Our friendly and progressive pharmacy department are currently looking for a registered Pharmacy Technician to join our Medicines Optimisation Team.
The base site for this role is Cheltenham General Hospital, but there may be the requirement to also work at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
The successful applicant will work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation/discharge duties on the wards, improving the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines optimisation system.
The successful applicant will also be required to work in the dispensary final accuracy checking prescriptions and providing support to the dispensary manager and lead technician in the co-ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary
This role would be ideal for newly qualified pharmacy technicians looking to further develop their skills and knowledge in an acute hospital setting. The successful applicant would ideally hold full accreditations in accuracy checking and medicines optimisation, but if this is not the case, would be recruited at band 4 and upon completion of all necessary training and competencies they would be promoted to band 5.

This role will involve working both at ward level and in dispensary where you will provide an admissions and discharge service. You will also gain experience in the following areas:

• Ward based clinical services (including surgery, cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology, Pediatrics, Renal and care of the elderly)
• Patient Services providing dispensing & ACT cover and supervision to junior staff

You will need to be organised and highly motivated with the ability to think on your feet with great communication & interpersonal skills. This post is stimulating, exciting and comes with responsibility that will appeal to career-minded individuals who want to work in hospital pharmacy and really make their mark.
Located just off the M5 between Birmingham & Bristol, and the beautiful Cotswolds and Forest of Dean, GHNHSFT is one of the largest NHS Trusts in the UK.
Our Pharmacy Department operates across two main sites; Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (Gloucester), and offers opportunities for cross-site working in a full range of clinical and technical specialities.
Our large friendly Pharmacy team provides extensive services including an MHRA-licensed manufacturing unit supporting a large cancer centre, Independent Prescribing posts, dedicated clinics, enhanced Medicines Optimisation Technician/ATO roles, and multidisciplinary teaching to under/post graduate Medics, Nurses and Pharmacists from Birmingham, Bristol, and Bath University.
At GHNHSFT Pharmacy, we are committed to delivering the very best care for our patients and we strive to provide the whole team with the necessary skills and ongoing support to make a real difference to patient care.
We work closely with our partners in Primary Care to maintain and promote a Countywide Joint Medicines Formulary, prescribing guidelines, and local treatment pathways and provide support via our Medicines Information Service in addition to several innovative collaborative public heath projects.
Come and join us, and see for yourself what a difference you can make to patient care.

MEDICINES OPTIMISATION & DISCHARGE:

Under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy
Work with minimal supervision to provide an admission, supply and discharge service to nominated wards. Liaising directly with pharmacists, doctors and nursing staff over clinical issues as appropriate.
On admission, checking that the medicines prescribed for each patient conform with information from the patient, SCR, GP letter and/or Nursing Home, carrying out medicines reconciliation for individual patients
Operate the patient’s own drug scheme at all levels, assessing whether any medicines brought in by the patient are fit for use and removing (with patient’s permission) any medicines not needed
Participate and develop a one stop dispensing pharmacy service, ward based including the education of training of nurses and ward staff in the systems operated.
Initiate & accurately supply medication labelled ready for discharge and medicines needed on an individual basis for patients on the ward
Counsel patients to use their medication and providing written information as required
Prioritising and organising daily workload to ensure that all required tasks are completed within allocated timescale
Aid discharge planning in conjunction with ward pharmacist and ward staff.
Liaise with GP surgeries, Community Pharmacies, Patient’s and Carers to ensure that continuing supply of medicines are provided in compliance aids at discharge
Check transcriptions of discharge prescriptions and check medications before bagging up for discharge involving checking the accuracy of the take home prescription against the drug chart and locker contents.
The post holder will be responsible for the general medicinal ‘housekeeping’ of the wards, e.g.: 3 monthly CD balance checks (stock & patients own), returning unwanted medicines into stock, keeping control of general ward stock levels, and the cost effective use of medicines
Participate in the audit of the medicines management service through quality standards and robust auditing methods and to maintain such documentation and records of work as may be required
Share best practise, seeking out new developments, informing other staff and implementing new practises where appropriate.
Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and junior pharmacists concerning the medicines management role on the wards
Provide a pharmacy service to local community hospitals
Dispensary
Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy
Final accuracy check prescriptions, orders and Controlled Drugs carrying out all tasks required to maintain checking technician status.
To ensure the ward based one stop service and the dispensary develop and grow together and to contribute to policies as such.
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 front hatch and process the payment through the till.
To answer the back 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 process
Participate in the supervision, training and/or mentoring of student technicians, new or existing technicians, pre-registration pharmacists & junior pharmacist concerning the technician checking role or other dispensary roles & duties.
General
Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.
Foster & maintain good relationships with pharmacy, medical & nursing staff. Promote positive & effective communication within the department & service users.
Be pro-active in risk assessment and ensuring safe systems of work.
Contribute to policies & procedures.
Be willing to re-arrange duties and prioritise according to service need if required to cover for absence and assist in ensuring that wards have adequate cover during absence.
To be actively involved in instruction, mentoring, training and appraisal of technicians undertaking the regional medicines management course, and students, junior technicians and assistants within the dispensary.
Participate in internal audit & surveys of service delivery as required, gathering reliable data and being able to collate it into a report if required to do so.
Provide Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday cover as per rota.
Comply with the code of expectations & values that the trust expect

JOB PURPOSE

Undertake general pharmaceutical duties under the supervision of a Section Manager or deputy, assisting in the provision of a safe and effective Pharmacy service in line with current policies, procedures and legal requirements.
Work within patient services undertaking medicines optimisation/discharge duties on the wards, improving the quality of care to patients in a clinical area by means of an efficient medicines optimisation system. This will include undertaking medicines reconciliation, assessing patients own medicines ensuring they are suitable for use in hospital, one-stop dispensing to wards in preparation for patients discharge, maintaining and ordering non-stock medicines for patients and counselling patients on use of their medicines and provide information where required
Work in the dispensary final accuracy checking prescriptions and provide support to the dispensary manager and lead technician in the co-ordination of the day to day running of the dispensary
All Pharmacy staff involved in all aspects of the Pharmacy supply chain has a personal responsibility to ensure that all activities undertaken within our hospital Pharmacy are compliant with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and all relevant department procedures are followed effectively.

This role will involve working both at ward level and in dispensary where you will provide an admissions and discharge service. You will also gain experience in the following areas:

• Ward based clinical services (including surgery, cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology, Pediatrics, Renal and care of the elderly)
• Patient Services providing dispensing & ACT cover and supervision to junior staf