Specialist Pharmacy Technician- Dispensary Training & CD Management

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Pharmacy Technician- Dispensary Training & CD Management, Band 5
At Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Pharmacy we recognise the need to create a safe learning environment and this new role has been created to support the Dispensary management team with training/mentorship for existing dispensary staff and in particular new starters. They will also be required to contribute to the review and development of Dispensary SOPs to ensure that best practice and safety is maintained, and that all staff are trained in a timely manner on new processes within Dispensary.
This is a varied and busy role providing opportunity to gain valuable skills to develop their career.
Alongside this, the post holder is directly responsible for supporting the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) to maintain compliance to the Trust’s Home Office CD License. This will involve several hours a week dedicated to tasks in relation to this responsibility, such as investigating balance discrepancies, delivering training and ensuring that SOPs are maintained and kept in-line with current legislation or best practice.
The role requires strong attention to detail and tenacity for investigating and fixing problems.
They will be a self-starter and need to demonstrate that they can work autonomously and manage their own time well, whilst fitting in with the wider team priorities. They will have a passion for training others within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
Educational and/or Practice Supervision of dispensary trainees (eg. accredited Accuracy Checking).
Assist the Dispensary Lead(s) with training/induction for new-starters (including ATOs, Apprentices, rotational Pharmacy Technicians and Foundation Pharmacists).
Act as a mentor for inexperienced staff within dispensary environment.
Ensure all new/updated Dispensary SOP’s have been read by relevant staff.
Dispense and accuracy check a range of prescription types for inpatient, outpatient and discharge medicines as per agreed daily rota.
Participate in Medicines Optimisation activities as per agreed Job Plan
Lead the management of the Controlled Drugs (CDs) including investigating and resolving stock and computer discrepancies, organising and facilitating the CD stock balance checks and CD destruction and organise and facilitate the CD training for pharmacy staff.
Including weekend/Bank Holiday & Late night rota
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir. Both hospitals are located in the city centres with access to shops and cafes.
The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff. The 2 sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards; the onsite aseptic and manufacturing services are centralised at CGH.
Pharmacy is at the forefront of many exciting projects including an award-winning service provided by pharmacist prescribers in orthopaedic pre-admission clinic.
Within the department are specialist clinical teams; the Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy facilitates delivery of Specialist services for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities. The cancer services team provide a pharmacy service at both sites for oncology & haematology and satellite pharmacy.
We are a friendly, inclusive department who wish to nurture and develop our staff at all grades, from a mentoring programme for band 6 pharmacists to the development of pharmacist prescribers
Dispensary Training
Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician(s) for the dispensary:

Lead on induction/basic dispensary training of all new-starters/rotational staff/trainees.

• Act as Practice or Educational Supervisor for staff undertaking Accuracy Checking accreditation.
• Assist the Senior Pharmacy Technician(s) with the development and maintenance of dispensary training programmes.
• Ensure that all staff have completed refresher training and relevant dispensary competencies/accuracy assessments, and report non-compliance to the Senior Pharmacy Technician(s).
• Maintain the training matrix for all dispensary staff to keep an accurate record, and report non-compliance to the Senior Pharmacy Technician(s).
• Ensure that all appropriate staff have read dispensary-related SOPs.
• Maintain record of SOP reading matrix.
• Act as a buddy/mentor and role-model to new dispensary staff. This will include Pre-registration Pharmacy Technician Trainees (including cross-sector PTPT) and Foundation Pharmacist Trainees.

Controlled Drug Management Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician for the dispensary, lead the management of the Controlled Drugs (CDs) including:
Investigating and resolving stock and computer discrepancies, completing written reports when necessary
Organising and facilitating the dispensary CD stock balance checks
Organising and facilitating CD destruction (Patients Own & stock)
Contribute to reviews of CD SOPs
Maintain sample signature lists were appropriate
Review CD Registers and report on quality and content
Provide KPI data when requested by senior team
Supporting the Senior Pharmacy Technician in a maintaining high level dispensing accuracy of staff involved in dispensing of CDs
Identify any additional training requirements for staff with high CD error rates
Facilitate the CD training for all new pharmacy staff and any staff needing additional training/ support
Have lead responsibility for the receipt, storage, dispensing and implementation of legislation relating to controlled drugs.
Monitor on a monthly basis and report on any irregularity in the issues of controlled drugs or the suspected diversion or misuse to each destination, principally external entities but also internal wards.
Monitor the balances of FP10 prescriptions, and prepare new batches for issue, by ensuring record of serial numbers are maintained. Liaise with Senior Pharmacy Technician(s) and/or Purchasing Team regarding re-order levels.
Dispensary
Final accuracy check prescriptions, orders and Controlled Drugs carrying out all tasks required to maintain checking technician status.
Accurately dispense prescriptions for patients (inpatients, outpatients or discharge), liaising with medical & nursing staff where clarification is required and also when there are drug supply problems
Accurately dispense controlled drug orders for wards & departments, and patients, making register entries, checking stock balances and reporting discrepancies that cannot be resolved to the Senior Pharmacy Technician
To receive prescriptions and fees from the general public at the hatch and process the payment
To answer the staff hatch to other hospital staff, dealing with their requests.
To answer the telephone if required, dealing with queries regarding work in progress, dealing with the enquiry to the caller’s satisfaction or passing the call on to the most relevant person.
Use the prescription tracking system to book in and track prescriptions at each stage in the proces

Please refer the Job description for details