Job summary Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Pharmacy Department have an exciting opportunity for a Pharmacy Support Worker Higher Level to join the friendly, supportive and welcoming Medicines Optimisation team. We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking, and committed individual to work with the multidisciplinary team to help and support us take the ward based Pharmacy service forward. Applications are invited from all suitably qualified pharmacy assistants with NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent, including those who work in a community pharmacy as full medicines optimisation training will be provided for the role. We actively support the training and development of our staff. This is an excellent opportunity to further your pharmacy career and move into secondary care. The applicant should possess outstanding communication, organisational and prioritising skills, and have excellent attention to detail. This post will be primarily based at Dewsbury Hospital, but the applicant must also be able to work flexibly across all 3 sites -Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract. This may involve early/late finishing times to meet the needs of patients and support the efficient delivery of the service. The closing date for applications will be brought forward if sufficient applications are received. For any information about the role or an informal discussion: Contact: Elizabeth Johnson Specialist Pharmacy Technician Telephone Number: 01924 319164 Email: elizabeth.johnson16nhs.net Main duties of the job As a member of the Pharmacy Medicines Optimisation team, you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive and integrated ward based pharmacy service: To check patient's own medication brought into hospital are safe and suitable for use whilst an in-patient and record them on the electronic medicines prescribing system. To dispense medication at ward level to ensure a safe and timely supply of medicines to the patient to support discharge. Ensure supplies of all medicines are available on the ward to ensure no missed doses by ordering medicines on the electronic medicines prescribing system. Support the training and development of Pharmacy Support Workers, Trainee Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, Trainee Pharmacists and Foundation Pharmacists. The Pharmacy operates a 7 day service and as part of the role you will be expected to participate in the evening, weekend and Bank Holiday working rotas. About us We provide care and support to over a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees in their homes, community settings and across our three hospital sites at Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields (Wakefield). Always striving for excellence, we are at the forefront of innovation and research, and we invest in teaching and the development of our workforce. We live by our values of caring, improving, being respectful and maintaining high standards. We listen and learn because we aim to make Mid Yorkshire the best place to work and receive care. We value diversity and welcome talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neurodivergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances including providing unpaid carers support to someone with a health and care need. As ethnic minority groups, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with a disability/neurodivergence are currently under-represented across the organisation, we encourage applications from members of these groups. We have policies and procedures to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud of our staff networks - who offer valuable guidance and feedback from those with lived experience. We have a clear vision and you could be part of this If you share our values and you want to make a difference to the lives of our patients and their families and carers, we would love to hear from you. Date posted 03 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number C9377-PHARM5034 Job locations Dewsbury & District Hospital Halifax Road Dewsbury West Yorkshire WF13 4HS Job description Job responsibilities Medicines Optimisation Print ward lists and handover sheets to identify new patients admitted since the previous pharmacy visit. Transfer medicines between wards if patients have been transferred without them. This will include medicines dispensed by the hospital pharmacy as well as patients own drugs (PODs). Support the ward pharmacists and technicians to record accurate medication histories by: Ascertaining if the patient has brought supplies of their medicines from home Requesting and recording consent from the patient to access their GP or Summary Care Records, printing the record or requesting faxes from GPs to handover to the ward technician or pharmacist. Ensure patients have enough medicines available to avoid missed doses by: Assessing PODs as suitable for use on the hospital according to standard operating procedures. Contacting relatives or carers with patient consent, to bring in the patients PODs into hospital if necessary Screening prescription charts to identify missed doses, new items prescribed and any changes to medicines that might require a supply from pharmacy, alerting the pharmacist or technician as appropriate. Liaising with ward staff to identify any additional stock medicines that they require. Support clinical areas to maintain safe and secure handling of medicines by: Ensuring that all medicines for individual patients are stored correctly in the bedside locker, or elsewhere on the ward according to the standards within the Trust Medicines Charter. Delivering patient labelled medicines to individual bedside lockers. Participate in pharmacy-led audits as required. Report any incidents of inappropriate storage and handling of medicines to the pharmacy technician. Ensure that information collected is communicated to the relevant pharmacist or technician in a timely manner. Complete handover sheets as required. Assist in communicating with primary care regarding changes to medication when needed e.g. by faxing discharge letters to the patients community pharmacy. Minimise medicines waste by managing medicines returns from clinical areas according to standard operating procedures. Medicines Supply Dispense medicines for in-patients (including TTOs) following guidelines, under the supervision of the Pharmacy Technicians, with the final check by a Checking Technician or Pharmacist. Ensure that all information needed for accurate stock control and prescription issues data is recorded using both paper systems and the computerised Pharmacy Information System (PIS). Liaise with Procurement staff about urgently required medicines, and inform patients and other health care staff about supply problems / delays. Dispense specialist hospital-only medicines and unlicensed medicines which require accurate, detailed records. Dispense