Main tasks and responsibilities
- Working with the Lead Pharmacy Technician and Principal Pharmacy Technician, to ensure that the daily workload is covered and completed.
- To undertake accurate dispensing of prescriptions for in-patients and outpatients.
- To be an ACPT, undertaking the final check for dispensed prescriptions.
- To counsel patients on the use of their medicines.
- To assist with the maintenance of efficient stock control.
- To deal with returned medication from the wards and outpatients.
- Ensure that the daily stock checks cycle counts are carried out.
- To ensure that to-follow items are dispensed and sent to the wards or posted out to patients in a timely manner.
- To ensure that items taken out of hours are booked out each day on the Epic.
- To requisition stock from Pharmacy stores using the Epic system as required.
- Develop and implement systems to ensure CDs, and dispensing workload is overseen and managed.
- To handle card transactions in respect of prescription charges for NHS and Private prescriptions.
- Ensure daily KPIs are achieved.
- To assist in the ordering of medications from wholesalers if required.
Communication
- To work effectively as a leader of the Pharmacy team.
- To communicate effectively with senior members of staff, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, healthcare professionals, patients, and members of the public.
- To attend to personal callers and telephone requests in a courteous manner.
Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)
- To organise posting or couriering of medication to patients.
- To refer appropriately to clinical pharmacists and/or the medicines advisory service, any queries that the patient may have that requires further expert advice.
- To comply with medicines legislation and Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council in respect of the dispensing of medicines and provision of information.
- To assist with the distribution of stock to the wards and departments.
- To be involved in daily upkeep and maintenance of the pharmacy robot.
Policy & Service development
- To take part in the review of working practices and procedures for the Pharmacy Department.
- Ensure dispensary procedures are maintained, updated, and adhered to at all times.
- Participate in audits.
- Analyse errors.
- To assist senior staff with project work when required.
Resource management
- To prepare private patient invoices using the Epic system.
- To be responsible for the security of the department and of Pharmaceutical supplies.
- Ensure adequate sundries are kept and ordered when needed.
- Undertake environmental monitoring for technical quality assurance, where appropriate.
- Have a responsibility to ensure equipment, furnishings, etc is maintained.
- To be responsible for overseeing and ensuring Pharmacy robot maintenance, system support, development and optimisation of functions.
People management
- To deputise for the Lead Pharmacy Technician and Principal Pharmacy Technician, in their absence.
- To actively take part in the Departments CPD program.
- To attend study days as appropriate.
- To take part in the training of Pharmacy and hospital staff as required.
- To supervise the senior rotational pharmacy assistants and other pharmacy technicians working within the Dispensary.
- Supervise staff working within the dispensary to ensure the daily smooth running of the department.
- To plan the daily workload and staffing.
- Act as an expert witness for pharmacy assistants and pre-registration pharmacy technicians.
- Develop and implement induction programmes for all new staff within the dispensary area.
- Participate in recruitment process for dispensary staff.
- Produce the daily dispensary duty rota, liaising with the Lead Pharmacy Technician and Principal Pharmacy Technician, ensuring all areas have sufficient cover.
Information management
- To participate in the inputting of accurate data on the computer system.
- To participate in the archiving at the end of every month.