Specialist Pharmacy Technician – Reablement

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible for supporting a high-quality medication service to the Islington Reablement service. The post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and motivated pharmacy technician looking to develop their skills and support the expansion of integrated pharmacy services across North Central London

The post holder will be heavily involved in the day to day running of the Reablement service, working collaboratively with a large, varied group of staff with all aspects of the medication service provided to patients. Other key responsibilities will include;

• -       Education and training of Reablement staff -       Undertaking quality improvement projects and service improvement audits, -       Working closely with patients in their own homes to support them with their medication use -       Support the implementation of policies and maintain up‑to‑date guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

They will also provide support to Take Home and Settle team and work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Reablement in making sure Reablement is safe, effective and meeting statutory requirements.

The post is hosted by Whittington health but embedded full time with the Islington Reablement service and will be based at Islington council offices. Clinical support and training will come from the Whittington Health pharmacy department.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will deliver, develop and support a medication service within Islington Reablement, overseeing the provision of pharmaceutical support to patients following discharge into the service. They will support and facilitate Reablement staff to provide a safe and effective medication service, while promoting and contributing to integrated working within the pharmacy department. The role involves close collaboration with support workers, therapists, social workers, team leaders, GPs, acute trusts and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the safe provision of medicines in the community. The postholder will undertake home visits independently or jointly with community teams for complex patients and work in liaison with pharmacy and medicines management staff across other NHS Trusts and Social Services to ensure safe, collaborative medicines management across care interfaces. They will raise the profile of pharmacy locally, engage in new projects, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the clinical aspects of medicines management. The role includes supporting the implementation of national medicines management guidance, ensuring statutory requirements are met, demonstrating the clinical and financial value of pharmacy within Reablement, leading and contributing to quality improvement initiatives, actively monitoring service quality within a just culture, and acting as a mentor and role model to junior pharmacy staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

LEADERSHIP

• To identify and promote best practice with medication management in the Islington Reablement service
• To ensure the input of pharmacy teams is recognised and skills are used appropriately

MANAGEMENT

• Provide leadership and guidance, in collaboration with Islington Reablement service managers, to staff involved with medication support
• To support the work of the Reablement Pharmacist and wider Adult Community Services team.
• To lead on, update and deliver training to Islington Reablement service staff.

CLINICAL DUTIES

• To provide safe and effective, patient focussed medicine optimisation to patients in their own home.
• To support the medicines reconciliation process and promote patient independence with regards to managing their medications
• To support with the medication transcribing process onto the electronic Medication Administration Record (eMARs) charts
• To support with the monitoring of eMARs, ensuring medication is accurate, up to date and in line with what the patient should be taking.
• To support with the clearing of medication alerts on the eMAR system.
• To support with answering medication queries for the Islington Reablement Service and the Take Home & Settle Service.
• To attend and contribute to the weekly MDT meetings
• To identify patients with complex clinical medication needs who require the intervention of the Reablement pharmacist.
• To promote, adhere and contribute to medication review and support compliance with the local policies and objectives.
• To contribute to the review of the Medicines Policy and associated Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines for local implementation.
• To develop and deliver staff training packages regarding medicines management including medicines reconciliation and administration
• To contribute and be part of multidisciplinary teams in clinical practice to ensure that’s patients have their needs met in relation to medicines including adherence support and devices.
• To support the safe return and disposal of medicines in community settings.
• To support the patient self-medication process
• To ensure that staff and patients/carers have access to medicines information.
• To liaise with staff involved in the patients care during their time on the Reablement service and transfer process
• To advise on the safe and effective provision of medicines for patients referred to the service.
• To be involved in necessary audits and data collecting to provide support for the role
• To report medicines related incidents using the approved incident reporting system
• To liaise with dispensing pharmacies including hospital and community pharmacists
• To support and mentor other team members where agreed.
• To provide assessments of Reablement staff and their ability to administer medication and mange devices.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• To maintain a CPD portfolio, linked to the GPhC’s Revalidation requirements
• To support the training needs of the Islington Reablement service and other staff providing a medication service
• To participate in education and training of other health and social care professionals and participate in any MDT teaching or professional development opportunities
• Provide high‑quality educational and professional development opportunities within the Pharmacy department, supporting structured rotation and learning for trainee pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

OTHER DUTIES

• To undertake any other duties linked to the grade of the role or as requested by Pharmacy senior team.
• To be an active champion of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity and acting as an ally when appropriate

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To always behave in a manner that is professional, positive and polite.
• To be accountable for own professional actions.
• To be responsible for ensuring that they remain aware of current developments in pharmacy and relevant specialist clinical practices.
• To be responsible for their own professional development and participate in own ‘Performance and Development planning’.
• At all times to practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council