Pharmacy Technician
Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for a band 4 Pharmacy Technician to join our Integrated Community Services (ICSD) Pharmacy team. The ICSD Pharmacy team plays a significant role in supporting patients following an acute hospital admission or to prevent avoidable admissions to hospital during periods of acute illness.
The role will include under supervision working as part of a multidisciplinary team, including GPs, Consultants, Nurses, Pharmacy, Support Workers, Therapists, independent providers and colleagues within Local Authority. We also work closely with independent providers of care providing training around medication.
The objectives of the service are to support the delivery of safe, clinically effective, and cost-effective prescribing by medicines optimisation, minimising waste, reduction in polypharmacy and highlighting potential safeguarding issues regarding medication.We work collaboratively across the healthcare system, with care homes, community services, CCG’s, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, social care, community pharmacy, families and carers to support and optimise medicines use for residents in care homes and patients and service users in their own homes.
Our goal is to support individuals, to reach an appropriate level of independence with their medicines and to support other healthcare professionals gain insight into medicines management.
Main duties of the job
To work with other members of the ICSD Pharmacy team to improve medicines management across bed and home based community services including services such as Neighbourhood teams, Admission Avoidance, Home First, Virtual wards, Home Support Reablement and bed based Intermediate Care
- To support safe and cost effective delivery of pharmaceutical services to patients in bed based services and domiciliary care where appropriate
- Support clinical pharmacy services including medicines reconciliation and administration support.
- Working for our organisation
- Vision
We have a plan that will deliver excellent health and care for future generations, working with partners to ensure our services are sustainable.
We make decisions that are best for long term health and social care outcomes for our communities- Openness
We communicate clearly to our patients, families and our staff with transparency and honesty
We encourage feedback from everyone to help drive innovation and Improvements- Integrity
We demonstrate fairness, respect and empathy in our interactions with people
We take responsibility for our actions, speaking out and learning from our mistakes- Compassion
We take a person-centred approach in all our interactions with patients, families and our staff
We provide compassionate care and demonstrate understanding to everyone- Excellence
We put quality and safety at the heart of all our services and processes
We continuously improve our standards of healthcare with the patient in mind
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- Gather information concerning patients’ current medication/medical history and liaise with GP practices, other members of the locality based team and other service providers as necessary to improve medicines management in the community.
- Provide advice to patients and carers on the correct use of medications and equipment.
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to the ongoing development of pharmacy services.
- Assist in stock control, ordering, and ensuring the timely supply of medications.
- To provide support to monitor patient’s ability to self-medicate after assessment and offer advice and guidance on self-management strategies for individual patients including liaison with care workers and community pharmacists where appropriate
- To provide basic pharmaceutical advice to patients, families & carers in accordance with NSF, NICE guidance and trust guidelines.
- - Help educate patients on the purpose and safe and effective use of their medication
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to:
- Participate in team meetings and provide feedback/updates to the MDT across the division
- Carry out clinical audit collection and support in the preparation of written reports of audit outcomes.
- Patient counselling under supervision
- Communicate with staff, patients and carers on a variety of different levels dependent on the situation.
- Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3 with BTEC in Pharmacy Services with appropriate underpinning knowledge or equivalent
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Good all round technical knowledge and basic clinical knowledge
Experience
Essential criteria- A minimum of 12 months’ prior clinical experience of work in a hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, PCN or ICB
- Ability to work under own initiative and with supervision
Skills
Essential criteria- Excellent communication skills, both verbal, IT and written.
- Able to work as part of a team
- Good time management skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development / education
We are an inclusive employer who trains and develops our staff in a positive learning environment.
We thrive on cultivating cultural architecture, if you have the right skills, attitudes and behaviours, in line with our Trust values, we welcome and appreciate the diversity you bring to our organisation.
We offer a wide range of staff benefits please click on the link below to see what current benefits we have.
Staff benefits - Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk)
From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.