We are looking for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable Pharmacy Technician with a passion for patient safety, and the drive to improve medicines optimisation within our Trust.
You will become a valued member of our Medicines Resource Centre team and work closely with our Governance and Medication Safety Lead Pharmacist to facilitate and move forward our patient safety and regulatory agenda.
· To provide professional leadership in all aspects of medication safety andengender a positive patient safety culture in the pharmacy department and Trust.
· To be responsible for ensuring that issues relating to medication safety are reported and investigated appropriately and that suitable responses are providedand remedial action is implemented.
· To work with a wide range of pharmacy and other healthcare staff to ensure thesafe and successful delivery of the pharmacy service and medicines optimisationstrategy.
· To represent the department in the Harm free care group meetings.
· To manage the medication safety audit programme.
· To support the response and actions to medicines safety guidance received fromexternal bodies e.g., CQC, NHS Improvement Patient Safety Alerts, Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), CAS alerts and Field Safety Notices.
· To analyse, interpret and present data (e.g., medication incident reports, medication safety indicators) either verbally, via written reports or formalpresentations.
· To actively participate in and support the Trusts implementation and use of the Patient Safety Incident Framework (PSIRF)
· To work as a practising pharmacy technician, undertaking dispensary work and ward based clinical and technical duties as required on rota.
Why colleagues think we are"a great place to work!"
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.
We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.
We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.
We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
· The scope of communication is diverse and can be at all levels within the Trust and withlimited external organisations. The post holder will provide or receive complex, sensitiveinformation, requiring tact or persuasive skills.
· Regular communication is required with the following individuals and groups:
o Members of the pharmacy and senior management team
o Lead clinical pharmacists e.g., to discuss national or local actions regarding patientsafety issues
o Ward/Departmental managers
o Harm free care group
o To be an identified interface between pharmacy and the risk management teamregarding the Trust’s incident reporting software.
o Medical and nursing staff involved with medication incidents, safer medication practice
o Senior clinical staff and managers at Trust-wide meetings/events
o Patients and carers
o Other staff
o Pharmacists and technicians in other organisations, regarding patient safety issues
2. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
· To develop self and contribute to the development of others.
· To develop knowledge and practice in medication safety.
· To identify and agree objectives for own professional development which reflect local andnational service needs.
· To maintain and develop own knowledge skills in clinical governance, qualityimprovement, human factors and risk management.
· To use effective prioritisation, problem solving and delegation skills to managetime effectively.
As a practising Pharmacy technician:
Excellent written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills are required to:
· Communicate medicines related information and advice to patients, carers, consultants, other medical staff, and other healthcare professionals. Types ofmedicines related informationinclude:
o Direction for use of pharmaceutical products,side effects, adverse drug reactions, pregnancy, breast feeding, obtaining furthersupplies and any other related issues.
o This could be in sensitive situations including cancer treatment, terminal illness and the effects of drug administration or prescribingerrors or other drug misadventures.
o Discussions are usually on a one-to-one basis withpatient, doctor or other healthcare professional.
· Counsel patients and carers about their medicines and treatment.
· Negotiate with or influence colleagues on the ward and within pharmacy toachieve desired outcomes.
· Be an identified interface between pharmacy and service users (at ward anddepartmental level) to aid communication and efficiency.
· Interpret prescriptions for drug problems such as drug dosage, form andadministration. Considerations will include legality, clarity, risks associated with prescribed medicinesand prescriptions, and make interventions.
· Contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of systems to ensureeffective medicines management associated with patient safety, with awareness of thestrategic influences affecting the provision of pharmaceutical services.
· Lead clinicalgovernance and risk management issues in area of responsibility under the guidance ofthe Governance and Medication Safety Pharmacist. This will also include the promotion of issues as a proactive member of the various groups and committees.
ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENT SKILLS
· To analyse and interpret prescriptions/worksheets etc. to ensure legality, validity,accuracy and resolve those issues within professional boundaries.
· To accurately and consistently utilise Trust IT to analyse and provide data for reports on medication safety.
· To reduce the risk of medication error by ensuring any relevant policies or procedures arefollowed and safe systems are in place for the dispensing, supply and storage of medicines.
· To be responsible for ensuring that errors in any stage of the medicine use process areinvestigated and any remedial action is implemented as necessary.
