Job Description

Monday-Friday 9-3

Job Summary / Job Purpose:

Provide technical support to Hengoed Park and Hengoed Court care homes to improve management of medicines. The post holder will improve patient safety though introduction of robust medicines management systems and procedures at the care home. Aid in the rationalisation of care homes medicines ordering systems to make improvements in safety and efficiency. Support both care homes with specific technical medicines management queries including sharing local and national examples of good practice. Improve communication between community pharmacies, care homes and GP practices resulting in more efficient and effective working. Reduce medication waste from both care homes though introduction of robust medicines management systems and procedures. Support residential and nursing teams.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medicines Ordering, Storage and Waste

Review systems within care homes and offer advice and support to ensure the right medicine is always available for the right resident at the right time. Provide practical support to review process, such as receiving stock, reviewing stock, ordering medicines and checking patient administration records. Implement strategies to reduce waste. Identify excess stock, expired and other items that are currently not in use within cupboards and ensure suitable arrangements for disposal. Ensure medicines are stored appropriately. Advise manager where medicines management is inappropriate. Link with community pharmacy and GP practice colleagues to optimise collaboration and help resolve queries/issues/barriers e.g., with respect to medicines shortages.

Communication

Ensure good working relationships with both care homes, providing advice and support and sharing best practise with Nurses, Medicine Carers and Team Leaders. Collaborate with the medicines management team, ensuring best practice is always shared and delivered. Working daily with and taking advice from line managers: Support and advise community pharmacy colleagues to: Improve ordering systems. Aid with queries, shortages etc. Help optimise the 'Medicines Management Support for Care Homes,' enhanced service.

Liaise with GP practices, including:

Prescribing clerks generating prescriptions within each practice's repeat
prescribing systems.

Pharmacists/GPs undertaking medication reviews within care homes.

Liaise with acute hospitals to clarify any issues of supply following discharge to a care home. Communicate the outcomes of work undertaken e.g., by providing reports to line managers for the care home Management Team

Governance

Build a solid foundation of medicines management in both care homes. Ensure medicines management processes in care homes reflect NICE guidance. Aid in the development of tools to ensure best practice. Audit changes and improvements to ensure sustainable change, amending as appropriate. Raise appropriate concerns regarding medicines use with the line managers to ensure plans of action are developed. Support both care homes with identified issues managing medicines, scheduling priority work into own work plan. Implement strategies to reduce risk to patients e.g., through missed doses when medicines are not available or through incomplete medication records. Audit the electronic medication system. Improve patient safety though introduction of robust medicines management systems and procedures at the care home. Reduce risk of harm and safeguarding incidents. Aid in the implementation of a waste reduction strategy targeted at care homes. Ensure legal requirements of medicines management are met.

Information Management

Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken, reporting on outcomes. Maintain resident electronic records (Patient Centred Software) to ensure information is accurate and up to date for future reference. Ensure use, storage and sharing of data complies with information governance.

Education and Training

Aid in the development and delivery of education and training which will aid staff involved in ordering/using/supply medicines to care homes. This could include appropriate staff from both care homes, community pharmacies and GP practices. Medication training and Competency signing off for relevant staff. Sharing of local and national examples of good practice and learning. Undertake any training and education courses relevant to the post. Undertake all Hengoed Care mandatory training as required. Be personally responsible for keeping up to date with training related to the role.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 14.00 per hour

Benefits:

Discounted or free food Free parking Gym membership On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:

Swansea SA1 7LQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:

Pharmacy: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person