[ref. a26200402] Rotational Pharmacy Technician

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine including adult cystic fibrosis and diagnostic imaging, both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Heart and lung disease continue to be amongst the biggest killers in the UK and the communities we serve are marked by increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, higher levels of heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease and an ageing population.

New and upgraded clinical areas are designed with patients and families fully involved to deliver their needs.

As part of our long term plan, we aim to form strong clinical and organisational relationships where possible. There is clear evidence that partnerships improve patient care and enhance quality and we aim to collaborate with a range of other providers and professionals with the aim to extending access and improve quality.

Our vision is underpinned by five strategic goals:

• Quality: to deliver the highest quality, safest and best experience for patients and their families by providing reliable care
• Service and Innovation: to develop our service portfolio for patients by developing innovative models of care
• Value: to maintain financial viability, enhance service delivery and develop new models of care to improve the health of our patients and safely reduce costs
• Workforce: to be the best NHS Employer by 2019 by attracting and retaining the best staff to deliver excellent patient care
• Stakeholders: to develop productive relationships with key stakeholders in order to enhance our profile and reputation.

Our Mission

“Excellent, Compassionate and Safe care for every patient, every day”

Job overview

In doing so you will also be supporting a number of teams within Pharmacy, including the dispensary, medicines management ward technicians and aseptics.

This developmental role starting as a band 4 Technician will support you through a guided programme to complete competencies over a 12-month period in order to move to a band 5 position. This will include Final Accuracy checking, Medicines Management skills as well as other leadership and development competencies.

Full support and training will be given to allow you to progress within the desired time frame. We are an experienced team that are here for you, and we want to you develop to your full potential.

Main duties of the job

Band 4 Pharmacy Technicians participate in rotations in dispensary, controlled drug dispensing, ward drug safety checks, aseptics and supporting the homecare technician in homecare prescription management.

Band 5 Pharmacy Technicians – in addition to band 4 duties - participate in rotations in dispensary, ward based duties including medicines reconciliation, patient counselling, and TTO teach back. Ward based duties cover wards at LHCH and SLA sites.

Both Band 4 and 5 pharmacy technicians based in the dispensary are required to dispense and check prescriptions. Checking is dependant on the checking qualification held and additional training and/or competencies might be required to meet the standards of the BTEC

Working for our organisation

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

Please visit our website - https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/

Please follow this link for a tour of our site - https://bit.ly/36ylsoq

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To co-operate in the provision of patient focused pharmaceutical care with emphasis on the technical aspects of ordering, dispensing, issuing, distribution and stock control of medicines.

Band 4 Pharmacy Technicians participate in rotations in dispensary, controlled drug dispensing, ward drug safety checks, aseptics and supporting the homecare technician in homecare prescription management.

Band 5 Pharmacy Technicians – in addition to band 4 duties - participate in rotations in dispensary, ward based duties including medicines reconciliation, patient counselling, and TTO teach back. Ward based duties cover wards at LHCH and SLA sites.

Both Band 4 and 5 pharmacy technicians based in the dispensary are required to dispense and check prescriptions. Checking is dependant on the checking qualification held and additional training and/or competencies might be required to meet the standards of the BTEC Professional Diploma in Dispensing Checking.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• To dispense medicines from the dispensary to a diverse range of patients in correctly labelled and appropriate containers in a timely manner according to the standard operating procedures and the Medicines Act 1968.
• To raise, amend and send orders to suppliers and receive stock into the department and then to enter the appropriate records into the computer and ensure the goods are stored correctly.
• To communicate with nursing staff and other health professionals within the training and experience of a technician referring to a pharmacist if necessary.
• To communicate with patients on wards and in the department providing advice on their medication, ensuring confidentiality at all times.
• Under the supervision of a pharmacist, advise and recommend products to customers wishing to purchase over the counter medication, following completion of training package and competency assessment
• To assist medical and nursing staff with drug information queries acknowledging the limitations of ones training and expertise.
• To check for prescribing errors within the limits compatible with technician training and to bring to the attention of the supervising pharmacist.
• To carry out, monitor and check the ordering, dispensing, issuing, distribution and stock control of medicines on designated wards and departments within the Trust in accordance with the standard operating procedures.
• To participate in practise Research and Clinical Audit projects.
• To participate in out of hours, bank holidays and weekend provision of a pharmaceutical service.
• To participate in Clinical Trial dispensing, following the procedure for each trial and maintaining appropriate records.
• To participate in the issuing, receipt and stock control of Controlled Drugs in accordance with the departmental standard operating procedures and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
• To dispense, order and maintain records for unlicensed drugs according to departmental procedures and to liaise with Regional Quality Control to determine suitability for use when necessary.
• To ensure that procedures are carried out in accordance with safe systems of work in Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and those regulations in respect of the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH and other legislation are complied with.
• To participate in ensuring the emergency cupboard and emergency arrest boxes are fully stocked according to current departmental procedures.
• To participate in collecting prescription charges from patients and issuing receipts/invoices where necessary, liaising with finance when necessary in order to balance the cash from the pharmacy till.
• To participate in organising the transport of drugs to patients at home and to clarify the urgency of the delivery.
• To use current technology correctly to make appropriate records and to undertake extra training as required.
• To maintain and develop the pharmacy computer system in conjunction with the computer systems managers.
• To participate and contribute in pharmacy meetings and to support the Pharmacy Business Plan.
• To carry out appropriate actions in response to drug alerts issued by the MHRA and the National CAS system.
• To participate in the management of returned pharmaceuticals, to dispose of safely when not fit for return and to complete stock checks in accordance with departmental procedures.
• To participate in the aseptic preparation of products which includes:

