Band 5 Senior Pharmacy Technician -Stores & Distributio

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Our trust has around 10,000 staff serving 1.6 million patients. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

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Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a pharmacy technician to join the Pharmacy Stores and Distribution team.

Candidates should enthusiastic, responsive, and a committed individual with excellent organisational, communication and managerial skills, and should be able to develop and maintain highly professional relationships with ward staff.

We particularly welcome applicants with protected characteristics.
The Pharmacy stores and Distribution team are based in the Main Pharmacy department and the postholder will assist in the timely provision of pharmaceutical stock to hospital wards / departments and external services and the day to day running of the stores and distribution area.

You will gain experience as a manager to support and the develop the team and ensuring stock queries are dealt with in a timely manner. Other duties include deputising for the Chief Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution) maintaining the stores area, stock control, and educating & training of pharmacy staff and nurses, as well as in-house leadership courses for self-development in accordance with objectives set out by the Stores and Distribution manager.

All roles in the team are considered developmental. As such, and in line with seeking to provide fairness and equal access to opportunities, the recruitment decision will take account of potential in candidates. To this end, demonstrating commitment to meeting the role criteria will be accounted for, alongside already having met them.

Main duties of the job
• To support and manage the pharmacy stores and distribution team based
at Barnet hospital
• To work collaboratively with and when needed deputise for Chief
Pharmacy Technician
• To oversee the day to day running of the Pharmacy Stores and distribution area.
• Ensure timely delivery of pharmaceutical stock.
• To support with the development and management of standard operating procedures.
• Oversee the ordering of medicines, ensuring safe, appropriate supply of
stock to the wards and stock control throughout the Pharmacy Stores,
Wards, and Departments
• Work co-operatively with the clinical pharmacy teams to ensure the cost effective use of medicines and assist in the implementation of cost saving
initiatives.
• To act as a role model, and support training and supervision of junior
members of the pharmacy team.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Free London NHS Trust is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the UK with several key medical specialties. The Pharmacy department of the Barnet Hospital (Part of RFL Trust)

Our trust has around 10,000 staff serving 1.6 million patients. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and more than 30 services in the community.

The Pharmacy department is a friendly, progressive and expanding unit dedicated to providing the highest standards of pharmaceutical care and service. Providing a variety of pharmacy services across all three sites, the pharmacy department have recently played a pivotal role in the implementation of electronic prescribing system and have strategic plans for the development of more consultant and independent prescribing pharmacists. The pharmacy medicine team consists of a team of pharmacists and technicians working across all the medical wards to provide a safe, cost-effective and timely service to patients. The team are well-respected at ward level, providing advice to both nursing and medical staff on the use of medicines.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In conjunction with the Stores and Distribution Manager provided a full and comprehensive stock dispensing service within the hospital, to ensure maximum efficiency, safety and economic drug use and to demonstrate professional accountability to enhance patient care.

• The delivery of a high-quality stock dispensing service and promotion of pharmacy stores service.
• To liaise with storekeepers and Procurement staff with regards to stock issues, urgent requirements, and delivery inaccuracies.
• To ensure that all stock dispensing records are complete and accurate and are attributed to the correct medical team or Consultant.
• To ensure standard operating procedures (SOP's) are followed and raise any issues to Stores and Distribution Manager with regards to any SOP's required or in need of amending.
• Ensure daily rolling stock counts have been completed and inaccuracies dealt with or raised to the Stores and Distribution Manager.
• Promotion of high-quality cost-effective stock supply.

• To provide Anaphylactic Shock kits, Cyanide Poisoning kits, Crash' boxes and 'Crash' trolley stock throughout the hospital.
• To monitor the service on a regular basis and to identify and manage any changes necessary to maintain a high-quality responsive service to maximise patient care.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

To manage difficult situations involving members of the public.

• Provision of a high-quality counselling service to patients, their representatives, and / or carers to explain the correct and most effective use of their prescribed medications, and any possible side effects, interactions or precautions to be taken and to ensure that the information has been understood by all parties. T
• To analyse and interpret prescriptions and either resolve problems with the prescriber or refer problems to the pharmacist.
• To act as an Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) to expedite the TTA discharge process.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

• To monitor the service on a regular basis and to identify and manage any changes necessary to maintain a high quality responsive service to maximise patient care.

