Job summary Are you an enthusiastic, motivated and committed pharmacy technician? The post holder will be expected to work with the City & Hackney and Forensics Pharmacy team to help deliver high quality pharmacy optimisation service to patients of the trust. They are to maintain their ACPT qualification via their allocated dispensary slots at the Dispensary in Mile End Hospital. Main duties of the job 1. To assist with the provision of a high quality pharmacy optimisation service to patients of the Trust. 2. Co-ordinates and maintains medication supply to the wards and teams. 3. Assesses identified patient's individual pharmaceutical care needs within 72 hours of identification 4. Initiates and completes a medicine reconciliation for each identified patient 5. To support the pharmacists in attaining CQUIN and KPI targets 6. Ensures all documentation in regard to Medications Optimisation on the unit is completed accurately 7. To participate in dispensary duties where applicable 8. To maintain Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) status 9. To prepare and maintain Medicines Optimisation (MOPs) accreditation 10. To prepare discharge medication (TTAs) in a timely and efficient manner 11. To communicate discharge information to patients, Community Pharmacies and GPs About us Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting young people and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations. We are also passionate about staff well-being and the trust also pride themselves on learning and development. Date posted 21 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £36,483 a year per annum inc HCA Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 363-CP6590607-B Job locations City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health and Forensics Directorate E9 & N4 London City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health and Forensics Directorate E9 & N4 London London E9 6SR Job description Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Patient Care/Clinical Clinical/Patient contact To identify new patients and take accurate drug histories on admission, as part of the medicine reconciliation process. Ongoing support will include; monitoring of progress and review of any problems encountered. Close liaison with ward staff regarding progress as well as updating/reporting in the multidisciplinary notes is required. Identify and support the team with patients on high dose antipsychotic therapy (HDAT) and encourage monitoring of HDAT. To ensure the information needs of the service users are met, for example participating in medication and discharge counselling. Implement and further develop the Self-Administration of Medicines Policy for relevant patients ensuring all appropriate service users are encouraged to participate in the scheme. This will involve a medicines management assessment for individuals to participate, setting goals, initiation and counselling including advice about compliance issues To participate in the medicines administration process to assess patients ability to self administer To participate with pharmacists in provision of medicine education groups within the inpatient setting and in the community. Discharge planning To help co-ordinate and manage the discharge process for patients. This involves planning and anticipating patient discharge in liaison with the doctors, nursing and therapy staff, and the clinical pharmacist to ensure timely discharge To provide information to the relevant Community Pharmacist and GP to ensure continued provision of pharmaceutical service To ensure measures are taken to ensure discharge medication is available for discharge. To assemble TTAs (following Trust procedure) on the ward as and when necessary Medication supply To co-ordinate in liaison with the clinical pharmacist(s) the provision of the pharmaceutical supplies service to clinical wards and teams. To provide medication in the most appropriate form (following individual patient assessment), to aid medication compliance e.g. dosette/medidose boxes, large bottles and labels etc To assess Patients Own Drugs (PODs) for suitability for use, following the Trust procedure To assist in the maintenance of the PODs scheme by promoting the scheme both within the Trust and externally as well as encouraging patients to bring in their own medications from home To ensure where possible, that medicines are ordered and dispensed ready for discharge To participate in transcribing of short term leave (STL) medication following training Communication and teamwork Work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team on each ward, becoming an active member (ie attending away days, participating on daily/weekly huddles) in order to maximize patients potential for independent medicines optimisation. To provide training to all new ward nursing staff in procedures relating to relevant medicine management processes and procedures. To communicate and work closely with Mile End Pharmacy staff to ensure the discharge process (in relation to medication) is provided effectively Dispensary Duties To dispense safely and efficiently as required, according to laid down procedures. To participate in the dispensary service as and when required To participate in the ACPT scheme, and to use this accreditation to check dispensed work To ensure that all services are of the highest quality and are provided in a customer orientated, helpful and responsive manner To be involved in the setting of standards for services provided from the satellite pharmacy ensuring those standards are met To assist in the training of all students including pharmacy students/student technicians To provide induction training of new staff into the pharmacy department as and when required. Management To participate in NVQ training and if necessary train to become an Educational or Practice Supervisor To line manage our an Assistant Technical Officer (Band 3) Performance and Quality Carry out/participate in audits and written reports as requested