Senior Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity to join our friendly, dynamic & forward-thinking pharmacy team at SWFT as part of our weekend service!

We are committed to providing a high-quality, safe & effective pharmacy service that makes a real difference to our patients, and we are looking for a highly-motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our well-integrated clinical & technical team to achieve this.

You need to be a qualified Pharmacy Technician registered with the GPhC to apply, with sufficient post-registration experience to operate at a senior level of practice.

This role is based at Warwick hospital, which has excellent transport links to Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and surrounding areas.

Main duties of the job

To ensure the delivery of a safe, effective and efficient ward-based Medicines Management service at weekends.

Key Working Relationships

Managed by the Lead Pharmacy Technician or the Lead Pharmacist for the clinical team to which allocated.

Supervises other Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Senior Assistants, and Trainees on rotation in the section of work to which allocated.

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

Maintains a network with counterparts in other Trusts, for the exchange of information and the sharing of idea.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Participate in the operation of the Medicines Management Service at ward level:

Compile drug histories and reconcile medicines against approved sources (including the NHS Summary Care Record).

Identify medicines reconciliation discrepancies, highlighting to pharmacist or doctor on ward.

Assess suitability of patients’ own drugs for continued use and arrange the safe disposal of those drugs which are not (subject to patient consent).

Transcribe from patients’ drug charts for subsequent dispensing.

Specialised medication counselling.

Discharge planning, including the identification of patients requiring their discharge supply in a monitored dose device, and liaison with community pharmacies, and with care homes and hospices which may have non-standard arrangements.

Use professional judgement to make referrals for follow-up interventions by community pharmacies using the PharmOutcomes system.

Participate in the prioritisation of clinical workload as part of the pharmacy ward team.

Lead in the prioritisation of operational pharmacy workload across the ward team.

Supervise the activities of Pharmacy Technicians working within the ward service.

Undertake unaccompanied visits to wards at the base hospital and to outlying hospitals, including wards without pharmacist input; to undertake medicines management duties relating to the drug distribution and non-stock pharmaceuticals supply service; and to provide pharmaceutical advice to ward staff as required within professional limitations.

Identify and make interventions, using the principles of medicines optimisation to promote patient medicines compliance and improve patient outcomes.

Where appropriate, identify and refer clinical interventions such as polypharmacy/falls risk within professional limitations to the ward pharmacist.

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 in line with national standards.

Drug transcription error reporting.

Create and adapt rotas for the Medicines Management Team assessing and prioritising the needs of the service.

Participate in audits to monitor and analyse Controlled Drug use and Safe and Secure Handling of medicines on wards/clinical areas.

Dispensary based duties:

Carry out dispensing of drugs, medicated dressings, enteral feeds, and drug-related devices for outpatients, in-patients, and clinical trial patients, from the dispensary as required.

Give routine pharmaceutical advice to healthcare staff within professional limitations, referring to a pharmacist if required.

Undertake the final accuracy checking (as an Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician ACPT) of dispensed prescriptions in the dispensary in accordance with pharmacy departmental policies and procedures. Ensure the timely and supportive notification to dispensers, of any error found when checking.

To ensure such errors are recorded, and to participate in the Trust Incident Reporting process as appropriate.

Counsel all out-patients when issuing drugs, and in-patients as appropriate, in order to ensure the safe and effective use and storage of their medicines.

Cover day to day managerial duties in the absence of the section Lead Technician, including managing and prioritising daily workload, organising staff breaks and ensuring adequate cover in all areas during times of absence.

Undertake audits, which include regular safe handling and storage of medicines audits on wards and in Departments. To work with ward staff to develop action plans on audit outcomes and give advice and support as appropriate.

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

Carry out accurate entry of data into the Pharmacy computer system.

Use networks and other resources to identify opportunities to improve the service.

Participate in weekday late night, weekend and Bank Holiday services on rotation.

Undertake other duties at the base hospital and other hospitals in the area as required by the Head of Pharmacy in accordance with this grade of post.

Ensure that all Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all who come into contact with services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.