Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To lead on the strategic development of pharmacy technical ward services, including

-       Production of business plans to develop and improve the service where appropriate

-       Monitor performance and develop and implement improvements

• Plan and manage own workload and to work independently and use acquired knowledge and experience to interpret the pharmacy ward services standards and relate them to the work of the department to achieve the expected outcome.
• Performance manage band 5 and 6 pharmacy technicians and other staff allocated to ward services within the department including, responsibility for:

-       The recruitment and selection process of pharmacy technicians and assistants

-       Ensure all direct line reports have appropriate risk assessments completed

-       Ensure all direct line reports have an annual appraisal and appropriate personal development plan which is in line with the strategic objectives of the department, ensure this is reviewed and updated in regular 1:1’s

-       To liaise with the Human Resource Department concerning disciplinary and grievance matters for staff in ward services

-       To organise and conduct disciplinary meetings with ward services staff in accordance with Trust procedures.

• Provide pastoral and emotional support to the team when necessary
• To supervise and support foundation year pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacy technician’s and pharmacy students allocated to ward services
• Be a member of the department wider pharmacy leadership team and to undertake duties required
• To provide the pharmacy leadership team with key performance data
• To be responsible for developing writing and implementing procedures and policies for pharmacy ward technical services
• Assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician in the investigation of complaints including providing suitable responses and ensuring remedial action is taken where appropriate
• To manage annual leave, time owing and related issues for ward based technical staff
• Prepare weekly rotas for the band 5 technicians and ward services dispensing staff to ensure adequate service provision. To re-assess and adjust staffing according to irregular or unpredictable workloads, whilst aiming to keep the service within acceptable limits
• To be responsible for the organisation of staffing for the ward technical staff when emergency or voluntary rota staffing is required and in the case of additional activity during the weekend and/or evenings, relating to ward services.
• To co-operate with other section heads in the provision of staffing within the Pharmacy department, and problem solve staffing issues between different areas of the pharmacy, ensuring the provision of the most efficient Pharmacy service.
• To liaise with medical, nursing, portering and other staff regarding the pharmacy service and any related problems.
• To be responsible for the recruitment of locum technician staff and act as a signatory to approve time sheets totalling more than £1000 per month
• Approval of bank and agency staff hours worked on e roster
• To assist the Chief Pharmacy Technician & Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Operations in the production of any necessary capital bids.
• To be responsible for the development, of the Omnicell systems across the wards in the Trust, leading pharmacy staff based on all sites. This also involves working with senior nursing staff, clinical governance leads and other stakeholders.
• To be responsible for developing and delivering detailed information to inform decisions on configuration of the Omnicell systems
• To be responsible for the installation, training and operation of the Omnicell drug vending machines based on wards.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

• To perform final accuracy checking on prescriptions and inpatient requisitions which have been clinically verified by a pharmacist in accordance with Trust procedures and ensure dispensing errors are corrected by the appropriate member of staff
• Labelling and dispensing of medication as required
• To provide a specialist clinical technical service to a designated ward, in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies. This will include:

-       The taking of a comprehensive medication history for new patients as soon as possible after admission using multiple sources of information

-       Close liaison with external organisations e.g. nursing homes/community pharmacies, other hospitals and GP practices

-       Accurately transcribe medicines from EPMA to ICE discharge identifying any discrepancies to the ward doctor and ward pharmacist

-       Processing of TTO’s at ward level in a timely manner to maintain patient flows in the Trust

-       Ordering medication in a timely manner to avoid missed doses, particularly of critical medicines

-       Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit ‘yellow cards’ where appropriate

-       Counselling and educating patients on how to correctly take their medicines including advice on side effects and appropriate storage

-       Identify unintentional nonadherence to medicines and intervene where appropriate

-       To participate in patient counselling and communicate complex information effectively to other grades of staff and patients and if appropriate use demonstrational techniques in the use of medicines to patients, carers and other health care professionals, ensuring they understand fully any advice or instructions provided.

• To provide appropriate advice to Doctors, nurses and other professionals as required
• Lead and co-ordinate technical support to the clinical trials pharmacist to ensure GCP standards are met
• Report any drug errors you detect to the Chief Pharmacist or their deputy.
• Liaise with appropriate healthcare professionals within local care providers to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources across the primary/secondary care interface.
• Return unwanted or patients own Controlled drugs from the wards in accordance with the departmental policy and the Misuse of Drugs Act
• To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per department policy and national guidelines from the General Pharmaceutical council
• To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7-day service
• To participate in the on call, Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday and emergency duty rotas
• To participate in the department late night and locking up rota and ensure the safe custody of all pharmacy keys in your possession both on and off site
• To undertake any other related duties which may be require

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSABILITIES

• To develop and provide induction training on ward services for newly recruited staff. This will include preparation and delivery of presentations when necessary
• To lead on and be responsible for the development, delivery of training and education for wardbased pharmacy technical services staff, including assessing their competence in the following

-       Assessment of patients own drugs for suitability to reuse

-       Medication history taking

-       Transcribing of discharge prescriptions

-       Patient counselling

-       Accuracy checking of discharge prescriptions

-       Ward based training for pharmacy student technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants

• To lead on developing the extending roles of the pharmacy technician and assistant technical officers, allowing pharmacists to have an increased clinical role
• To lead on and develop training for pharmacy technical staff to ensure clinical trials are carried out according to GCP standards
• To lead and be responsible for the development and management of the satellite dispensaries ensuring all staff are appropriately trained and competent to undertake their duties to ensure safe and effective working practices to improve patient flows within the Trust
• To lead on and be responsible for the development and implementation of training for the use of the Omnicell systems to both pharmacy and ward-based staff
• To ensure appropriate records are kept of staff training and competence and implement a program for re assessing competence at appropriate intervals
• To participate in the delivery of training for all other relevant staff including technicians, support workers, pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists
• To be responsible for the Continuing Professional Development of all technical staff within ward services, according to the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council, in order to comply with the requirements for entry on to the technician register
• To participate and represent the department in the regional meetings of the Education and Training Development Forum for Pharmacy Technicians
• Assist the sites Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager in the training and education of junior pharmacists, pre-registration graduates, undergraduates, and pharmacy technicians
• Assist senior pharmacists in undertaking education program for nursing staff, junior and senior doctors as part of the Trust education and training progra

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• To lead in development and delivery of the continuous ward services audits, including planning, collating results, writing reports and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate the results of research / audit work and negotiate the implementation of any necessary change with all appropriate staff across the Trust.
• To lead on the audit and monitoring the trust Omnicell systems to ensure they are used appropriately and highlight any risks to Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager
• To be responsible for analysing the ward services key performance Indicators and provide regular updates to the pharmacy management team.
• To identify, develop, implement and analyse any required systems of internal audit, which may have an impact outside the pharmacy, and to present reports as and when necessary.
• To participate and co-ordinate locally any regional/ national audits relating to ward services