JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB IDENTIFICATION Job Title: Pharmacy Technician Responsible to: Lead Dispensary/Aseptic Technician Department & Base: BGH Pharmacy Date this JD written/updated: December 2013 Job Holder Reference number: PHAR150 2. JOB PURPOSE To assist in the provision of safe, effective and cost efficient use of medicines throughout the organisation. Including: within the dispensary to dispense discharge, out-patient, leave, inpatient POD S, Controlled Drugs and other prescriptions. In the aseptic dispensing unit to carry out aseptic manipulations, quality assurance monitoring procedures and other aspects of aseptic dispensing and at ward level to carry out ward top-up, electronic medicines management and patient top-up to kardex and patients own medicine checking and patient counselling. 2. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION Pharmacy Operational Manager/ Principal Technician Lead Dispensary Technician B5 Technician B4 Technician (This Post) Dispensary ATOs
4. SCOPE AND RANGE The pharmacy department provides services to all hospitals and community clinics in NHS Borders making approximately 230,000 issues per year, with a value of around 4m Carries out dispensing. Carries out aseptic and cytotoxic dispensing and pre-dispensing checks where appropriate. Responsible for technical pharmaceutical service for wards. Provides continuity of service when other technicians on leave. Supervises and trains other technical pharmacy staff and pre-registration pharmacists where appropriate. 5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Dispensary based services Refurbishment of cardiac arrest boxes. Dispensing of out-patient, discharge, leave, POD and other prescriptions as required. Liasing with Pharmacy and clinical staff as appropriate to clarify ambiguous prescriptions Dispensing Controlled Drugs Creation/updating of patient data on Ascribe computer system Generation of dispensing labels and stock issues from dispensary Filling and labelling of final dispensing containers Completion of necessary dispensary documentation Extemporaneous dispensing Preparation of batches of prepacked medicines Over the counter sales to staff and public Aseptic Services Generation of worksheets, labels and other control documentation for aseptically prepared products Carrying out aseptic pre-dispensing checks where appropriate. Dispensing of aseptically prepared products from valid prescription/order Carrying out scheduled quality control tasks including the completion of appropriate documentation Ward based Services Liaise with ward staff on pharmacy related issues Provision of Ward Top-up services to specified wards/departments Checking of POD S on wards Use of electronic medicines management on wards CPD/Training commitment Update current skills and knowledge in relevant practice areas as required. Participation in departmental continuing personal development programme including PDP Participation in any internal or external courses/meeting as appropriate. Maintenance of competency in aseptic manipulation Assisting in the training of other pharmacy staff in particular: Student Pharmacy Technicians Pharmacy ATOs Clinical pharmacists undertaking hospital pharmacy training Pre-registration Pharmacy Graduates and student pharmacists Undertakes pharmacy research into appropriate areas of practice as required
Other Duties Deputise for technical staff as appropriate Deputise for other pharmacy staff as required Assist in ensuring proper stock control by taking ownership and responsibility for maintaining stock levels and supporting the procurement team in the safe, effective and cost efficient use of medicines throughout the organisation. Participation in the generation of management information in relevant work areas Assist in the maintenance and update of departmental policies and procedures as appropriate. Compliance with NHS Borders Policies Participate in weekend/holiday/evening/late night rotas as required. Participate in the health & safety agenda within both the department and organisation as a whole. 6. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT Use of Ascribe pharmacy stock control and dispensary system, including but not limited to: Creation/updating of patient records Stock control of pharmaceuticals Dispensing of medicines for patients Use of management reports Generation of labels for aseptic items Generation of labels for pre-packing Electronic medicines management Use of Microsoft Office suite: Email Internet enquiries Word processing, worksheets, forms etc Spreadsheets; Management information, statistics etc PowerPoint Use of NHS Scotland/Local software suites including but not limited to: CPD TrakCare elearning eksf Chemo Care Jointly responsible with other pharmacy staff for the security of pharmaceuticals, includes security of keys and use of alarm system. Use of Pharmacy aseptic equipment including Isolators, clean room clothing, syringes, needles, QA monitoring equipment. Use of balances, measures, pestle and mortar and other pharmaceutical preparation equipment. 7. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS Contributing to the development of technical policies along with the appropriate senior technician. Ensuring the implementation of pharmacy policy by Student Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants. Checking the technical accuracy of prescriptions received in pharmacy and liasing with the appropriate clinical staff (pharmacist, medical or nursing) to resolve any issues. Identifying supply and dispensing issues with prescriptions and solving these in liaison with clinical staff. Making changes/improvements to pharmacy technical services to own ward/department. Giving out medicines to patients and counselling them about their medication.