o Prepare aseptic products in an isolator using aseptic technique. Set out ready for checking by pharmacist

o To keep up to date with broth tests which requires liaison with quality control

o To keep up to date with knowledge of GMP by attending monthly meetings

o To complete sessional/daily/weekly monitoring using settle plates, swabs and contact plates to ensure products are free from microbial contamination,

o Carry out sessional/daily/weekly/monthly monitoring of equipment i.e.: isolator/leak tests

o Carry out cleaning duties

• Process registration documents, prescriptions, orders & invoices for homecare services to ensure that patients receive their medicines in a timely manner.
• Maintain a database of prescriptions sent to homecare providers.
• Support colleagues within the Trust to produce legal and timely prescriptions for homecare medicines.

• To carry out a ward based pharmaceutical technician service to designated ward areas (both LHCH and SLA wards) which will include the following:

o Ensuring patients own drugs are suitable for use, including checking that the labelling is suitable, the correct drug is present, the container is appropriate and that the drugs are still within their expiry date.

o Monitor and develop systems of dispensing to wards.

o Ensure sufficient supplies are present on the ward and re-supply if necessary.

o Alert pharmacist to any potential prescribing errors or problems relating to patients own drugs.

o Reviewing patients EPR/case notes if necessary or checking GP records to clarify patient’s drug history, including performing and documenting medicines reconciliation.

o Removing unwanted or discontinued medicines from the wards and disposing of appropriately in line with the standard operating procedures and COSHH.

o Providing advice on safe administration and monitoring of Amiodarone/Warfarin/DOAC’s to patients who have been newly prescribed Amiodarone/Warfarin and DOAC’s.

• To produce reports for use by pharmacy staff

• To help co-ordinate junior technical staff, student technicians and ATO’s as necessary.
• To identify problems during the ordering process and bring these to the attention of a more senior member of staff.
• To cover for Assistant Technical Officers during periods of absence as necessary.
• To distribute and monitor controlled stationery, including the stock control of such.

• To deputise for certain aspects of the work of the Senior Technicians during periods of absence

Ø EDUCATION AND TRAINING

o To participate in student technician, trainee pharmacist, new pharmacist and new technician training as required.

• - To keep up to date with all mandatory training.

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous experience in hospital pharmacy
• Ward work experience (e.g. Medicines Reconciliation, checking Patients Own Drugs)

• Ward work experience (e.g. checking Patients Own Drugs)
• Experience of counselling patients on anticoagulant therapy and Amiodarone

Qualifications

• BTEC (Pharmaceutical Sciences) and NVQ level 3 or BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians Services
• BTEC checking qualification or BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians Services with additional in-house checking competencies

• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Skills & Abilities

• Good Communication and computer skills
• Able to organise time

• Can demonstrate initiative

Values & Behaviours

• Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Projections professional image
• Available to work of a weekend and to participate in Bank Holiday working

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Therefore, interested applicants are advised to apply as early as possible.

Please review the job description and person specification carefully before applying to ensure that you meet the essential requirements for the post.

All applicants will be contacted and informed by email whether they were successfully shortlisted for interview.

As part of you pre-employment checks we will be required to obtain satisfactory references. We require at least one written reference from your current or most recent employer. We are only able to accept references from a professional work email address.

From April 2017 the Government plans to extend the requirement to provide a criminal record certificate to Tier 2 visa applicants coming to work in Education, Health and Social Care sectors and to their adult dependants.

If you are a Tier 2 visa applicant and you are coming to work in an occupation defined by the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, you will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, this is also applicable for your adult dependants.

We expect all new starters in clinical, patient facing posts (bands 1-4) to complete all 15 standards of the Care Certificate, within their first 6 months with the Trust.

Flexible Working applications will be considered in line the Trusts flexible working policies.

The Trust is a no-smoking site.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications and so urge you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note UKVI guidelines prohibits sponsorship for all Band 2 posts. Guidelines state that many non-clinical posts are also not eligible for sponsorship. Please use UKVI guidance on Skilled Worker Visas to determine whether you would be eligible for sponsorship if you were to gain a conditional offer for this role.

https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job