Job Description

We are delighted to invite applications for a newly created post for a Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Assistant. This is an opportunity to be part of the pharmacy teams in both adult and paediatric respiratory medicine and help to provide medicines optimisation services to patients under the care of the Adult Respiratory Medicine and Children's Services divisions at the Royal Brompton hospital.



The successful candidate will have good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work to a high standard within the team or on their own initiative.



Assisting in the provision of a high-quality patient focussed medicines management service to patients



Assisting in the provision of a high-quality pharmacy stores service to clinical areas



Helping to ensure that stock levels in clinical areas are appropriate and stock lists reflect the needs of the area



Supporting ward teams to maintain safe storage of medications in ward areas



Assisting with co-ordination and production of homecare prescriptions



On 1st February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals became part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust - a truly once-in a generation development. Together, we are taking our first steps towards our vision of creating a brand-new centre of excellence, which will be the global leader in the research into and treatment of heart and lung disease in patients from pre-birth to old age. We are developing some exciting plans and we want you to join us - so come and help to change the shape of healthcare for our heart and lung patients world-wide

Communication:

To liaise with nursing staff, multidisciplinary team members and the clinical pharmacy team regarding patient and medication details.



To liaise with patients, healthcare professionals and homecare providers as required to facilitate homecare for adult and paediatric respiratory patients.



To maintain clinic lists at the end of each clinic.



To work effectively as a team member.



To communicate with colleagues in a polite and courteous manner at all times



Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)

Ward /clinic based role:

To support stock control and medicines management on paediatric and adult respiratory clinical areas in liaison with the clinical pharmacy and ward teams.



To prepare documents for paediatric and adult CF clinics in advance and ensure clinic lists have been printed.



To support the nursing teams in the organisation of the ward drug storage areas.



To assist in the review of paediatric and adult respiratory clinical area stock lists and pharmacy cupboards where applicable.



To check that medicine storage areas are clean and tidy.



To support ward staff in the appropriate temperature monitoring of medicines and ensure appropriate actions are taken at temperature excursions.



To undertake safe and secure storage of medicine audits.



To adhere to all ward-based policies including infection control and hand hygiene.



To order named patient CIVAS items on ITH web-based portal in readiness for confirmation by the MMPT/ pharmacist.



Identify new medicines prescribed and medicines not given and bring to attention of the medicines management pharmacy technicians (MMPT) or clinical pharmacists.



Under direction of the MMPT/pharmacist, check patients own drugs for use within the hospital and re-label as required in readiness for checking.



To label and dispense discharge prescriptions (TTA) on wards to expedite discharges.



Support the pharmacy team in re-ordering non-stock medicines including preparation for discharge.



To minimise delays in administration and missed doses by ensuring medicines are available at the appropriate time.



Ensure timely transfer, return or disposal of medicines that are no longer required.



To collect and deliver medicines to and from paediatric and adult respiratory clinical areas when necessary.

Topping up service:

To be responsible for the accurate, timely and efficient provision of pharmaceutical items, to paediatric and adult respiratory clinical areas via the 'topping up' process.



To top-up the ward stock according to pre-defined levels according to rota.



To ensure excess stock is returned to pharmacy.



To ensure that, no longer required, non-stock items are returned to pharmacy.



To ensure that regular expiry date checks are carried out and that short-dated stock is returned to pharmacy to be used up if appropriate.



To ensure that any expired stock is returned to pharmacy for destruction.



To assist the MMPT/pharmacist in stock list reviews for paediatric and adult respiratory clinical areas



To inform wards and pharmacists on stock 'outages', to chase up orders with the purchasing office and in conjunction with MMPT / pharmacist make alternative arrangements for supplies.



To have a working knowledge of pharmacy stock control and ordering systems.

Homecare support:

To regularly maintain the homecare databases in use by the adult respiratory medicine and paediatric clinical pharmacy teams.



To be responsible for reviewing the homecare companies 'requests' spreadsheet for adult and paediatric respiratory patients for which prescriptions are required and when and prompt the adult respiratory medicine and paediatric clinical pharmacy teams when patients are overdue, or if a prescription was requested previously but not received yet.



To be responsible for printing prescriptions for adult and paediatric respiratory medicine patients which have been requested by the homecare companies.

People management:

To assist in the induction and training of new members of staff, for example student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and pre-registration pharmacists as appropriate.



To identify own training needs and undertake regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD).



To attend course and study days as deemed appropriate.



To participate in education and training schemes and meetings organised within the department.



To participate in all relevant departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.

Information management:

To be proficient in the use of the JAC Pharmacy Stock Control and Dispensing computer system, and Trust EPMA systems in order to meet the job requirements.



To be competent in the use of Microsoft Office software.



To plan and prioritise workload and to ensure daily, weekly and monthly timetables are met.



To be proficient in the use of the Trust electronic patient record system (EPR).



To upload homecare prescriptions and other patient information to facilitate homecare, as required by the adult respiratory medicine and paediatric clinical pharmacy teams, to the EPR system in a timely manner.

Research and development:

To provide administration support to the homecare team and adult respiratory medicine and paediatric clinical pharmacy teams with patient and administration audits for the development of new and revised processes in order improve service levels, quality of information and service levels.

Further sections:

To be aware of and apply relevant legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, GMP and Medicines' Act.



To have a working knowledge of all procedures, legislation or national guidelines relating to the storage and dispensing of unlicensed medicinal products, controlled drugs, oral chemotherapy and clinical trials.



To at all times practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council.



To uphold the security of drugs and the premises at all times.



To participate in the late clinics, weekend and bank holiday rotas as determined by the needs of the Pharmacy Department.



To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested by the Chief or Executive Lead Pharmacist.



To abide by the Trust's Core behaviours for staff and all other Trust policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.



To maintain satisfactory personal performances and professional standards and to achieve, where possible, agreed objectives described in the annual staff appraisal system undertaken by the Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management

Other duties:

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.



This job description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.