Take the next step in your pharmacy career at Wirral University Teaching Hospital. We are seeking motivated and proactive Pharmacy Technicians eager to embrace new challenges and advance their skills!
Our busy department fosters a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere where teamwork is key. Although previous hospital experience is advantageous, comprehensive training and support will be provided for those new to the environment. A recent dispensary restructure has created exciting career progression.
Ideal candidates will have a proactive approach, genuine enthusiasm and excellent interpersonal skills. Precision and accuracy are crucial, especially in a fast-paced environment. We need team players who can organise their workload efficiently.
We welcome applications from Pre-registration Pharmacy Technicians who are due to qualify in the next 4 months.
For an informal chat or to arrange a visit please contact Sarah Winstanley (Team Leader – Dispensary Services) on 0151 482 7963.
The postholder will provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical service to the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and off site units belonging to the Hospices served by the Pharmacy Department with particular emphasis on the technical aspects of dispensing, manufacturing, issuing and stock control of medicines.
They will provide advice to patients and carers regarding the supply and use of medicines.
They will participate in the training of junior members of staff.
Participate in the technician rotation programme which currently includes dispensary, pharmacy satellites and aseptic services. (see JD for full role)
Posts are 37.5 hours per week worked between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays 1-2 per year.
WUTH Pharmacy has been recognised as a high performer by NHSE and CQC. We are a large department, employing 95 pharmacists and 47 MMTs alongside excellent support staff. We deliver services to the acute hospital and primary care networks (PCN).
We are highly innovative department; recently winning, or shortlisted for national awards within surgery, antimicrobial stewardship and PCN.
We are proud of our approach in maximising staff satisfaction and developing staff to reach their full potential. Staff satisfaction scores are high and we proactively seek feedback regularly to continue to improve. We have a strong focus on training and development opportunities via a range of qualifications and a proactive process for appraisal and personal development planning.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Qualifications, specific experience and training
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences/BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
- Must be registered with General Pharmaceutical Council of Great Britain.
- Working in a pharmacy
- Pharmacy labelling and stock control systems
Desirable
- Accredited Accuracy Checker
- Hospital pharmacy experience
- JAC stock control system
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Interpret and dispense prescriptions accurately
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
- Good oral communication skills
- Good written communication skills
- Organise and prioritise work
- Word processing, email, accurate data entry skills
- Able to motivate self and others
- Effectively provide advice to patients regarding medicines
- IT literate
- Commitment to Continuing Professional Development
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Enthusiasm for the position
- Methodical with attention to detail
- Friendly, empathetic and reliable team worker, able to relate to all staff grades
- Ability to cope in busy environment
- Conscientious and reliable
- Self-motivated
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work weekends and bank holidays in accordance with departmental rotas
- Ability to carry out moderate to intensive physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities including climbing ladders, stretching, bending and standing for long periods of time
Job Description
Role
- The postholder will provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical service to the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and off site units belonging to the Hospices served by the Pharmacy Department with particular emphasis on the technical aspects of dispensing, manufacturing, issuing and stock control of medicines.
- He/she will provide advice to patients and carers regarding the supply and use of medicines.
- He /she will participate in the training of junior members of staff.
Key Responsibilities
- To provide accurately dispensed medicines from the dispensaries and pharmacy satellites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Pharmacy and the Aseptic Services Unit.
- To support the Medicines Management Technicians (MMTs) at ward level with the implementation of an efficient medicines management system to ensure that patients get the right medicines at the right time.
- To provide advice to patients and carers regarding the supply and use of medicines.
Duties and Key Tasks
1. Participate in the technician rotation programme which currently includes: *
- Dispensary
- Pharmacy satellites
- Aseptic Services
2. Accurately procure, assemble, manufacture and dispense medicines in accordance with departmental procedures for each rotation. This includes dispensing of clinical trials, controlled drugs and unlicensed medicines and ensuring that dose volumes dispensed for high-risk patient groups including children and neonates are correct.
3. Identify potential problems regarding the lack of availability or accuracy of medicines
for individual prescriptions, seeking advice on suitable alternatives or agreed delivery timetable.
4. Ensure that medication is dispensed to meet agreed delivery times and to minimise waiting times for patients.
5. Compound extemporaneous medicines, according to a specified worksheet to a high level of accuracy and specialist skills.
6. Receive prescriptions from hospital staff in accordance with dispensary procedures. Prioritise prescriptions according to urgency. Inform ward staff of prescription progress where necessary.
7. Counsel patients regarding their medication regimes in order to ensure complete patient understanding including benefits of their medication and possible side effects. These may be patients with certain barriers, e.g. hearing problems, language issues.
8. Deal with queries from patients and other hospital staff, referring complex issues to supervisor or line manager.
9. Maintain high quality of data input of patient information into the pharmacy computer system in order to ensure excellent labelling standards for dispensed medicines.
10. Ensure stock levels of all products are accurate and support the appropriate ordering of stock through liaison with the buying office. Inaccuracies in all medicines should be investigated before being referred to line manager without delay.
11. Understand the validation of prescriptions and the reasons behind exemptions to facilitate the accurate receipt of payments for prescription charges.
12. Attend to basic automated dispenser problems as required.
13. Undergo training to become an accredited checker once proven to be working to required standard and eligible to under BTEC qualification (time dependent). **
14. Participate in the Aseptic dispensing services provided on the Wirral. This includes the preparation of complex sterile intravenous injections and cytotoxic products using aseptic skills and techniques, with the use of specialist equipment.
15. Support the MMT team with providing an efficient medicines management system to a group of wards/clinical areas. This includes:
- the provision of appropriate supplies of inpatient medicines for bedside administration
- utilising ward stock medicines for bedside administration
- checking the suitability of patient’s own drugs, liaising with MMTs if any discrepancies
- participating in audits undertaken by the MMT team
16. Participate in the training of student technicians using the in-house training programme.
17. Keep abreast of new developments and attend training courses where appropriate.
18. Participate in the training of student technicians using the in-house training programme.
19. Participate in duty rotas to ensure the maintenance of pharmaceutical services at weekends and bank holidays.
20. Be a role model and actively promote the role of the technician.
21. Be responsible for own CPD and ensure written record is available for review at appraisal. Attend and participate in departmental meetings and actively participate in continuous quality improvement of pharmaceutical care.
22. Undertake any duties relevant to this grade on discussion with Team Leader Dispensary Services.
Extra Factual Information
The employee shares with the employer the responsibility for suggestions to alter the scope and duties to improve the working situation. This document is intended to be a guide to the general scope of duties and not an inflexible specification.
HEALTH & SAFETY
- Comply with safety instructions/policies laid down.
- Use in a proper and safe manner the equipment and facilities provided.
- Refrain from wilful misuse or interference with anything provided in the interests of health and safety and from any action which may endanger self or others.
- Report as soon as possible, all hazards and defects and take appropriate action where applicable.
- Report all accidents and untoward occurrences and ensure accident/incident forms are completed.
RISK MANAGEMENT
- Support the Risk Management process within the Wirral Hospital Trust.
- Work with the directorate to ensure risks to patients, staff and public are identified through the use of the Trust Incident Reporting system.
Extra Factual Information
INFECTION CONTROL
All staff must ensure rigorous and consistent compliance with standard infection control precautions which include:
- hand hygiene
- dress code
- the use of personal protective equipment and all other policies relevant to infection prevention and control.
Attendance at mandatory infection control lectures is an essential component of the role