· To have extensive technical knowledge and skills to carry out or instruct others in thedispensing of prescriptions, including unlicensed drugs, controlled drugs, in-patient andoutpatient prescriptions in accordance with the agreed procedures.
PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS
· To facilitate and co-ordinate medication and patient safety activities with other individuals, specialist groups and healthcare professionals.
· To be responsible for ensuring that issues relating to patient safety are reported andinvestigated appropriately and that suitable responses are provided and remedial action is implemented.
· To ensure the clinical governance agenda affecting all aspects of medicinesmanagement for patient safety, as defined by the Associate Director of Pharmacy MRC andGovernance, is implemented, and promoted throughout the Trust.
PATIENT CARE
Management duties:
· To improve the quality of patient care and patient experience by managing thedelivery of a programme of clinical audit relating to medicines management across theTrust.
· To undertake risk management and clinical governance activities and contribute towardsthe delivery of the appropriate quality standards and targets outlined in the Trust’s Qualityagenda.
· To undertake a ward based clinical role to ensure efficient and effective delivery ofmedicines management and optimum patient care in accordance with departmentalprocedures.
· To undertake a department based technical role as an accredited checking pharmacytechnician.·
POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
· To implement policies within own area of responsibility and propose policy or servicechanges that positively impacts medication safety or service provision .
· To recommend actions which deliver Trust wide compliance with national and local policy relating to medicines management and patient safety. To drive complex change throughout the area of responsibility.
· To deliver a reduction in risk (clinical and financial) by proposing and, where appropriate,supporting the implementation of changes to medicines optimisation processesthroughout the Trust.
· To support the development of policies and procedures relating to medicinesoptimisation, with reference to patient safety, both internal and external to pharmacy.
· To identify, develop and implement research and audit activity.
FREEDOM TO ACT
· To be responsible to theGovernance and Medication Safety Pharmacistwho sets the parameters andobjectives for the post.
· To work with a wide range of pharmacy and other healthcare staff to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the pharmacy service and medicines optimisation strategy.
· To manage the medication safety audit programme.
· To manage data collection for the purpose of demonstrating performance against keyindicators for the medication safety agenda utilising Trust IT systems.
· To analyse, interpret and present data (e.g. Trust incident reports, medication safetyindicators) either verbally, via written reports or formal presentations.
· To work with other senior managers within pharmacy to identify areas for continueddevelopment and improvement and, where appropriate, to be responsible forimplementation and delivery of change.
As a practicing pharmacy technician:
· To be responsible and accountable for own actions,working independently within the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Standards and Guidance for Pharmacy Professionals, all procedures, policies and other guidance provided by the Trust; to manage own day to day workloadindependently and be aware of own limitations within this process.
· To support the work of other senior technical staff, undertaking relevant duties asrequired e.g. providing cover. Whilst deputising, the post holder will have the authorityand autonomy to ensure day to day organisational effectiveness of the area beingcovered.
· To represent the pharmacy service on relevant committees both within and external tothe Trust.
· To take reasonable care for own health and safety, and that of others who may beaffected by own activities; to cooperate with the Trust by complying with all health andsafety rules and safe systems of work; and to inform line manager of any work situation,or practice which may be considered a danger to health and safety.
· To observe regulations in respect of the health and safety at work act, COSHH and dataprotection act.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
· To plan, deliver and review interventions to enable people to learn and develop.
· To lead on specific aspects of research and development projects.
· Influence the development of knowledge, ideas, and work practices.
· To plan and deliver research / evidence-based care and treatment in partnership withother healthcare professionals.
· To support colleagues in the development of knowledge and skills through acting as anassessor, teacher and facilitator of educational courses.
· To identify and plan resources required for own learning and development.
· To reflect on own practice through clinical supervision / mentorship and to develop skills as a clinical supervisor / mentor to others.
· To develop and maintain a peer network of support, information and learning with other healthcare specialists at a local and national level.
OTHER
· Any other duties as may reasonably be allocated by theGovernance and Medication Safety Pharmacistor Chief Technician.
· Maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio and maintain personalknowledge and skills in line with developments in Pharmacy practice.
This advert closes on Tuesday 16 Jul 2024