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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To final accuracy check dispensed prescriptions, including ‘one stop dispensing’ items in accordance with departmental procedures.
• To dispense prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
• To provide a one stop dispensing service to inpatients at ward level. This will involve counselling patients, inspection of patient own drugs for re-use and dispensing for discharge.
• To participate in the dispensing and final accuracy checking of restricted and controlled medicines including having authorised access to patients’ blood results which need interpreting before supply can be issued e.g., Clozaril Monitoring Service
• To participate in the dispensing process of all prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices and departmental procedures, including:

-       Inpatient

-       Outpatient

-       TTOs

-       Controlled Drugs

-       Clinical Trials

-       Cytotoxic Drugs

-       Unlicensed medicines

• To be responsible for the ordering and stock control of medicines for the dispensaries at both St Helens and Whiston Hospitals, including the daily stock take.
• To be responsible for the stock control of dispensed medicines on wards, departments and clinics.
• To assist in the maintenance of the stock control of non-dispensed medicines on wards.
• To liaise with appropriate medical staff, clinical pharmacists, ward staff, GP’s, Primary Care Trust staff, community pharmacies and other professional bodies as needed regarding any issues with patients’ medication.
• To order stocks and special line items to fulfil prescriptions.
• To provide individual dose dispensing and blister packing services for patients who have difficulty with normal medicines packaging.
• To assist in the preparation, assembly and final accuracy check of emergency resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes.
• To assist the Chief and Senior Pharmacy Technicians in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels.
• To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7-day service.
• To participate in Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday, late night and on-call rotas as necessary in response to the changing needs of the service.
• To participate in and to perform individual performance review with technical staff.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• To maintain continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
• To attend and participate in study days and courses as necessary.
• To undertake any training and assessment required to maintain competency in his/her duties.
• To maintain security and the safe storage of medicines within the dispensaries in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• To comply with and ensure that all other pharmacy staff under his/her control comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody, and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSABILITIES 

• To assist in the receipt of prescriptions accurately according to safe working practices.
• To be responsible for making appropriate records in the Controlled Drug Register.
• To be responsible for organising own daily workload within allocated areas.
• To carry out prescription charge transactions accurately, including ‘Chip and pin,’ handling cash, cheques and be able to ‘cash-up’ in the dispensaries as necessary, according to departmental procedures.
• To record any information and assist in the compilation of any data necessary, including ordering inpatient and stock medication and transcribing information to pharmacy order forms accurately.
• To train and counsel patients on their suitability for the use of compliance aids eg blister packs, breath activated inhalers/spacers, containers, and other formulations such as liquids and assess their understanding.
• To extemporaneously dispense medicines using specific equipment (e.g., fume cupboards and weighing balances) and taking protective measures.  Weighing and measuring must be accurate as there are narrow margins for errors.
• To assist other members of staff in the performance of their duties.
• To co-operate with the provision of staffing within the pharmaceutical service and participate in staff rotation to all Trust sites (e.g., Whiston, St Helens) when the need arises.
• To answer telephone and face to face queries of a routine or basic technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, patients, and the public, either in the pharmacy or on the ward, and refer appropriate queries to the relevant member of the pharmacy team when necessary.
• To be responsible for the accurate input of data into the pharmacy JAC computer system for all duties requiring its use e.g., labelling, ordering and stock control.
• To participate in and perform regular appraisals on technical staff according to the departmental appraisal cascade and Trust policies

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• To assist in the training and development of all grades of staff within the dispensaries.
• To assist in the training and support of dispensing staff, Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians and pre-registration pharmacy graduates and to provide witness statements for those undertaking a qualification.
• To assist in the training and development of other members of staff in patient services and to ensure complete training records are maintained.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

• To co-operate in the provision of an efficient and cost-effective service

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• To carry out and assist in audit research projects to improve and develop the service provision