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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary: 

1. To support the dispensary manager with the day-to-day management of the dispensary, including organisation of workload and supervision of all staff in the dispensary
2. To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT)
3. To line-manage staff

Key Result Areas & Performance: 

Dispensary 

1. To organise the provision of all dispensary-based services, including inpatients, outpatients, controlled drugs and clinical trials to agreed performance targets with guidance and support from the dispensary manager/patient services manager.
2. To deputise for the dispensary manager in their absence, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the dispensary and resolving problems as they arise.
3. To use the right first time procedure to manage the quality of dispensing in the dispensary. This will involve reviewing in-process errors and ensuring that actions are taken to address poor performance and reporting progress to the dispensary manager.
4. To assist the dispensary manager with good stock control in dispensary, ensuring the efficient use of all resources, keeping waste to a minimum and encouraging the re-use of medicines when appropriate.
5. To cover, where appropriate, the duties of the other senior dispensary staff in their absence.
6. To assist with the preparation of a weekly rota ensuring that all dispensary duties have sufficient staffing and that any issues are resolved.
7. To provide regular activity and quality monitoring information and to use this information to maintain a quality service.
8. To accurately dispense prescriptions for both in and outpatients. Prescription types will include: outpatients; inpatients; discharges; controlled drugs and clinical trials.  This will involve inputting of patients details into the Ascribe computer system and subsequently produce dispensing labels. The label, prescription and product are collected together and assembled. Any additional items such as spoons and bags are also added.  The prepared items are checked for accuracy and passed to the pharmacist/accredited technician for final checking.
9. To work in the dispensary for outpatients. This involves: taking prescriptions from outpatients and verifying their details; taking a current drug history from the patient, carer or parent. To give out the medication and counsel them on their medication to promote concordance. This will include the name of the medication, dosage, common side effects and administration details including use of devices. In addition, answer any queries or concerns a patient may have about their medication or refer to a pharmacist if appropriate.
10. To deal with verbal complaints and safety issues, informing the dispensary manager at the earliest opportunity.
11. To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and patients and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.
12. To investigate stock level discrepancies within the dispensary in line with current procedures.
13. To assist with/write standard operating procedures for the dispensary.
14. To assist in the distribution of FP10 prescription pads, ensuring secure storage arrangements in the pharmacy and when in use throughout the hospital.
15. To assist with investigations into clinical incidents that occur in the dispensary.
16. To ensure the daily workload for the dispensary is completed and information handed over to the pharmacist responsible for locking-up the department.
17. To organise and conduct dispensary induction and training for staff whenever necessary
18. To manage dispensary workflow and ensuring dispensary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets are achieved.
19. To investigate and report dispensary incidents
20. To ensure smooth and efficient running of dispensary services, working with the dispensary manager and other senior technicians.
21. To ensure safe management of Controlled Drugs in the dispensary

Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) duties 

1. Complete Accreditation (ACPT) according to CPPE scheme and local ACPT Policy.
2. Conduct checking duties in dispensary for a minimum of 8 hours per month.
3. Provide constructive feedback when informing dispensers that they have made mistakes during dispensing.
4. Report in-process errors using the Right First Time Procedure.
5. Arrive promptly for arranged checking sessions.
6. Ensure that your knowledge is up to date by reading all pharmacy procedures relevant to the accuracy checking of dispensed medicines and the ACPT Policy.
7. Contribute to the quality management of dispensing by suggesting improvements to practice and procedures.
8. Inform the ACPT Educational Supervisor (ES) on your base site before your accreditation expires, so that they can arrange for your reaccreditation. 

Staff Management & Training 

1. To line manage staff, including:
2. Regular appraisal of performance and objective setting
3. Identification of training needs, personal development planning and evaluation
4. Ensuring that all human resource policies, procedures and standards are understood and maintained
5. Ensure all relevant paperwork regarding the above is up to date
6. To participate in recruitment.
7. To undertake training of pharmacy, medical and nursing staff and other members of the healthcare team as appropriate and to specifically ensure that all Pharmacy staff receives GCP training commensurate with their roles and responsibilities in relation to trials.
8. To identify own training needs, and actively seek opportunities to meet these, internal and external

 General

1. To ensure a very high standard of customer care.
2. In the absence of the dispensary manager, to be responsible for the authorisation of annual leave for technicians and assistants, ensuring appropriate levels of staffing across the department.
3. To participate in the weekend and bank holiday pharmacy service. As a team leader, being responsible for opening and locking up of department, ensuring the security of the department.
4. To maintain a portfolio of Continuous Professional Development.
5. To work in a customer focused manner with: patients, carers, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, to ensure a very high standard of customer care
6. To liaise with other senior staff with in other areas of pharmacy to ensure effective communication.
7. To attend in house and externally arranged study sessions as appropriate.
8. To maintain current knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.
9. To enter information onto the Safeguard computer system.
10. To provide cover in the absence of staff to visit wards and departments to replenish stock drugs to a pre-set level, ensuring stock is correctly stored and expiry date checked.
11. To undertake any duties as may reasonably be expected by the Chief Pharmacist.