To participate in quality improvement projects in the department. Technician will be supported to present and publish project work at appropriate conferences and in journals To assist in the training of all new and rotating staff in procedures and practical methods of work connected with medicine management including medicine reconciliation, self-administration and discharge planning. Financial and Physical Resources To be responsible for planning and organising own workload for their clinical areas in accordance with the requirements of the job. To be responsible for managing medicines storage and security (prescription only medicines and medicines specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act). To be responsible for medicines supply (e.g. stock lists) ensuring appropriate quantities are stored in accordance with the changing clinical needs of each clinical environment to minimise waste and reduce risk. Other duties To write and update appropriate departmental procedures and enhance existing information systems To support Mile End Pharmacy staff/ department in dispensary as and when required. To comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH To provide clozapine management in the absence of the Clozapine Technician being on leave To undertake Continuing Professional Development, maintaining a CPD folder The postholder is expected to develop good working IT skills around common office software and dispensary systems. It will be essential to keep up to date with new pharmacy technology, as utilized by the Trust, and to encourage these skills in others To work, using systems incorporating Quality Assurance to ensure that the highest standards of service are devised and maintained To undertake any other relevant duties as requested by your manager To participate in other departmental duties as required by rotas, e.g. dispensary rota, weekend duties, Bank Holidays Job description Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Patient Care/Clinical Clinical/Patient contact To identify new patients and take accurate drug histories on admission, as part of the medicine reconciliation process. Ongoing support will include; monitoring of progress and review of any problems encountered. Close liaison with ward staff regarding progress as well as updating/reporting in the multidisciplinary notes is required. Identify and support the team with patients on high dose antipsychotic therapy (HDAT) and encourage monitoring of HDAT. To ensure the information needs of the service users are met, for example participating in medication and discharge counselling. Implement and further develop the Self-Administration of Medicines Policy for relevant patients ensuring all appropriate service users are encouraged to participate in the scheme. This will involve a medicines management assessment for individuals to participate, setting goals, initiation and counselling including advice about compliance issues To participate in the medicines administration process to assess patients ability to self administer To participate with pharmacists in provision of medicine education groups within the inpatient setting and in the community. Discharge planning To help co-ordinate and manage the discharge process for patients. This involves planning and anticipating patient discharge in liaison with the doctors, nursing and therapy staff, and the clinical pharmacist to ensure timely discharge To provide information to the relevant Community Pharmacist and GP to ensure continued provision of pharmaceutical service To ensure measures are taken to ensure discharge medication is available for discharge. To assemble TTAs (following Trust procedure) on the ward as and when necessary Medication supply To co-ordinate in liaison with the clinical pharmacist(s) the provision of the pharmaceutical supplies service to clinical wards and teams. To provide medication in the most appropriate form (following individual patient assessment), to aid medication compliance e.g. dosette/medidose boxes, large bottles and labels etc To assess Patients Own Drugs (PODs) for suitability for use, following the Trust procedure To assist in the maintenance of the PODs scheme by promoting the scheme both within the Trust and externally as well as encouraging patients to bring in their own medications from home To ensure where possible, that medicines are ordered and dispensed ready for discharge To participate in transcribing of short term leave (STL) medication following training Communication and teamwork Work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team on each ward, becoming an active member (ie attending away days, participating on daily/weekly huddles) in order to maximize patients potential for independent medicines optimisation. To provide training to all new ward nursing staff in procedures relating to relevant medicine management processes and procedures. To communicate and work closely with Mile End Pharmacy staff to ensure the discharge process (in relation to medication) is provided effectively Dispensary Duties To dispense safely and efficiently as required, according to laid down procedures. To participate in the dispensary service as and when required To participate in the ACPT scheme, and to use this accreditation to check dispensed work To ensure that all services are of the highest quality and are provided in a customer orientated, helpful and responsive manner To be involved in the setting of standards for services provided from the satellite pharmacy ensuring those standards are met To assist in the training of all students including pharmacy students/student technicians To provide induction training of new staff into the pharmacy department as and when required. Management To participate in NVQ training and if necessary train to become an Educational or Practice Supervisor To line manage our an Assistant Technical Officer (Band 3) Performance and Quality Carry out/participate in audits and written reports as requested To participate in quality improvement