JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE DEPARTMENT : SENIOR PHARMACY ASSISTANT : The post-holder will work on wards and in Pharmacy at Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital or at Solihull Hospital GRADE : Band 3 HOURS OF DUTY : 37.5hours per week. The trust operates a 7day working policy. The hours will include weekends, late nights and bank holidays working on a rotational basis ACCOUNTABLE TO : Pharmacy Operational Site Lead MANAGED BY : Chief Technician (band 6) KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Works closely with Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations Managers, Chief Technicians, Senior Technicians, other Technicians and support staff on all sites. Liaises with nursing, medical and other healthcare staff and deals with patients and their relatives/carers, including those with language problems or other disabilities. JOB SUMMARY: The senior pharmacy assistant undertakes a complex range of duties including planning their own work and ensuring appropriate standards of work are met. The post holder is expected to use judgement and initiative in solving their own and their team s problems but refer to senior staff when necessary. Deputises for some pharmacy technicians as required. The senior pharmacy assistant supervises other pharmacy assistants in the team. Page 1 of 6
KEY RESULT AREAS: Competence is demonstrated through completion of training packs relevant to the area of work Policies and procedures are adhered to. Information is shared with colleagues. Work is prioritised appropriately when there are competing demands for time. Good working relationships are built with colleagues outside of pharmacy. There is a flexible and willing approach to work requests. To be aware of and contribute to meeting departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SENIOR PHARMACY ASSISTANT: 1. To Lead/co-ordinate the work of the pharmacy assistants in the team. 2. To be responsible for ensuring that the team carries out the duties required of them to the accepted standards and within the accepted timescale. 3. To participate in various checking procedures according to defined policies and completion of appropriate competency assessment. 4. To interpret and accurately dispense prescriptions and requests for medication for Trust and non-trust patients, according to department procedures. 5. To assist pharmacists and technicians in ward-based pharmacy activities. 6. To participate in the induction and training of staff in areas of responsibility 7. To ensure that all members of the team are trained appropriately for the duties expected of them. 8. To maintain records either manual or computerised in a clearly defined filing system, which is maintained allowing easy access for other users and complete administration duties as required e.g. photocopying. 9. To ensure supervised staff follow relevant departmental and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines. 10. To participate in the preparation of guidelines and procedures and to ensure Trust and department policies and procedures are followed. 11. To participate in the routine duties of a pharmacy assistant and to cover for other senior pharmacy assistants as appropriate. 12. To ensure effective communication between Trust staff and suppliers. 13. To answer the telephones and deal with enquiries where appropriate, take messages or refer to a more appropriate member of staff. 14. To attend to the dispensary hatch as required dealing with patients and members of staff and taking in prescriptions, requisitions, deliveries etc. and processing as per local procedures. 15. To be responsible for co-ordinating expiry date checking. 16. To be responsible for ensuring that the team are fully aware of the correct procedures for collection and disposal of all waste materials including Cytotoxic waste and ensure these procedures are followed. Page 2 of 6
17. To participate in the management of medication returns ensuring recycling and destruction as per local policy. 18. To liaise with chief/senior technicians to ensure adequate pharmacy assistant cover at all times. 19. To prepare work rotas for other pharmacy assistants as required. 20. To liaise with portering and transport services to ensure an adequate service is provided and escalate any failures as appropriate. 21. To participate in stock supply to wards and departments and re-order as necessary. 22. To maintain the working areas ensuring that they are clean and tidy and to clean work surfaces and equipment. 23. To rotate goods checking expiry dates and reporting on any expired stock. 24. To receive goods into the department, unpack and check delivery against delivery note, order or requisition. 25. To put goods away in the correct location, checking computer records to ascertain the correct location if appropriate. To participate in the return to shelves of drugs after use. 26. To maintain the correct level of stock requirements for the area (mainly disposables). 27. To undertake storekeeping duties if required. 28. To make deliveries to wards of medicines, including cytotoxics and controlled drugs. 29. To collect prescriptions or requisitions from wards or departments, sometimes including drugs but not controlled drugs. 30. To undertake any other duties as may be required within the nature and grade of the post. In addition other specific duties maybe required in relation to the areas below: Aseptic Services To participate in the full dispensing cycle of intravenous products within a clean room environment following standard operating procedures. To assist in the maintenance and set-up of clinical trial folders; dispensing trial medication accordingly. To be GCP trained. To participate in the daily cleaning of isolators and clean rooms. To carry out Environmental Monitoring for the Aseptic Dispensing Units within the Trust. Procurement/Homecare To ensure prompt and accurate payment of invoices; escalating discrepancies where appropriate. To be responsible for the maintenance of all drug supplies via appropriate ordering schedules and use of approved procurement systems. To ensure robust and timely reporting systems for stock outs and manufacturing delays and provide information on alternative supplies. Page 3 of 6
To ensure full compliance with regional, national and local purchasing contracts. To ensure completion of the full homecare prescription cycle; ensuring full and accurate recording procedures are followed. Waste Management To complete monthly trend analysis of returns data; identifying high volume areas. To ensure transfer of all patient labelled medication within identified area; liaising with ward staff and promoting avoidance of re-dispensing and associated costs. To complete daily locker compliance check within identified area (patient safety risk); completing electronic incident record as appropriate. To participate in medicine re-cycling and reuse at ward level. Further Information Our Purpose: To serve our patients with the best care and improve the health of our communities. Our Values: Caring Treating everyone with compassion and respect Honest Truthful and open with all Accountable Taking personal and collective responsibility for actions Supportive Working together to get things done Infection control Staff will work to minimise any risk to clients, the public and other staff from Healthcare Associated Infection including MRSA and C difficle by ensuring they are compliant with the Health Act 2006 Code of Practice For The Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (They Hygiene Code); and by ensuring they are familiar with the Trust s Infection Control Polices, located on the Intranet. All employees must comply with the Trust Infection Control Policy. All employees must attend infection control training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager. Confidentiality As an employee you have a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information which comes into your possession regarding patients, employees or any other business relating to the Trust Page 4 of 6
In accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protected disclosures are exempt from this express duty of confidentiality. Health & Safety As an employee you have a responsibility to abide by all of the safety practices and codes provided by the Trust and have an equal responsibility with management for maintaining safe working practices for the health and safety of yourself and others. All employees must comply with the Trust Health & Safety Policy. All employees must attend Health & Safety training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager. Quality Assurance As an employee of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust you are a member of an organisation that endeavours to provide the highest quality of service to our patients. You are an ambassador of the organisation and, as such, are required to ensure that high standards are maintained at all times. As an employee you have a responsibility for data quality. All employees are accountable for the quality of data they input into Trust systems and/or document in paper-based records, and must ensure that it is accurate, complete, valid and timely at all times. Equal Opportunities As an employee you have a responsibility to ensure that all people that you have contact with during the course of your employment, including patients, relatives and staff are treated equally in line with the Trust s Equal Opportunities Policy. Risk Management You have a responsibility for the identification of all risk which have a potential adverse affect on the Trust s ability to maintain quality of care and the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and for the taking of positive action to eliminate or reduce these. Safeguarding Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust has a responsibility to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults who use our services. The Trust expects all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility. As part of the selection process for this post you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service Check. If you are successful appointed, you will receive confirmation of which checks and/or registration you are required to have. Page 5 of 6
The Job Description is subject to change and may be reviewed by the manager in conjunction with the post holder. The Trust operates a no smoking policy and is working towards a smoke free environment. Updated: June 2013 Generic clauses updated: June 2016 Page 6 of 6