Rotational Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

Calling all newly qualified & community-based Pharmacy Technicians!

We are delighted to be offering an exciting opportunity to join our supportive, innovative and friendly pharmacy team in the provision of excellent hospital pharmacy services.

This post will be of interest to Preregistration Pharmacy Technicians nearing qualification & registration or Pharmacy Technicians looking to take their first step into hospital pharmacy from other sectors.

We offer rotation through a range of pharmacy service areas, including the clinical & technical ward service, dispensary services & aseptic services, and have a great track record of developing our team through our commitment to ongoing training and our comprehensive STEP programme (see Career Pathways attachment below).

Successful candidates will hold current registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC, or will be due to register in the near future. You will have a commitment to your continued professional development and the provision of an excellent standard of pharmacy service.

Main duties of the job

To carry out dispensing of drugs (including controlled drugs), medicated dressings, enteral feeds, in-patients and A&E prescriptions and clinical trial prescriptions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To perform a final accuracy check of dispensed items.

To give routine clinical and pharmaceutical advice to healthcare staff if confident to do so and within the knowledge limitations of the grade.

To counsel patients as appropriate in order to ensure the safe and effective use and storage of their medicines.

To liaise with ward pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists and to assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.

To check, maintain and replenish the out of hour’s drug cupboard and resuscitation cupboard.

To participate in the ‘topping-up’ service for wards/departments in the hospital and outside units as required.

To participate in stock replenishment procedures in all areas of the pharmacy.

To monitor the continued suitability of pharmaceutical stock on wards and in departments and to arrange the appropriate removal/destruction in accordance with environmental regulations.

To monitor and record drug storage temperatures within the Pharmacy and on wards/departments during the ‘top-up’ and to alert section managers of any discrepancies.

Ensure the security of the pharmacy department and stores areas at all times during working hours and at the end of the working day by maintaining responsibility for keys and swipe access cards and by the setting of alarms as necessary.

To carry out accurate entry of data into the Pharmacy computer system.

To assist in the maintenance of the Controlled Drugs Register and to carry out regular stock level checks of Controlled Drugs in line with legal responsibilities.

To carry out aseptic preparation following completion of the in-house aseptic training programme.

To participate in the ward-based Medicines Management service when appropriate and under the supervision of a Medicines Management Technician.

To undertake disposal of cytotoxic drug waste in accordance with COSHH regulations.

To assist in the individual and group training of pharmacy assistants (ATOs), senior ATOs, Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians and Pre-Registration Pharmacist students.

To assist section managers in the orientation, induction and training of pharmacy staff new to those sections, and to contribute to the training of the Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians.

To contribute ideas for improving cost-effectiveness and to assist in their implementation where agreed.

To participate in the weekend and Bank Holiday rota including handling of boxes of intravenous fluids and other bulk products.

To process cash and cheque transactions for over the counter sales of medicines and for private prescriptions, as required.

To undertake other duties at the base hospital and outside units as required by the Pharmacy Operations Lead, in accordance with this grade of post.

Relationships:

Managed by the section manager to which allocated.

Supervises pharmacy assistants (ATOs) and senior ATOs in the section of work to which allocated.

Works and co-operates with all pharmacy and healthcare staff in the provision of services

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.