Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician - Mental Health, Band 5

NHS; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job description

Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician - Mental Health, Band 5

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician - Mental Health, Band 5 (Full-time or Part-time)

The post holder will work within an established team of specialist pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistant technical officers. The team delivers the dispensary and the ward based clinical pharmacy service to Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Services.

The post holder will perform a range of duties in the pharmacy department including accuracy checking of prescriptions using the ACT qualification. They will also perform a range of activities at ward level including but not limited to medicines optimisation, medicines reconciliation, discharge facilitation and more, using the MMT/MO qualification.

The post holder will participate in and run clozapine clinics providing patient consultations to a specific group of clozapine patients; full training will be provided.

Additional working pattern details: Negotiable

Main duties of the job

1. To ensure the provision of high quality patient focused pharmaceutical care.
2. To perform a wide range of duties in the pharmacy department including accuracy checking of prescriptions using the ACT qualification.
3. To perform a wide range of activities at ward level including but not limited to medicines optimisation, medicines reconciliation, discharge facilitation and more, using the MMT/MO qualification.
4. To participate in and run a clozapine clinic providing patient consultations to a specific group of clozapine patients; full training will be provided.
5. To take on responsibility for personal development and support the development and supervision of others.
6. Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to less experienced and new staff at all times.
7. This post will require travel to wards and units in Gloucestershire.
8. Be committed to weekend working on a rota basis (approximately one weekend in 12).

About us

The pharmacy department at Gloucester Royal Hospital provides the clinical pharmacy and dispensing services to Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) under a service level agreement (SLA).

The mental health pharmacy team is an established team of around 18 specialist pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and senior assistant technical officers.

Job responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Evidence of continuing professional development to comply with GPhC requirements.
• Accredited checking technician (ACT) qualification with experience & competence.
• Medicines management / optimisation (MMT / MOT) Qualification with experience & competence.
• Able to work alone and unsupervised where needed.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload including dealing with interruptions.
• Effective oral and written communication with colleagues, nursing and medical staff and patients / service users.
• Intermediate competence in standard range of IT programs.
• Daily manipulation of materials for the accurate dispensing of prescriptions including preparing aids and demonstrating devices to help patients manage their medicines at home.
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Key Result Areas

1. Supporting clinical pharmacy services to inpatient wards and community mental health team bases.
2. Managing patient medication non-stock or one stop supplies.
3. Liaising with ward staff for any issues relating to medication.
4. Educate patients on the use of their prescribed medication referring to a pharmacist for advice when necessary.
5. Encouraging compliance with national protocols, and local guidelines and formularies.
6. Maintaining appropriate clinical documentation and records, including intervention/contribution monitoring and outcome data.
7. Participating with pharmacists, technicians and assistant technical officers to ensure a smooth, efficient and co-ordinated overall service.

Dispensary Duties

1. Accurately dispense and supply medication as per dispensary standard operating procedures.
2. Accuracy checking dispensed prescriptions as per dispensary standard operating procedures.
3. Ensuring supplies are ready to be sent to wards & units in a timely manner.
4. Accessing the clozapine patient monitoring system and acting accordingly as per process.
5. Checking discharge medication summaries & uploading them onto the electronic clinical notes.
6. Weekend working commitment for the acute trust dispensary.

Other

1. Working in or out of the pharmacy department using laptops or desktop computers.
2. Be part of a team to assist in running the clozapine clinic to work alongside nursing staff to monitor physical health for each client on clozapine, give out their medication and counsel patients on clozapine.
3. Where appropriate, writing procedures / guidelines under direction from line manager.
4. Dealing with requests for information on wards, having interruptions during the day to answer queries, responding to telephone calls and email queries.
5. Visiting wards, talking to mental health patients and healthcare professionals. Awareness of mentally ill, sick and dying patients.
6. Take responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.
7. Undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) as required by the GPhC.
8. To undertake any other duties as deemed fit by the GHNHSFT management.
9. Occasional handling of potentially hazardous substances (e.g. cytotoxic medication) in accordance with standard operating procedures and COSHH regulations.
10. Lifting and moving light packages.

Communication and working relationships

1. Communicate with and provide appropriate advice to Nurses and other health care professionals regarding medication issues within the post holders experience.
2. Communication with Patients and Carers regarding medication issues.
3. Communication daily with other members of the pharmacy team.
4. Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the wider team.
5. An annual appraisal (development conversation) is implemented for all staff with their line manager.
6. The post holder will be part of the weekend working rota covering the acute trust pharmacy at a frequency of approximately 1 in 12.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• BTEC / NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical sciences or equivalent.
• Active registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council GPhC.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development through revalidation.
• Reliable, adaptable and dependable.
• Experience working in mental health pharmacy.
• Experience of participation in audit.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £29,970 to £36,483 a year (pro rata if part-time)