oral chemotherapy medicines taking necessary precautions detailed in SOPs. Dispense controlled drugs and ensure that all legally required records are accurate and up to date. Job description Job responsibilities Medicines Optimisation Print ward lists and handover sheets to identify new patients admitted since the previous pharmacy visit. Transfer medicines between wards if patients have been transferred without them. This will include medicines dispensed by the hospital pharmacy as well as patients own drugs (PODs). Support the ward pharmacists and technicians to record accurate medication histories by: Ascertaining if the patient has brought supplies of their medicines from home Requesting and recording consent from the patient to access their GP or Summary Care Records, printing the record or requesting faxes from GPs to handover to the ward technician or pharmacist. Ensure patients have enough medicines available to avoid missed doses by: Assessing PODs as suitable for use on the hospital according to standard operating procedures. Contacting relatives or carers with patient consent, to bring in the patients PODs into hospital if necessary Screening prescription charts to identify missed doses, new items prescribed and any changes to medicines that might require a supply from pharmacy, alerting the pharmacist or technician as appropriate. Liaising with ward staff to identify any additional stock medicines that they require. Support clinical areas to maintain safe and secure handling of medicines by: Ensuring that all medicines for individual patients are stored correctly in the bedside locker, or elsewhere on the ward according to the standards within the Trust Medicines Charter. Delivering patient labelled medicines to individual bedside lockers. Participate in pharmacy-led audits as required. Report any incidents of inappropriate storage and handling of medicines to the pharmacy technician. Ensure that information collected is communicated to the relevant pharmacist or technician in a timely manner. Complete handover sheets as required. Assist in communicating with primary care regarding changes to medication when needed e.g. by faxing discharge letters to the patients community pharmacy. Minimise medicines waste by managing medicines returns from clinical areas according to standard operating procedures. Medicines Supply Dispense medicines for in-patients (including TTOs) following guidelines, under the supervision of the Pharmacy Technicians, with the final check by a Checking Technician or Pharmacist. Ensure that all information needed for accurate stock control and prescription issues data is recorded using both paper systems and the computerised Pharmacy Information System (PIS). Liaise with Procurement staff about urgently required medicines, and inform patients and other health care staff about supply problems / delays. Dispense specialist hospital-only medicines and unlicensed medicines which require accurate, detailed records. Dispense oral chemotherapy medicines taking necessary precautions detailed in SOPs. Dispense controlled drugs and ensure that all legally required records are accurate and up to date. Person Specification Skills and AbiIities Essential Evidence of good literacy and numeracy skills Keyboard skills Physically able to perform the duties of the post e.g. visit wards throughout the hospital and access stock from high and low shelving. Desirable Computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office applications Personal Attributes Essential Must be able to work methodically and demonstrate meticulous attention to detail. Able to communicate well verbally with other healthcare professionals and patients some of whom may have barriers to understanding. Must be able to deal sensitively with all patients some of whom may be severely ill or distressed by their condition. Pleasant and helpful manner. Identify and prioritise workload. Must possess initiative and able to work well within a team. Desirable Excellent inter-personal skills. Qualifications Essential NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent. Reasonable Standard of Education particularly in Maths, English and Science. Desirable Additional experience gained through in house training. Experience Essential Experience in a Pharmacy dispensary (NHS or Retail sector). Experience dealing with in a customer service environment. Experience dealing with patients/customers in a busy environment. Desirable Previous NHS experience. Experience counselling patients/customers on the side effects, dosage etc of their medicines. Experience dealing with other healthcare professionals. Knowledge and Awareness Essential Evidence of further knowledge through training in dispensing procedures. Able to work on your own initiative and within a team. Ability to work without supervision. Ability to work with complex drug names. Ability to learn department working patterns and procedures. Person Specification Skills and AbiIities Essential Evidence of good literacy and numeracy skills Keyboard skills Physically able to perform the duties of the post e.g. visit wards throughout the hospital and access stock from high and low shelving. Desirable Computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office applications Personal Attributes Essential Must be able to work methodically and demonstrate meticulous attention to detail. Able to communicate well verbally with other healthcare professionals and patients some of whom may have barriers to understanding. Must be able to deal sensitively with all patients some of whom may be severely ill or distressed by their condition. Pleasant and helpful manner. Identify and prioritise workload. Must possess initiative and able to work well within a team. Desirable Excellent inter-personal skills. Qualifications Essential NVQ2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent. Reasonable Standard of Education particularly in Maths, English and Science. Desirable Additional experience gained through in house training. Experience Essential Experience in a Pharmacy dispensary (NHS or Retail sector). Experience dealing with in a customer service environment. Experience dealing with patients/customers in a busy environment. Desirable Previous NHS experience. Experience counselling patients/customers on the side effects, dosage etc of their medicines. Experience dealing with other healthcare professionals. Knowledge and Awareness Essential Evidence of further knowledge through training in dispensing procedures. Able to work on your own initiative and within a team. Ability to work without supervision. Ability to work with complex drug names. Ability to learn department working patterns and procedures. 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Address Dewsbury & District Hospital Halifax Road Dewsbury West Yorkshire WF13 4HS Employer's website https://www.midyorks.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)