Senior Pharmacy Assistant Dispensary/Wards Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team in a forward-thinking NHS foundation, where you'll play a vital role in pharmaceutical care. As a Pharmacy Assistant, you'll assist in dispensary duties and support the Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy Team. Your responsibilities will include managing controlled drugs, patient counselling, and ensuring accurate dispensing of medications. This position offers comprehensive training to help you excel in your role while contributing to the well-being of patients. If you're passionate about healthcare and eager to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you to grow and develop your skills in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Healthcare benefits

Training and development opportunities

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Must meet GPhC minimum education requirements for Pharmacy Assistants.
• Training provided for specific dispensing units if not held.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing high-quality patient-focused medicines optimisation.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams for efficient medicine reconciliation.

Skills

Pharmaceutical Care

Medicine Optimisation

Patient Counselling

Dispensing

Controlled Drugs Management

Education

General Pharmaceutical Council Requirements

Tools

Pharmacy Management Systems

Job description

The post holder undertakes assistant duties in the following areas of pharmaceutical care:

1. Dispensary
2. Wards

The post holder will be an integral part of the Pharmacy team and will rotate into all areas to support the demands of the service which will include working at both the main hospital sites.

The post holder must hold the minimum education requirements outlined by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for Pharmacy Assistants/support staff.

If the post holder does not hold the specific Dispensing units required, training and assessments will be provided to meet the GPhC requirements. Qualifications will be checked at interview.

This post will require a Disclosure & Barring Services (DBS) check.

Main Tasks

To assist in the provision of a high-quality patient focused medicines optimisation and dispensary service to patients at the Trust.

Dispensing: Working in a busy dispensary, following electronic prescription orders, managing controlled drugs & dispensing clinical trials. You will also be part of a team in ensuring accurate maintenance of the emergency room and emergency boxes for the Trust.

At ward level, you will work as part of the Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy Team and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team in ensuring efficient Medicine reconciliation, patient counselling and discharge of patients. You will assist the team by checking patients' own medicines, ensuring the efficient supply and transfer of medicines, and basic patient counselling.

Training will be given to support this role including relevant work-based Medicine Optimisation modules.

Within both your roles at ward level and in the dispensaries, you will be key in supporting and training Pharmacy Assistants, work experience and Pharmacy Assistant Apprentices.

Dispensary Duties:

1. To carry out the validation, dispensing and issue of prescriptions in the Pharmacy of the base hospital.
2. To assist with the dispensing, recording, maintenance, issue and receipt of Clinical Trials.
3. To assist with the dispensing, recording, maintenance, issue and receipt of Controlled Drugs.
4. To supply medicines and pharmaceutical supplies to areas of the Trust and external to the Trust serviced by the Pharmacy dispensary.
5. To undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items prior to the final accuracy check.
6. To work under the supervision of line manager and Band 5 Pharmacy Technician within the dispensary in ensuring quality and efficient workflow and pharmacy provision.
7. To carry out general duties, including stock and preparation of bottles, sundry items, additional information and labels, packaging, and counting and cleaning equipment.
8. To assist with medicine stock control duties including maintenance of stock, issue and receipt of stock.
9. To assist with the maintenance of the emergency stock room and emergency box supply and monitoring for the Trust.
10. To assist with the monitoring of the till to enable the team to process transactions efficiently.
11. To process Pharmoutcomes to ensure efficient and timely communication with community pharmacies on discharge medication.
12. To monitor and record safe storage of stock by carrying out environmental temperature checks, expiry date checking, stock checks and assisting in the rotation of stock.
13. To assist with the maintenance of records relating to work and workload stats.
14. To clean shelving where pharmaceuticals are stored, keeping them in a tidy, organised and fit for purpose condition.

Ward Duties:

1. To assist the Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy teams on the wards under the direction of the Band 5 Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy Technician.
2. To assist in waste reduction, transfer of medicines, and audit.
3. To assist in reduction of missed doses and assist smoother discharge of patients reducing potential delays.
4. To carry out duties at ward level including patient locker checks, assessment of patients' own medicines and assisting in the supply of medicines to patients on the wards.
5. To provide person-centred inhaler and basic counselling to patients under the direction of the Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy Technician.
6. To liaise with the dispensary team, Medicine optimisation teams and multidisciplinary team on the timely processing of medications.
7. To transfer and deliver medications from dispensary to destination including between wards/clinical environments to ensure timely administration of medicines.
8. To refer to Medicine Optimisation Pharmacy Technician or Ward Pharmacist any discrepancies, counselling needs or issues beyond limits of role.
9. To supply medicines and pharmaceutical supplies to areas of the Trust serviced by the base dispensary.
10. To carry out general duties, including preparation of bottles and packaging, cleaning equipment, receipt of orders, expiry date checking, stock checks and stock control of medicines.
11. To monitor, record and report refrigerator temperatures and stock environments to ensure the safe and secure storage of medicines.
12. To assist in audits.

This advert closes on Wednesday 8 Jan 2025.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident: A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.