Job summary
An exciting opportunity has become available for a registered Pharmacy Technician to join the Procurement, Automation and Distribution team at Prince Charles Hospital.
The post holder will work closely with our Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution in delivering our services to Prince Charles Hospital and the wider community of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
1. Support the procurement, automation and distribution team.
2. Process local and direct orders with a range of suppliers.
3. Troubleshoot and deal with issues related to automation pharmacy robot, Mediwells and Omnicell's.
4. Support the Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution and the Deputy Head of Pharmacy, Operational Services Lead in the management of the Pharmacy computer system and in providing safe, effective and efficient pharmacy purchasing and distribution services.
5. Provide information and advice on availability and supply of pharmaceutical services.
6. Supervise a team of pharmacy assistants and provide support and cover to the Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution and Senior Pharmacy Assistant in Procurement, Automation and Distribution in co-ordinating the distribution service and training of staff.
7. Participate in dispensing and general pharmacy services, weekend and public holiday rotas including acting as an accredited checking Pharmacy Technician.
8. Support the pharmaceutical service and the medicines management agenda within Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
About us
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is part of the NHS Wales family. Our Health Board provides primary, secondary and community health and wellbeing services to around 450,000 people living in three County Boroughs: Bridgend Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
We live by our core values:
9. We listen, learn and improve
10. We treat everyone with respect
11. We all work together as one team
We are a proud local employer; around 80% of our 15000 workforce live within our region, making our staff not only our lifeblood of our organisation but of the diverse communities that we serve.
Job description
Job responsibilities
12. Reviewing and creating orders to pharmaceutical suppliers using the pharmacy computer system. Judgements on what and how much to order involve assessing and interpreting a range of information, clinical knowledge of specialist use(s) of products, urgency of items, usage patterns and trends, delivery times, current stock holdings, supplier reliability etc.
13. Investigating and resolving manufacturers delays and out of stock/low stock situations, contacting suppliers and/or considering alternative items. Tact and persuasive skills are required to negotiate with suppliers to obtain limited stocks and to arrange delivery of urgent/to follow items.
14. Providing information and advice on stock delays, problems with special orders for patients etc and negotiating priorities and options including persuading staff to use alternative items. Highlighting problems to Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution or the Deputy Head of Pharmacy, Operational Services Lead.
15. Supporting the maintenance of the pharmacy computer information system and the automated pharmacy dispensing system (robot) databases, creating, reviewing, amending and deleting files to keep the systems up to date and to optimize performance and stock control.
16. Reviewing and deleting files in on the pharmacy computer system pack sizes, expired contracts, discontinued items to keep the system up to date.
17. Investigating and taking action on the pharmacy computer system maintenance reports, documenting action taken and highlighting problems to Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution.
18. Investigating, resolving, and adjusting stock balance discrepancies, informing the Senior Pharmacy Technician in Procurement, Automation and Distribution or Deputy Head of Pharmacy, Operational Services Lead of any problems.
19. Reviewing and updating assigned procedures and policies, reflecting changes in services and processes.Identifying areas for improvement, suggesting developments and changes in procedures and working practices. Implementing procedures/policies and agreed improvements and communicating these changes to other pharmacy staff.
20. Undertaking allocated action required from Drug Alerts and Recalls, coordinating the retrieval and isolation of affected stock from the pharmacy department and wards and departments. Arranging returns to suppliers and document action taken. Inform pharmacy, medical and nursing staff of the recalls, liaise with staff on required action including persuading and gaining the agreement of nursing/medical staff to use alternative items.
21. Finding suppliers for new/urgent items including contacting other hospitals, specialist manufacturers and import/export companies and establishing item details, prices, delivery details etc. Creating orders using the pharmacy computer system on an ad hoc basis for new/urgent items.
22. Reviewing with the Clinical Pharmacists stock usage reports for Wards/Departments on a scheduled basis to maintain good stock turnover at ward level and optimize the service for Wards and Departments.
23. Participating in service level measurements, audits and surveys as necessary.
A full outline of duties and responsibilities is outlined within the attached job description, available in both English and Welsh.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
24. Demonstrable expertise and knowledge to a Degree Level or equivalent acquired through BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science, NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and Training.
25. Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician Qualification
26. Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
27. Experience or good knowledge of pharmacy procurement or supply chain management procedures and practice.
28. Committed to Continued Professional Development. Up-to-date CPD portfolio.
Desirable
29. Supervisory / management experience or qualification.
30. Association of Pharmacy Technician UK (APTUK) member.
Experience
Essential
31. Significant post qualification pharmacy experience including working as a Pharmacy Technician at a higher level.
32. Supply Chain Management experience.
33. Experience of working with the procurement of medication.
Desirable
34. Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy.
35. Experience of working with automation in healthcare/pharmacy.
36. Experience of supervising a team and managing workload/tasks of others.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
37. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
38. Ability to prioritise, organise and reallocate daily tasks.
39. Accurate and consistent in work application.
40. Ability to train, mentor, supervise and assess others in procurement practices.
41. Ability to problem solve, make decisions and refer when appropriate.
42. Computer literacy skills including Microsoft Office and accurate data entry.
43. Good numeracy and literacy skills including; calculations, percentages, decimals and fractions.
Other Role Requirements
Essential
44. Highly motivated, particularly with regards to procurement, automation and distribution aspects of pharmacy.
45. Ability to lead and motivate others.
46. Ability to use own initiative particularly with relation to problem solving.
47. Must be professional, approachable at all times.
48. Attend training at other sites within and outside of the UHB.
Desirable
49. Willing to accept a challenge, work innovatively and bring ideas to the forefront.
50. Welsh speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards achieving this level.