Primary Care Pharmacy Tech- HMP/YOI Bronzefield

Job overview

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust works in partnership to provide responsive & dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability & substance misuse services to the diverse & culturally rich communities we serve.

In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative & enthusiastic Primary Care Pharmacy Tech to join our forward thinking, friendly & expanding Health & Justice team at HMP Bronzefield. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will not only look after the healthcare needs of our patients residing in secure environments, but who also have the opportunity to have a real impact on promoting health & well-being. Our healthcare services work to a 7 day week working model, to ensure our patient's healthcare is managed & maintained to the highest of standards at all times.

Our motto is “Caring NOT Judging” so by working in partnership with the criminal justice system & other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable & high-quality primary care & mental health services to those who may have offended & those at risk of offending in the communities we serve, to improve their health status & to encourage social inclusion.

Main duties of the job

To provide a dispensing service, medicines management and an administration service for medicines to the prisoners residing in our care:

Work as an active member of the Pharmaceutical team to assist in ensuring the delivery of a legal, safe, high quality specialist prison pharmaceutical service which reflects National and local policy and priorities, taking into account the high level of security that must be maintained at all times.

Assist in providing a timely and efficient pharmaceutical service

Contribute to the development of and support implementation of medicine management strategy and associated services and projects across the Prisons

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Organisation:

• Participate in the efficient day to day running of the dispensary
• To provide medicine management
• Assist in maintaining correct Controlled Drug records in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in local/national guidance in order to maintain/deliver high quality services to the Prison.
• Under the supervision of a senior technician, to provide a timely and efficient stock topping up service to the wings with responsibility for ensuring stock levels are appropriately maintained in accordance with an agreed stock list
• Responsible for ensuring medicines are supplied and replenished to the emergency cupboards, giving medicine related advice, where necessary, to other healthcare professionals
• Check emergency bags and maintain records for audit.
• Once qualified for a suitable length of time to work towards completing the accredited checking technician’s course undertaking periodic re-assessment (every 2 years) as appropriate

Dispensary responsibilities:

• Work with a team of technicians to provide an accurate and efficient dispensing service.
• Maintain a clean and tidy working environment for the dispensing process
• Assist in the development, implementation and review of dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
• Maintain computer files for prisoner information and dispensary computer operations via update discs
• Maintain high levels of safety and security and be constantly vigilant
• Ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported to the prison gate and around the prison in a manner which maintains the integrity and security of the medicines whilst adhering to necessary safety precautions
• The post holder has a responsibility to themselves and others in relation to managing risk and health and safety and will be required to work within the prison service and CNWL Service Policies and Procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Clinical:

• Ensure that all dispensed medicines are processed in accordance with agreed dispensing standards.
• Enter patient details on the computerized record system using information from prescriptions prepared by the medical staff ensuring that drug histories are up to date and complete
• Administer medication as prescribed, which may include oral, immunisations, intramuscular injections, insulin or nebulisers, and may be compounded by frequent unplanned interruptions such as other patients, staff requests
• Provide regular medicines management service to each Wing to:
• Check all prescriptions and remove those out of date for filing in the prisoners’ medical notes Check all medication including stocks, removing unwanted items for return to pharmacy in line with departmental policies and procedures
• Check all prescriptions and remove those out of date for filing in the prisoners’ medical notes
• Check all medication including stocks, removing unwanted items for return to pharmacy in line with departmental policies and procedures
• Ensure that patients being discharged back to the community have sufficient medication and a discharge letter summarising their care package for their GP.
• Carry out CPR when required and make best use of the emergency equipment such as the defibrillator.
• Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time, which are consistent with the responsibilities and grade of the post. This may include providing cover for other teams internally or at other sites.

Research & Audit:

• Assist in the collection and analysis of workload data when requested
• Help identify areas where the technical pharmacy service can be developed.

Education and Training:

• Participate in the development and delivery of training events for CNWL employed staff in the prison Healthcare to support:
• The implementation of medicine related policies and procedures
• An appropriate level of knowledge for healthcare professionals using homely remedies
• The implementation of clinical guidelines and the preferred prescribing list

Communication:

• Deal appropriately with requests from GPs, courts, police and substance misuse clinics regarding patient medication, weighing up the need for information against patient confidentiality and seeking advice from more senior staff on complex and contentious issues
• Advise selected patients regarding their medication and other relevant pharmaceutical issues adjusting the level of advice as appropriate to overcome barriers to understanding (e.g. hard of hearing, conveying complex information in an easily understandable form)

Financial:

• Support the Pharmacy Manager in providing the pharmacy service within the budgets relating to prescribing and provision of pharmaceutical services to ensure that budgets are not exceeded.
• Support the Pharmacy Manager to identify potential savings from the medicine budget for future financial years if so required.

Responsibilities specific to the prison environment:

• To be familiar with Prison Standards, Standing Orders, Circular Instructions, Notices to Staff, Prison Rules, Health and Safety, and any other relevant material within the prison setting.
• To ensure that the Healthcare Centre meets the security requirements.
• The post holder will be in contact with prisoners on a daily basis; this client group can be challenging due to the high proportion that have mental health illness and substance misuse problems.

This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time with agreement from the employee and employer.

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.