Job Description

Senior Pharmacy Assistant



Queen Elizabeth Hospital



We currently have a vacancy for a Senior Pharmacy Assistants to work in the pharmacy dispensary, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich.



We are looking for hardworking, reliable applicants with good communication skills from both hospital and community pharmacy background. You will also need to have good literacy and numeracy skills.



You will need to hold the Level 2 NVQ in Pharmacy Services qualification and have a commitment to learning and self-development.



You will be joining a friendly, forward thinking dispensary team and will support:



Dispensing and labeling of prescriptions.



Supporting the senior technical staff to ensure that the dispensary runs efficiently and is customer focused.



Good stock control skills



To manage and ensure completion of the pharmacy assistant duties within the dispensary



The post holder will be required to participate in a weekend rota system so should be a minimum of 18 years of age to comply with working time obligations



To be a key member of the dispensary team, participating in the receiving, dispensing and labelling of prescriptions.



To support the senior technical staff to ensure that the dispensary runs efficiently and is customer focused



In conjunction with the dispensary manager ensure that the dispensary has good stock control.



To manage and ensure completion of the pharmacy assistant duties within the dispensary, in liaison with the technical staff.

PLEASE NOTE:

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post



Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:



Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development



Widening access (anchor institution) and employability



Improving the experience of staff with disability



Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development



Making equalities mainstream

Job Summary:

To be a key member of the dispensary team, participating in the receiving, dispensing and labelling of prescriptions.



To support the senior technical staff to ensure that the dispensary runs efficiently and is customer focused.



In conjunction with the dispensary manager ensure that the dispensary has good stock control.



To manage and ensure completion of the pharmacy assistant duties within the dispensary, in liaison with the technical staff

Key Result Areas & Performance:

To ensure completion of all routine dispensary re-supply and housekeeping tasks through the production of a rota and supervising the work during its completion.



To perform the induction and training of new pharmacy assistant and technical staff.



To ensure that the daily random stock check is completed. Ensuring that the stock levels in dispensary are checked against a random list produced by the computer system and that expiry dates are also checked. To then re-check the incorrect stock levels and then adjust them on the Ascribe system.



To ensure adequate stocks of containers, bags and sundry items for dispensing.



To accurately dispense prescriptions. Prescription types will include: outpatients; inpatients; discharges; controlled drugs and clinical trials. This will involve inputting of patient's details into the Ascribe computer system and producing dispensing labels. The label, prescription and product are collected together and assembled. Any additional items such as spoons, bags etc are also added. The prepared items are checked for accuracy and passed to the pharmacist/accredited technician for final checking.



To supply controlled drugs to wards and departments against requisitions from appropriate staff according to procedures.



To ensure that accurate controlled drugs records are maintained, this includes a monthly audit of controlled drug stocks and records including checking of expiry dates.



To ensure that accurate unlicensed records are maintained, this includes a monthly audit of unlicensed drug stocks and records including checking of expiry dates.



To organise replenishment of controlled stationery.



To replenish stocks of medicines in the dispensary. This requires the generation of an order on the computer system, accurate collection of the items from the store and shelf placement, ensuring stock rotation.



To pre-pack items for wards and departments.



To perform the stock check of the emergency cupboard ensuring correct temperature and medicine expiry dates.



To ensure that all dispensed inpatient items are placed in sealed bags at the appropriate times for collection by the pharmacy porter and delivered to the wards. This duty will also include processing of items returned to the pharmacy from the wards.



To produce a weekly job rota, allocating each member of staff their tasks to be completed each day. To produce a tea and lunch rota for the dispensary staff ensuring that the skill balance is maintained.



To carry out daily monitoring of fridge and room temperatures.



To monitor and replenish the first aid box.



To answer the telephone and deal with any queries and refer on as necessary.



To receive drug charts and prescriptions from the inpatient hatch and record details on the dispensary PTS system, deal with any queries or refer on as necessary.



To keep accurate paper records of stock transfers i.e. expired and broken drugs



To issue completed prescriptions and controlled drugs to ward staff



To be one of the computer system trainers for the dispensary department.



To ensure that the dispensary is kept clean and tidy.



To participate in the auditing of dispensary activity as required.



To visit the emergency drug cupboard/room ensuring that there are adequate stock levels and that expiry dates are checked.



General



To hold the NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services.



To have the responsibility for the top-up of drugs to a designated ward/department and to provide cover if necessary. To visit and replenish stock drugs to a pre-set level, ensuring stock is correctly stored and expiry dates are checked.



To arrange disposal of expired pharmaceuticals according to set procedures.



To perform expiry date checks and remove expired stocks. Report on expired and short dated stock.



To follow procedures and policies in the department.



To attend promptly to all customers and provide a high standard of customer service.



To be responsible for the accurate data entry on the computer system.



To answer queries from staff and the general public on the telephone and in person and refer, as necessary; to a technician or pharmacist to answer enquiries of a pharmaceutical nature.



To undergo training to ensure competence.



To be aware of the individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act and identify and report, as necessary, any untoward incident, accident or potentially hazardous environment.



To participate in the seven day working rota .



To accept any other responsibilities as may be reasonably expected by the Chief Pharmacist.



The above job description is designed for general guidance only and is subject to review in the light of appraisal of the post and/or changes to the service. The post holder will maintain patient confidentiality at all times, will recognise and adhere to the Trust's Standing Orders and Standing Financial instructions, will be responsible for accurate computer data entry and will carry out their duties with regard to accepted standards of professional practice.