Band 4/5 - Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician, BNSSG

at  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

We are looking for a motivated Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician with excellent communication skills to join our Pharmacy team. We are seeking an individual who is enthusiastic about improving the lives of those living with mental health issues and the drive and ambition to make a positive difference to patient care. Previous experience in mental health is not required, as you will be provided with competency based training and support to expand on your knowledge and experience.
Applicants must be a qualified Pharmacy Technician registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council with previous relevant hospital experience. Ideally you should possess hospital pharmacy experience, a recognised medicines optimisation qualification and be a qualified accuracy checking technician. Pharmacy technicians without these qualifications will be considered. The banding will be based on experience and will be paid as a band 5 upon completion of accreditations in both medicines management and accuracy checking. The Agenda for Change pay band will be discussed at interview and will be determined according to previous experience and proof of qualifications and education.
For the clinical aspect of this role, you will be working closely with experienced locality lead pharmacists and be responsible for providing a comprehensive medicines optimisation service to a variety of AWP inpatient units and community teams in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area .
To provide a medicines optimisation service to a wide range of specialty mental health/physical health wards and community teams across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area .
To liaise with doctors and nurses regarding discrepancies with patients medication to improve patient care, as well as escalating problems to the relevant Pharmacist.
To provide advice to patients regarding their medication.
To act as a role model and help train new members of staff including Pre-Registration Technicians.
To support the dispensary with dispensing and accuracy checking of prescribed and stock items, escalating any queries to the Responsible Pharmacist.
The AWP pharmacy service supplies medicines and provides clinical support to wards and teams across our core catchment area. We have two dispensaries: one in Calne (Wiltshire) and one at Callington Road Hospital (Bristol). As well as managing the medicines supply chain in the trust, we support the safe and effective use of medicines throughout the organisation through our clinical work, enquiry answering, medicines governance activity and many other roles.
Working hours are 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday, with an occasional commitment to the Saturday and bank holiday rotas. Working hours for weekends and bank holidays are 10am-1pm. We operate a weekend and bank holiday pharmacy service from the Calne/Callington Road dispensary. This is approximately 1 in 10.
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Undertake prescription chart checks in line with SOPs and refer interventions or discrepancies to the clinical pharmacist or healthcare professional when necessary and appropriate.
Conduct controlled drug audits on a three monthly basis and report results to ward or team manager, clinical pharmacist and Accountable Officer.
Develop, coordinate and participate in audits and identify future audit topics and quality improvement.
Maintain safe systems of medication supply to wards and teams.
Responsible for the supply of medicines.
Complete medicines reconciliation in line with departmental SOPs.
Assess suitability, quality and identity of patient’s own medicines (PODs) for extended use on wards and as discharge medicines in line with departmental SOPs.
Monitor stock control and storage of medicines on the wards and at team bases to ensure timely availability whilst minimising waste.
Undertake routine statutory storage checks of medicines on wards.
Liaise with wards/teams, pharmacy staff and clinical pharmacists to ensure stock lists are up to date and reflect current and emergency usage in line with trust guidelines.
Facilitate discharge through liaison with GP practices, community teams and community pharmacies to ensure seamless transfer of care and continuity of supply, (e.g. clozapine collection) and ensure appropriate use of compliance aids.
Responsible for dispensing short term leave and discharge prescriptions on site where appropriate and in line with departmental SOPs.
Order routine stock for wards and teams in line with departmental SOPs.
Identify and address compliance issues liaising with health and social care professionals and carers where necessary.
Provide information and counselling on the use of medicines to selected patients and or carers taking into account their level of understanding, competence and behaviour.
Help develop and deliver training to ward and team staff to ensure they are able to undertake their roles in medication optimisation.
Identify, undertake and report on projects aimed at improving safe and effective medicines optimisation.
Responsible for resolving problems, responding to queries and providing advice at ward or team level, reporting back or referring where appropriate.

Provide dispensing services to inpatients and outpatients within departmental SOPs, coordinating orders with transport schedules to ensure timely and efficient supply of medicines.
Act as an Accuracy Checking Technician.
Assist in the provision of training and supervision for staff within the dispensary.
Follow up discrepancies and queries with clinical staff, referring to the pharmacist where appropriate.
Respond to queries from wards and teams, referring to the pharmacist where appropriate.
Work weekend and bank holidays on a rota basis.