Discussing with and advising staff, patients and public on OTC medicine sales. Answering or referring queries from patients, staff or public, within own competencies. 8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS Communicating directly with: Pharmacy staff pharmacists, technicians, ATO s, SATO and admin & clerical staff Clinical staff at ward/department level to identify and resolve any supply or prescription issues Patients/carers in outpatient situations discussion and counselling re their medicines or prescriptions Public queries to answer or refer Pharmaceutical industry for information Facilities staff re transport/deliveries etc Communication will include face to face, telephone, written, email 9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB Most tasks carried out standing, involves considerable movement around dispensing areas Moving stocks of pharmacy goods to and from shelves and trolleys General keyboard skills Validated aseptic manipulation skills including working in isolators (restricted movement) High degree of precision and accuracy for dispensing and aseptic manipulation, often with strict time constraints. Potential exposure to toxic pharmaceutical materials 10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB Organisation of time and workload particularly when covering for other members of staff. Taking on work of senior staff while still completing own workload. 11. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB Experience/Training National Certificate in Pharmaceutical Sciences, SVQ Level 3 in pharmaceutical science, Modern Apprentice Pharmacy Technician or equivalent recognised qualification Two years post qualification experience in a hospital or community pharmacy (one year of which may have been in full time college education studying for NC Pharmaceutical Sciences). Knowledge General knowledge of technical aspects of pharmacy including purchasing and distribution, dispensing and aseptic manipulations. Working knowledge of standard office computer systems and ASCribe pharmacy systems Knowledge of BGH/NHS Borders policies and procedures and a detailed knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures, including safe and secure handling of medicines Skills/Abilities Competency in aseptic dispensing Basic written and oral communication skills Good numeracy skills Basic computing and keyboard skills Ability to work within teams and interpersonal abilities
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Grade and salary: Hours of work: Annual leave: Public Holidays: Band 4, 19,202-22,236 per annum 37.5 per week, permanent 27 days Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbooks. 8 days per annum on dates designated by NHS Borders Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbook. Superannuation: The post-holder is entitled to join the NHS superannuation pension scheme. If Unsuccessful: If you have NOT heard from us within 4 WEEKS of the closing date, then we regret that your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we appreciate your interest in working with NHS Borders and your time and effort in completing the application form. We would welcome your application for future posts. Equal Opportunities: In NHS Borders, we believe that all staff should be treated equally in employment. We will not discriminate against any member of staff, or job applicant, on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Trade Union membership. Disclosure checks: We carry out criminal record checks on new staff who fall within certain staff groups within NHS Borders, through Disclosure Scotland. We send out Disclosure Forms to all shortlisted candidates for these staff groups, and ask for these to be completed and returned at interview. If a successful-at-interview candidate forgets to bring their completed form to interview, then they will be required to return the form (and proofs of identity) within 7 days, otherwise the provisional job offer will be withdrawn. Unsuccessful candidates forms will be shredded. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to this post. Tobacco policy: We have a Tobacco policy in place. When selecting staff, we do not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but staff must observe our policy on smoking. Hepatitis B: We offer Hepatitis B immunisation through our Occupational Health Service (OHS). If you think you may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis B through your job, you should ask for this immunisation at OHS. If your work involves exposure-prone procedures, you must keep to the document Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B, and the NHSiS Management Executive Directive on this issue. You must be immune to Hepatitis B, and if you cannot prove that you are immune, OHS will investigate to find out whether you are Hepatitis B positive or not. Health and Safety at Work: You must take look after the health and safety of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by what you do at work. You must also co-operate with us to make sure that we keep to legal and organisational safety regulations. You can get more information from the NHS Borders Health & Safety Adviser. The closing date for completed application forms is: 5pm on Wednesday 25 June 2014