About this role
Job summary
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated pharmacy assistant to join our cancer services team.
You will be an extremely valuable member of the pharmacy cancer services team, assisting with dispensing and provision of chemotherapy medicines and associated treatments to day case and ward patients in the Trust ensuring a high standard of medicines supply service provision from Pharmacy. You will work alongside and under the supervision of Cancer Services Technicians and other Assistants.
You will be a strong and confident team player, demonstrate professionalism at all times, and take responsibility for ensuring you prepare medicines according to our policies and procedures.
You will also be directly involved in the dispensing and issue of medicines from both prescriptions and requisitions in the dispensary as allocated.
Full training and associated support will be provided in chemotherapy preparation by a friendly team and significant opportunities are available for career progression.
This is a full time role worked Monday to Friday and with a Saturday morning commitment on a rota basis.
For further information, an informal chat or to arrange a visit to come and see what we can offer, please contact:
Jon Stewart Lead Technician on 01527 512126 or email [email protected]
Main duties of the job
To undertake a range of routine technical duties in support of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.
These duties may include:
Assisting within the pharmacy aseptic services suite.
Accurately, safely and promptly dispense professionally checked prescriptions including participating in the reconstitution and preparation of medicinal products within the pharmacy aseptic services suite.
Using the trust based electronic ordering system to support stock supplies of consumable items for the aseptic unit and department.
Supplying medicines to wards and departments.
Providing a top-up service as allocated.
Receiving stock from suppliers.
Assisting in the delivery and collection of pharmacy items to and from wards and departments
Undertaking reception duties in the dispensary.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description Job responsibilities
Key Duties
Assist in the provision of Pharmacy Aseptic Services, under direct supervision. This will include:Assisting in the assembly of the ingredients and equipment for product production, prepare labels and complete any documentation prior to the aseptic reconstitution process.Participating in the reconstitution and preparation of medicinal products.
Cleaning of the aseptic suite including sterile and non-sterile areas in accordance to the cleaning procedures.
Providing agreed supportive clerical duties to assist pharmacy technicians and pharmacists within the suites.
Assisting in the recording and maintenance of documentation which may include photocopying and filing.
Participate in monitoring and recording activities such as pressure data, storage temperatures and handling agar plates as is required within the suites.
Performing in-process checks of aseptically prepared products.
Using the trust based electronic ordering system to support stock supplies of consumable items for the aseptic unit.
Participate in the provision of reception duties within the Department this will include:Greeting Outpatients, hospital staff and visitors to the department.Overcoming any communication difficulties that patients may have in an appropriate and sensitive manner.
Logging work in on pharmacy tracker system.
Collecting workload data.
Interpret prescription stationery and accurately and clearly label prescriptions to ensure that patients receive comprehensive directions on how to take and get the most from their prescribed medicines.Accurately and safely dispense previously screened inpatient and outpatient prescriptions in a timely and prompt manner as defined within the departmental SOPs. This will include the dispensing of unlicensed medicines and clinical trial drugs according to departmental procedure and the immediate reporting of out of stock issues to an appropriate member of staff.
Supply non-stock ad-hoc requests to wards and departments as appropriate and input requirements onto the pharmacy Emis computer system to cost the issue and produce a Picking Ticket.
Identify and refer any formulary related computer issues to the attention of the accountable pharmacist to assist in the implementation and enforcement of the Trust Formulary.
Promptly deal with any problems relating to the dispensing of prescriptions, including owing items, where remit and procedure dictates, bringing any irresolvable issues or problems to the attention of a senior member of staff when necessary.
Assemble and issue emergency kits ensuring all associated documentation and records are completed accurately, where required
Assist in the processing of returned items subsequent to quality checks.
Dispose of out of date, wasted and unwanted medicines by placing in the correct waste stream container. Ensure all waste bins are taken out of the suites and replace when full.
