Medicines Optimisation Technician

NHS; Truro; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

The post holder is expected to have the relevant accreditations to meet the criteria for a Pharmacy Technician, band 5 or be willing to undertake both ACT and Medicines Optimisation courses. You will be working as part of the ward-based pharmacy team to optimise safe and effective use of medicine. This includes working on wards and surgical units, taking and recording patient drug histories, assessing patients' own medications, counselling patients on their medicines, and supporting discharge. The post holder will also contribute to audit and review of safe medicines practice in clinical areas. This role includes supervision of junior members of staff and trainees on a planned basis.

The post holder will be expected to provide final accuracy checking support to the dispensary on a rota'd basis.

Main duties of the job

1. To undertake or train to undertake a ward-based medicines optimisation service.
2. To work within SOP procedures for this activity to take drug histories and document details of patients' drugs on admission including documentation of allergies and other adverse reactions.
3. To assess patients' own drugs for quality and as part of the pharmacy team organise where necessary compliance aids for individual patients.
4. Where required; manage the effective top up and stock checks of controlled drugs.
5. To participate in departmental audits and pilot schemes as required.

About us

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacy Technician's GHPC.
• Pharmacy Technician Certificate through City & Guilds, Apothecaries Hall, BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Science.
• Accredited Checking or Medicines Optimisation Accreditation.
• The second accreditation underway; either Accredited Checking Technician status or Medicines Optimisation.

Experience

• Significant experience in a hospital pharmacy.
• Experience of Top Up systems.

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.