, and delegate to senior staff more junior staff members for all the following, according to Trust procedures:

  •   Regular appraisals of performance and objective setting
  •   Sickness absence
  •   Disciplinary and grievance matters
  •   Recruitment and selection
  •   Personal development
  •   Departmental workload allocations

3.    To identify the training and development needs of all pharmacy staff.
4.    To facilitate the training and development of pharmacy technicians, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and trainee pharmacy assistants,  working in line with service needs and personal development plans.
5.    To support the Principal Pharmacy Technician in Education & Training in co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff as required, ranging from one-to one communications to more formal presentations in order to promote medicines pharmacy services and good practice.
6.    To co-ordinate and advise on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all technical staff within Pharmacy.
7.    To undertake CPD to ensure that knowledge is continually updated in the field of work.
8.    To be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for pharmacy technicians and assistants, whilst ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.
9.    To evaluate and develop own management and professional knowledge competencies by attendance at in-house training programmes, external training programmes, self-education and practice research.
10.    To organise and ensure regular one-to-one meetings with staff.

Educational Supervisor Responsibilities
 
1.    To monitor the progress of pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants in training.  
2.    To plan and monitor training objectives and assessments are completed within the relevant rotations, according to training plans. 
3.    To make judgements on evidence against national occupational standards and provide constructive feedback, guidance and support.
4.    Undertake and maintain CPD to ensure knowledge and skills are up-to-date in occupational and assessor national standards.             
5.    To support pharmacy colleagues involved in the supervision and implementation of our training programmes. 
6.    To co-ordinate competency-based assessment and carry out observations.

Research & Development

1.    To lead in audit and practice research to investigate, and where appropriate, improve the quality of service for patients in the trust. 
2.    To encourage research conducted to be published or presented at local, national or 
3.    international meetings.
4.    To support the integration of research evidence into practice.
5.    To identify gaps in evidence base, and where possible, research these.

Governance, Information & Data Management

1.    To support the collation of quantitative and qualitative performance measures, co-ordinate their use and be involved in disseminating and acting on the information gathered.
2.    To collate & review audit data associated with monitoring outcomes associated within pharmacy services and utilise available information to influence and develop services in the Trust.

Communications and Relationships

1.    To communicate with the multidisciplinary healthcare team (doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, ward managers, and site practitioners), to intermediate care, general practice support and community pharmacists in the provision of medicine related information and assessment of patients’ treatment.
2.    To work with appropriate staff to support development of pharmacy services throughout the Trust. 
3.    To demonstrate good communication skills as the role liaises with a wide variety of people within the Trust.  This will include service and general managers across all directorates, trust risk managers, directorate governance leads, multidisciplinary team members and all Pharmacy staff.
4.    To liaise with external bodies including community pharmacies, GPs, local ICB, necessary pharmacy networks and suppliers. 
5.    The post-holder will be required to communicate clearly and sensitively about patient medication issues both internally and externally.

 

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent
  • Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
  • Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
  • Specialist knowledge of pharmacy procedures/processes
  • HEE LaSE Medicines Optimisation or in-house accreditation
  • Educational supervisor or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • Other postgraduate qualifications relevant to pharmacy practice, such education & training qualifications

Experience & Skills

Essential criteria
  • Substantial post registration experience working in hospital pharmacy
  • Demonstrable experience and involvement with BTEC training of pre-registration pharmacy technicians.
  • Demonstrate experience of training and mentoring others
  • Demonstrate experience of line Management
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrable experience of co-ordinating and leading on clinical audit.
  • Demonstrable experience of protocol l/ guideline development.
  • Practice Supervisor qualification
  • Assessor qualification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria
  • Practical knowledge of role of ward-based pharmacy technicians in provision of medicines management services on wards
  • Good understanding of law and good practice related to prescribing, storage and handling of pharmaceuticals
  • Demonstrate clinical knowledge of medicines use
  • Ability to prioritise and plan work effectively alone and for a team
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information effectively using clear written and spoken English and overcome barriers to understanding.
  • Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure.
  • Proficient in all Microsoft Office software with proven computer literacy and IT skills including: • Email • Word processing • Spreadsheets • Use of search engines/medical databases to retrieve information
  • Demonstrated accurate numeric skills
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to contribute to the planning of service developments within a department or service
  • Evidence of audit and/or project work

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Be flexible in responding to demands of the service.
  • Reliable, polite and approachable.
  • Knows own professional and personal limitations and seeks advice where necessary.

Other

Essential criteria
  • Willingness to contribute to the general life and work of the Pharmacy and Trust.
  • Willingness to participate in weekend, evening, Bank Holiday and late shifts as required.
  • Able to work agreed hours

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDCapital Nurse, LondonVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoTimewise helps businesses to attract and develop the best talent through flexible working.No smoking policyLondon Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage FoundationAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Simon Weekes
Job title
Principal Pharmacy Technician Clinical Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0208 333 3000
Additional information

Daniel Connolly

Associate Director of Pharmacy, Clinical Services 

 [email protected]

020 8333 3203 (UHL)

020 8836 4026 (QEH)

 

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