Provide a Pharmacy top-up service this will includeIdentifying top-up requirements by checking through the stock cupboards against the agreed stock list.Inputting requirements onto the pharmacy Emis computer system to produce a Picking Ticket for issue purposes
Identifying excess stock and non-stock items that are currently not in use within cupboards, removing these items and returning them to the pharmacy.
Checking expiry dates and storage conditions of drugs removing any out-of-date or inappropriately stored items and return these to pharmacy.
Liaising with Pharmacy staff within the Distribution and Stores at both Worcester and the Alexandra Hospital over orders, out-of stocks and items that are owed from topups.
Seek advice from the appropriate member of staff regarding non-routine issues relating to top-ups.
Unpack deliveries from suppliers and check goods against delivery documents enclosed.
Assist in maintaining the pharmacy document Archive Store including filing of paperwork and prescriptions.
Deliver completed pharmacy orders and prescriptions to designated locations within wards and departments, obtaining appropriate signatures from authorized Staff on receipt of goods, as defined within the departmental SOPs.
Collect pharmacy related items from wards such as requisitions, drugs, prescriptions and order books to be returned.
Maintain the security and confidentiality of all items in transit including Controlled Drugs and prescriptions at all times.
Carry out all manual handling tasks in the approved manner and make appropriate use of trolleys and lifting equipment provided.
Ensure that stock is rotated and that adequate stocks are held to meet normal demands whilst preventing wastage due to over-stocking.
Check stocks on a regular basis to ensure that computer records are accurate. Obtain reports within Emis Pharmacy Computer System as required, investigate and report any unexplained discrepancies to the relevant supervising Pharmacy Technician.
Undertake expiry date checking of stock on a rotational basis as appropriate.
Undertake appropriate housekeeping duties when necessary.
Participate in the Trusts Personal Development Review process on at least an annual basis, preparing for and pro-actively contributing to the review with the manager. This will include following the Personal Development Plan (PDP) devised and the maintenance of personal CPD records as agreed.
Be responsible for completing all mandatory training as allocated for this role.
Follow all departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times, where necessary identifying any aspect of an SOP which could be improved and/or amended to relevant manager.
Be personally responsible for keeping up-to-date with all relevant SOPs, policies and communications within the department and, where appropriate, the Trust as a whole.
Maintain patient confidentiality at all times according to Trust procedure and policy.
Act in a professional, caring and responsible manner at all times ensuring that the needs of patients and all customers of the Pharmacy Service are met.
Assist in the induction and training of new and less experienced staff members and students by demonstrating own duties.
Able to work weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.
To undertake any other duties as required by the Chief Pharmacist that are deemed appropriate up to the pay band.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Recent healthcare experience of successfully delivering technical pharmacy services as a pharmacy assistant. OR Recent proven experience of working in a healthcare environment in the direct care of patients eg theatre. OR Recent proven experience of working in a clean room or similar environment
Desirable
Recent and relevant aseptic compounding experience Recent and relevant experience of working in a laboratory
Skills and Knowledge Essential
Dispensing medicines where accuracy is of the utmost importance. Ability to prioritise and organise work. Able to work on own as well as be a good team worker. Manual dexterity and skilled at manipulating aseptic products. Good verbal and written communication skills with neat and accurate record keeping. Numeracy and ordering skills to be able to order medicines to ensure sufficient stock is available for issue whilst minimising stock holding and waste due to expiry. Skilled at using the Pharmacy Computer System for ordering and labelling medicines. Skilled at using Microsoft Office e.g. to produce word-processed documents in MS Word, memorandums and emails in MS Outlook. Up to date knowledge of Health and Safety at Work including COSHH, GMP and Manual Handling.
Desirable
Up to date knowledge and understanding of safe systems of working in pharmacy. Up to date knowledge of Health and Safety at Work including COSHH, GMP, Manual Handling as it applies to technical pharmacy operations. Knowledge of quality assurance.
Qualifications Essential
GCSE (or equivalent) grades A-C in Maths, Science and English Language.
Desirable
NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy technical services
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address The Alexandra Hospital
Woodrow Drive
REDDITCH
Worcestershire
B98 7UB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)