Band 5 Pharmacy Technician – Dispensary Team Leader, Calne

Job overview

Are you a dedicated, registered Pharmacy Technician looking to expand your knowledge and experience?

There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, proactive and enthusiastic pharmacy technician to join the AWP pharmacy service as a Pharmacy Technician – Dispensary Team Leader in our Calne Pharmacy location.

The main purpose of the role is to organise and facilitate the dispensing of medicines within AWP in collaboration with the Dispensary manager at Calne and the Lead Pharmacy Technician - Operations.

We are seeking a individual who is enthusiastic about improving the lives of those living with mental health issues. Previous experience in Mental Health or secondary care is not required, as you will be provided with competency based training and support to help you expand on your knowledge and experience.

Working hours are 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday, with an occasional commitment to the Saturday and bank holiday rotas. Working hours for weekends and bank holidays are 10am-1pm.

The AWP pharmacy service supplies medicines and provides clinical support to wards and teams across our core catchment area. We have two dispensaries: the main department in Calne (Wiltshire) and a smaller dispensary at Callington Road Hospital (Bristol). As well as managing the medicines supply chain in the trust, we support the safe and effective use of medicines throughout the organisation through our clinical work, enquiry answering, medicines governance activity and many other roles.

Main duties of the job

The main purpose of this role is supervising, organising and monitoring the performance of pharmacy technicians, assistant technical officers and pharmacists working in the dispensary to maintain an efficient and safe dispensing service. Ensuring work is undertaken in line with policies and procedures, and undertaking routine dispensary work as required. Working collaboratively with the Calne Dispensary Manager canvassing staff opinions, assessing different models of working and implementing change as appropriate.

This particular post will be based within the dispensary at Calne Pharmacy Hub. There may be a need to provide cover to other areas and this will be discussed in advance whenever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Dispensary

Encouraging & maintaining a high standard of work by all members of the team working in the dispensary at all times

To assist in the provision of a safe and effective dispensary service in line with the law and current policies and procedures

To manage the dispensary workload by monitoring worklists system to ensure that prescriptions are completed in the allocated time frame

Prepare rotas and direct staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake the tasks in order to efficiently manage the dispensary workload.  Re-evaluate rotas regularly depending on workload

Assisting in quality assurance procedures, ensuring that near miss errors are logged appropriately, that actual errors are reported and logged on Ulysses, and supporting the Lead Pharmacy Technician – Operations with incident investigations

Organising and supervising daily stock checks, weekly benzodiazepine/abusable medicines checks, and monthly controlled drug checks

Organise a roster for, and participate in the dispensing and checking of multicompartmental adherence aids in line with departmental procedures.

Develop an understanding of the Omnicell automated dispensing systems in use within the department, and promote its efficient use. Work with digital pharmacy technician to ensure the benefits of automated dispensing are maximised.

Support and undertake the training of staff as appropriate.

To act as Final Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician and carry out all tasks required to maintain checking technician status

Dispensing prescriptions in accordance with the doctor’s instructions, ensuring that unusual dosages or unusual prescriptions are referred to a pharmacist for confirmation or revision before being dispensed or supplied. Ensuring that local and national procedures are followed.

Using the pharmacy IT system to produce labels, accurately conveying the prescribers instructions

Dispensing clinical trials and completing associated paperwork in line with protocols and policies

Contacting prescribers or nursing staff when problems are encountered on prescriptions, after referral to the appropriate pharmacist

Dispensing special items e.g. cytotoxics and injections for oral use after appropriate training and following current procedures and health and safety guidelines

Undertaking where necessary the dispensing of Controlled Drugs and regular register checks according to departmental procedures and relevant laws

To receive enquiries regarding information about medication, ensuring that adequate detail is obtained and the urgency is established. To interpret these enquiries and answer them when appropriate, or pass them onto a more experienced pharmacy technician or pharmacist, when appropriate.

Co-ordinate the arrangements for transport or, if required, the booking of taxi’s, in line with departmental and Trust procedures

Ensuring that staff follow the department COSHH and Health and Safety guidelines

Maintain safe systems of work at all times, being responsible for the quality and accuracy of all dispensing work undertaken

Ensure that the department is kept clean and tidy, and tasks undertaken as required in the relevant procedures

Support the management of EMBOX ensure emergency drug bags are swapped and replenished in sufficient time.

Procurement

Raise purchase orders for stock via the pharmacy system

To ensure continuity of supply for stock, including unavailable contract lines and products with short/long term manufacturing issues

Manage off-contract claims made against suppliers who cannot supply stock in-line with CMU contracts

Manage Purchase Orders, Delivery Notes and Invoice records to ensure that the appropriate paperwork is completed promptly and accurately

Load CMU contracts on to the pharmacy computer system and ensure they are appropriately mapped so that purchase orders are raised for the correct product

Support with investigation of any pharmacy medicine stock discrepancies as per agreed procedures

Ordering special request drugs and ensuring all required paperwork is present prior to and post supply.

Clozapine management

Provide technical cover for the clozapine supply service within departmental SOPs, coordinating deliveries with transport schedules, to ensure timely and safe supply

Check validity of blood test (full blood count) results and input to the clozapine monitoring database (Zaponex® treatment access system)

Release clozapine to service users based on blood test validity

Liaise with service users’ keyworker, and other staff involved in their care, e.g. consultant psychiatrist, to ensure continuity of prescription, supply of clozapine and blood test, including escalating when additional blood tests are needed

General Duties

Offering support and advice to staff in their day to day duties

Taking phone calls from staff if they are unable to come into work, liaising with the Lead Pharmacy Technician - Operations if further support is required to manage an issue

Undertaking certain managerial duties such as initial return to work assessments, supervision and undertaking appraisals

Liaising with the Calne Dispensary Manager, canvassing staff opinions in assessing different models of working and implementing change as appropriate

Undertaking routine duties required to ensure the smooth running of the pharmacy computer system within the dispensary and stores, including assisting staff with the day-to-day problems associated with this system

Maintaining adequate stocks of equipment and other requisites in the section

Fostering and maintaining good relationships within pharmacy and other AWP staff members

Promoting positive and effective communication within the Pharmacy Department

Participating in the weekend and bank holiday service in line with rosters

Keeping up-to-date with professional practice and undertaking CPD