Job summary
Employer heading
Pharmacy Technician
Band 5
London Ambulance Service covers an area of 620 sq. miles, serves one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities and is the busiest ambulance service in the UK. We handle over 1.9 million emergency calls from across the capital and attend more than 1.2 million incidents every single year as well as delivering a 24 hour NHS 111 Integrated Urgent Care Service in South East and North East London that we estimate will respond to around 1.4million urgent care calls by the end of the year.
We employ over 9,000 people who work or volunteer across London to respond to the health needs of over eight million people who live, work and travel in the capital. We work closely with our NHS partners and are commissioned by 32 clinical commissioning groups spread across 5 sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and NHS England for our specialist services. We work alongside London’s hospital, mental health and specialist trusts, as well as the five STPs across Greater London.
In addition we work in partnership with the other emergency services, London’s Air Ambulance and London’s Resilience Forums to make sure we are ready and prepared to respond to major incidents and ensure we keep Londoners safe.
As the only pan-London NHS provider we have a unique opportunity to play a leading role in integrating access to emergency and urgent care right across London.
By 2023 we will improve outcomes and experiences for all our patients by providing the right care to patients at the right time, and in the most cost effective way. This will mean up to 122,000 fewer patients being taken to emergency departments when their needs could be better met in a different way, and we will deliver significant efficiencies in avoided costs to the urgent and emergency care sector.
Job overview
To provide specialist technical pharmacy expertise to LAS in order to improve the quality of patient care and compliance in accordance with UK Law and associated medicines legislation.
To undertake the role of a rotational pharmacy technician in the Medicines Packing Unit, Medicines Governance and Integrated Urgent Care/111 (IUC/111).
To manage the procurement, distribution and supply of pharmaceutical products based on clinical need and cost effective delivery.
To support the implementation and maintenance of medicines governance systems and processes across the LAS.
The job holder will work closely with the Pharmacy Technician Specialist, Medication Safety Officer and the Chief Pharmacist. Travel is required to other LAS Trust sites as necessary for meetings.
To lead on the end-to-end management of the storage and supply of medicines Trust-wide. To be responsible for receipt of deliveries from suppliers and the onward supply chain to Trust locations.
Main duties of the job
Manage the drug packing of the Medicines Packing Unit to ensure that packing of medicines is in line with best practice standards, this may include;
- Implementing policies
- Proposing changes to working practices & procedures with consideration for impact on other areas
- Developing and implementing SOPs within own area
- Suggesting changes to policies that impact beyond own area
- Developing & delivering training to staff
To support and oversee special projects as and when required, promoting the image of LAS by working in accordance with our vision and values.
Support the development of medicines management services
Checks and audits controlled drugs at the MPU.
Ensures that the purchasing of medicines remains within the parameters of the drugs budget.
Authorised signatory for medicines related purchase orders.
Assembles and checks LAS drug packs using a process that it in accordance with UK medicines legislation.
Working for our organisation
Our organisation is driven by our strategic objectives and organisational values and we look for people who are strongly aligned with them.
The Medicines Management Team is new and growing rapidly. Our Team is tight knit and work well together. Being new, has enabled a lot of innovation to occur and service improvement continues to blossom. This vacancy would suit a ACT accredited pharmacy technician with a strong NHS background who is looking for a Team that can provide a high level of mentoring and support on an on-going basis. Limited free parking is available at our current and new medicines packing units as well as good transport links
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Effectively supervise the Medicines Distribution & Logistics Medicines Store and ensuring that demand of medicines is met across the Trust and that medicines are kept in a secure manner.
- To use specialist knowledge, to further develop the role and understanding of medicines management within LAS.
- To support the development and delivery medicine management training, if required and agreed for a range of individuals including clinicians and non-clinicians.
- Support the delivery of the corporate governance and assurance requirements and any internal/external assurance processes.
- To supervise and undertake risk management and clinical governance activities within own area of responsibility and contribute towards the delivery of the appropriate quality standards and targets outlined in the Trust’s Risk Management Strategy.
Applicants are advised to read all the information enclosed in the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Priority will be given to London Ambulance Service employees who are at risk of redundancy.
We reserve the right to close the application window early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician
- NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent
- Successful completion of short courses relevant to practice
- Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience developing and writing Standard Operating Procedures
- Experience supporting staff with training
- Experience managing staff
- Experience of undertaking research activities and dispensing clinical trial medicines
- Experience of stock management
- Experience of report writing
- Previous work with or within an NHS Trust
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of delivering induction and competency based training
- Experience in financial management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Robust knowledge of the GPhC Standards of conduct, ethics and performance
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of national guidelines and can relate to performance related issues in practice.
- Knowledge of medicines management governance requirements within NHS Ambulance Services.
- Ability to apply technical pharmacy knowledge and critically compare a range of options
- Understanding of COSHH regulations and Health and Safety at Work Act.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of wholesale dealer activities
Personal Abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to work autonomously and take responsibility for decisions
- Able to travel to different sites across LAS
- Able to undertake further training/development as necessary
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Taslima Hussain
- Job title
- Pharmacy
- Email address
- [email protected]
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