• To work with managers and colleagues to continually improve the quality of services within the overall governance framework.
• To participate in and attend relevant multidisciplinary meetings.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

• To supervise the checking and replenishing of the 'out of hours' emergency stock cupboard.
• To promote and ensure maximum efficiency, safety and economic drug use

• To oversee a system for the safe storage of ambient and refrigerated medicines within the pharmacy stores and on in-patient wards and departments.
• To oversee the checking of stock entering the department and communicating any discrepancies to the stores and distribution manager.
• To supervise the computerised stock control system and perform random checks.
• To assist with the return of unused stock drugs according to the local 'returns policy'
• To supervise the cancellation of computer/issue errors and liaises with the computer team to rectify any associated problems.
• To implement a robust system for checking expiry dates and maintaining effective stock rotation for stock in the stores/dispensary.
• To ensure that all drugs for destruction are dealt with according to Health and Safety and departmental procedures.
• To maintain legal records e.g. Controlled Drug Registers.
• To oversee a system for the safe storage and easy retrieval of prescriptions and requisitions where appropriate.
• To ensure that stock is ordered for the stores/dispensary in a cost effective manner, taking into account changes in prescribing practices, items newly approved for inclusion in the hospital Formulary and seasonal fluctuations in drug usage.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

To work closely with the Stores and Distribution Manager to manage and support the development of the team of Storekeepers, Assistant Technical officers (ATO's), Pre-registration pharmacy technicians/pharmacists and Portering staff.

• To produce and frequently update procedures for the stock supply of medications to wards and departments within Barnet Hospital.
• To identify and prioritise services to individual and groups of staff according to agreed policies.
• To implement and maintain an effective system for tracking the progress of stock requisitions/orders and communicating with ward/department staff of the progress of urgent medicines.
• To implement a satisfactory 'To Follow' service.
• To participate in the technician-checking scheme for accredited technicians.

• To act as an effective role model and to provide pharmaceutical advice and support to members of the multidisciplinary team

RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

• To accurately input data into the pharmacy computer system to produce labels and dispense medication (via the JAC system)

• To be familiar with the hospital electronic discharge summaries, and all relevant procedures including the EPMA system
• To act as a super user for the Automated Dispensing Machine inputting new barcodes and updating the database
• To manage inpatient workflow with an efficient use of PTS monitoring with the dispensary team.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• To support the relevant medical, nursing and pharmacy staff to ensure that clinical trials are run efficiently.

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To contribute to the departmental appraisal and development programme for storekeepers, assistant technical officers and pharmacy porters based in the stores and distribution area.
• Provision and evaluation of the induction and competency based training for new staff.
• To provide on-going training to ensure procedures and legal and professional guidelines are adhered to and followed at all times.
• To train staff in the use of the departmental computer systems, databases and the linked Automated Dispensing machine.
• To act as an A1 Assessor for candidates of the NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Pharmacy.
• To act as an ACPT facilitator to facilitate ACPT course to new candidates according to Trust's guideline.
• To contribute to the education and training of pharmacy, medical, nursing staff and other healthcare workers.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

• 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 he/she remains aware of current developments in Pharmacy.
• To be responsible for his/her own professional development and participate in own 'Performance and Development Planning' and continual updating of CPD folder.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

To participate in late duty, weekend and Bank Holiday duties as required.

• Participates in dispensing and checking services where needed.
• Other relevant duties as assigned by the Stores and Distribution manager or Head of Department

Person specification

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences/(NVQ Pharmacy services Level 3) or equivalent
• Registration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Desirable criteria

• Accredited Checking Technician
• NVQ A1 workplace assessor award or equivalent or working towards

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post qualification hospital pharmacy experience
• Previous assessable experience/understanding of JAC Pharmacy Computer System (or equivalent
• Computer literate including Microsoft software products

Desirable criteria

• Previous assessable Managerial/Supervisory experience and experience in training
• Previous assessable experience in recruitment and selection of staff.
• Appraisals with feedback

Skills and aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Demonstrate ability to plan, organise & deliver induction & competency based training.
• Demonstrate ability to deal with conflict and complaints (with patients and staff of all levels).
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills (with patients and staff of all levels).
• Numerate
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Accredited to perform a final accuracy check on clinically screened prescriptions and requisitions.
• Demonstrate proven ability to dispense accurately.
• Demonstrate proven ability to counsel and give advice to patients/carers on medications.
• Excellent understanding of computerised systems of stock control management.
• Demonstrate ability to work towards set procedures
• Demonstrate ability to assess and train staff.
• Demonstrate ability to prioritise and organise own workload and for staff managed.
• Methodical methods of working and good decision making skills
• Demonstrate ability to cope under pressure and handle several tasks at once.
• Demonstrate initiative particularly in relation to problem solving and ability to implement new initiatives/changes whilst maintaining departmental standards.
• Good negotiation skills
• Demonstrate attention to detail.
• Demonstrate ability to meet and set deadlines

• Covid-19 Vaccination

  Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
  We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.

• AT* - Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
• By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
• If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a "selfie" using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• The Trust will request a DBS (CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
• By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams - unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.

Please note:

• Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
• Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
• Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.

Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• JD (PDF, 480.3KB)
• Senior Pharmacy Technician - Stores & Distribution PS (PDF, 296.6KB)
• Functional Requirements Form (PDF, 144.6KB)
• Allied Health Professional - benefits, about RFL, values and governing objectives (PDF, 939.6KB)