Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

The role of Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician has significantly expanded over the past few years, largely due to the success of our Dedicated Ward Pharmacy (DWP) service. Our Pharmacy Technicians are now taking on more clinical duties and responsibilities, and we are also extending our services into new areas such as Theatres, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Oncology, Maternity, and Paediatrics.

We are a highly supportive and motivated team, always striving to provide the best possible care for our patients. Our Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians regularly attend conferences and exhibitions. For example, some of our team showcased their posters at the Clinical Congress and two Technicians spoke at the APTUK conference 2024. We strongly encourage our team to enrol on courses to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Many of our Pharmacy Technicians have been with us for over 10 years, which we believe is a true testament to our team. If you are a newly qualified Pharmacy Technician or currently working in a different sector and looking for a new challenge with direct patient contact, this role could be perfect for you. We offer a band 4-5 development programme to help you grow into the role and the environment.

Main duties of the job

To be an integral part of the Clinical Pharmacy Service, utilising technical and clinical skills when trained and competent to provide safe, effective medicines optimisation of patient care.

To be responsible for the provision of the technical pharmacy services to assigned wards.  This will include daily visits, medicines reconciliation, assessment of patients’ own medicines, counselling patients, preparing for patients discharge, ensuring medication is available on the wards, and supporting wards with medicines management.

To assist Advanced/Principal Pharmacy Technicians/Pharmacists to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients.

To assist in the provision of ward-based activities.

To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients.

To assist the Principal/Advanced Pharmacy Technicians in co-ordinating and managing  the Medicine Management workload.

To use technical and pharmaceutical skills to ensure control, security, quality and value for money of medicines.

To assist in Directorate responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assist in the provision of ward-based activities.  This will include the following tasks:

• To assist the Clinical Pharmacists in identifying new patients and    taking accurate medicines reconciliations in a timely manner.
• To complete medicines reconciliation by using recognised sources and effective communication with the patient.
• To assist in the maintenance of the Patients’ Own Medicines Scheme by promoting the service both within the Trust and externally, as well as encouraging patients to bring their own medicines into hospital from home.
• To assess patients’ own medicines for suitability for use, following the Trust procedure.
• To counsel patients on their medication.
• To ensure information is effectively communicated to the Clinical Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
• To manage medicine supply on assigned wards/areas.
• To undertake additional clinical duties following appropriate training, as necessary, to meet the demands of the service.(e.g. completing falls reviews, checking blood results)
• To support the Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with patients discharge in a timely manner.(e.g. technical checking of discharge prescriptions)
• To dispense/perform an accuracy check of discharge medicines at ward level.
• To support the wards/areas with medicines management in line with trust policies.

To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients.  This will include the following tasks:

• To accurately and promptly dispense prescriptions for in-patients, out-patients,

day-patients and leave/discharge patients.

• To issue dispensed medicines to patients and confirm that they know how to take them and that they know the indication to aid compliance.
• To supply Controlled Drugs and keep appropriate records.
• To undertake ‘final checking’ of medication according to a defined policy when competence has been proven.
• If required, to take part in the staff rotation system and undertake duties elsewhere in the Pharmacy to maintain the service.
• If required, to issue supplies of stock preparations for wards, departments and other areas.
• To assist in the maintenance of a clean and efficient environment suitable for the handling and compounding of medicinal substances; proper cleaning, maintenance, and use of equipment.

To assist the Principal/Advanced Pharmacy Technicians in co-ordinating and managing  the Medicine Management workload. This will include the following tasks:

• To line manage the Medicines Management Assistants (MMA).
• To perform appraisals and 1-1s to delegated staff in accordance with Trust policies.
• To provide sickness and performance monitoring to delegated staff.
• To support with the recruitment process.
• To manage the day-to-day workload and maintain/review the required data collection.

To use technical and pharmaceutical skills to ensure control, security, quality and value for money of medicines.  This will include the following tasks:

• To assist in maintaining appropriate storage and stock levels of medicines in Pharmacy departments to ensure quality, potency and economy.
• To help to maintain an accurate computerised pharmacy stock control system.
• To assess and return medicines for re-use in accordance with the departmental policy.
• To maintain necessary records.  If required, to collate information and present reports.

To assist in Directorate responsibilities.  This will include the following tasks:

• To assist in audit and projects
• To collect and submit data to support the production of the scorecards and other reports.
• To assist with producing and reviewing SOPs/policies.

Other Duties.  This will include the following tasks:

• To deputise for Advanced Pharmacy Technicians, when necessary.
• To train pharmacy and other staff.
• To act as a role model for all trainees.
• To report incidents/errors/issues/concerns via the appropriate channel as per trust policy.
• To undertake other duties, as necessary, elsewhere in the locality