projects in the department. Technician will be supported to present and publish project work at appropriate conferences and in journals To assist in the training of all new and rotating staff in procedures and practical methods of work connected with medicine management including medicine reconciliation, self-administration and discharge planning. Financial and Physical Resources To be responsible for planning and organising own workload for their clinical areas in accordance with the requirements of the job. To be responsible for managing medicines storage and security (prescription only medicines and medicines specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act). To be responsible for medicines supply (e.g. stock lists) ensuring appropriate quantities are stored in accordance with the changing clinical needs of each clinical environment to minimise waste and reduce risk. Other duties To write and update appropriate departmental procedures and enhance existing information systems To support Mile End Pharmacy staff/ department in dispensary as and when required. To comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH To provide clozapine management in the absence of the Clozapine Technician being on leave To undertake Continuing Professional Development, maintaining a CPD folder The postholder is expected to develop good working IT skills around common office software and dispensary systems. It will be essential to keep up to date with new pharmacy technology, as utilized by the Trust, and to encourage these skills in others To work, using systems incorporating Quality Assurance to ensure that the highest standards of service are devised and maintained To undertake any other relevant duties as requested by your manager To participate in other departmental duties as required by rotas, e.g. dispensary rota, weekend duties, Bank Holidays Person Specification Educational/ Qualification Essential Completion of a GPhC approved integrated competency and knowledgebased qualification/course (i.e. BTEC/ City & Guilds/NVQ3 pharmacy or equivalent) Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC Nationally accredited with a medicine's optimisation qualification Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice Desirable Completed final accuracy checking training as part of the pharmacy technician qualification (post-2020) OR Nationally accredited with a final accuracy checking qualification (pre-2020) Experience Essential Hospital pharmacy post qualification experience Success in a previous post requiring completion of work to deadlines Working within a multidisciplinary team Drug history taking Ward based clinical work Desirable Experience in tutoring and training Previous experience of audit Previous experience in providing clinical mental health services. Knowledge/ Skills Essential Awareness of the issues around quality and patient care Be able to plan own activities on a day to day and ongoing basis Understanding the hospital flow Knowledge of all regulations and legislation relevant to pharmacy, dispensary and clinical services Knowledge of pharmacy computer and automation systems Experience of using Microsoft software Be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with staff and patients Able to work autonomously and productively within a team Understanding the discharge process Desirable Able to monitor, review and develop service standards Knowledge of medicines and therapies used in the treatment of mental health conditions Knowledge of legislation relevant to mental health Experience of using EPMA - JAC Experience of using RIO, JAC Able to use Microsoft Excel/Word/Teams to intermediate level Person Specification Educational/ Qualification Essential Completion of a GPhC approved integrated competency and knowledgebased qualification/course (i.e. BTEC/ City & Guilds/NVQ3 pharmacy or equivalent) Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC Nationally accredited with a medicine's optimisation qualification Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice Desirable Completed final accuracy checking training as part of the pharmacy technician qualification (post-2020) OR Nationally accredited with a final accuracy checking qualification (pre-2020) Experience Essential Hospital pharmacy post qualification experience Success in a previous post requiring completion of work to deadlines Working within a multidisciplinary team Drug history taking Ward based clinical work Desirable Experience in tutoring and training Previous experience of audit Previous experience in providing clinical mental health services. Knowledge/ Skills Essential Awareness of the issues around quality and patient care Be able to plan own activities on a day to day and ongoing basis Understanding the hospital flow Knowledge of all regulations and legislation relevant to pharmacy, dispensary and clinical services Knowledge of pharmacy computer and automation systems Experience of using Microsoft software Be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with staff and patients Able to work autonomously and productively within a team Understanding the discharge process Desirable Able to monitor, review and develop service standards Knowledge of medicines and therapies used in the treatment of mental health conditions Knowledge of legislation relevant to mental health Experience of using EPMA - JAC Experience of using RIO, JAC Able to use Microsoft Excel/Word/Teams to intermediate level 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). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 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). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name East London NHS Foundation Trust Address City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health and Forensics Directorate E9 & N4 London City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health and Forensics Directorate E9 & N4 London London E9 6SR Employer's website https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)