Job Description

Pharmacy Technicians play an integral role within the pharmacy team, supporting the safe and effective use of medicines, using their knowledge and skills to dispense and issue prescriptions, extemporaneously prepare medicines, and final accuracy check medicines in the in-patient, out-patient dispensary and at ward level.



The successful candidate will primarlily undertake and assist in the organisation, supervision, delivery and development of the 'specials' service, whilst also rotating through different areas of the department. They will need to be self motivated and capable of working methodically and accurately with the desire to further develop their knowledge and skills.



Candidates must be patient focused and passionate about upholding Trust values in order to provide the best possible service.



Candidates will be recruited at Band 4 unless they hold a BTEC Professional Diploma in Dispensing Checking /Cheshire and Merseyside checking framework and can demonstrate their experience to fulfill other competency based requirements.



Candidates should preferably have recent hospital experience although previous paediatric experience is not essential. A full induction and training programme will be made available from experienced mentors.



To ensure a timely delivery service of 'specials' products to patients. This will include recruiting patients to the scheme, using your organisational and communications skills to effectively plan and organise workload, liaising with patients/carers, consultants and G.P.s/CCG Medicines Management Teams and tracking of medication to enable timely delivery.



Accuracy and good attention to detail are essential to support, supervise and monitor the 'specials' database and email accounts ensuring all information is accurate and current and to highlight any discrepancies in a timely manner.



Accurately dispense , final accuracy check and issue prescriptions in a designated area of work, providing a robust and efficient technical service to the in-patient, out-patient, Clinical Research facility, Oncology satellite and ward based services.

Effectively engaging and communicating with patients and colleagues to support the correct use and administration of medicines



To participate in the assembly and preparation of extemporaneous products demonstrating GMP and adhering to Health and Safety and COSHH requirements.



Band 4 Technicians rotate through various areas of the department, offering the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills to support their development and progression to the Band 5 role



Band 5 Technicians support the ward based service and participate in Final Accuracy checking.



Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a stand alone paediatric hospital located on the outskirts of Liverpool with a national reputation for excellence. It recently featured in the award winning BBC documentary "Hospital". A brilliant team of pharmacist and technicians provide pharmacy services to a wide range of paediatric surgical and medical specialties. The pharmacy teams are innovative, caring and compassionate and work well together.



We are committed to staff development and value our Technician's dedication and hard work.



To undertake and assist in the organisation, supervision and delivery of the 'specials' service and it's future development



To plan and organise own work and that of the 'specials' assistants in their role in order to ensure that patients receive medicines in the most timely manner possible.



To safely and accurately carry out and monitor the dispensing and issuing of prescriptions, including in-patients, outpatients, discharge, unlicensed and controlled drugs in accordance with the safe systems of work procedures within the department.



To carry out the final accuracy check of clinically screened complex paediatric prescriptions dispensed by others in accordance with safe systems of work practice ensuring the maintenance of records and information.



To use the pharmacy computer system to dispense and label pharmaceuticals, produce stock reports, extemporaneous worksheets and audit trails in accordance with the level of training provided



To supervise and participate in the maintenance of stock control systems within the dispensary dealing with any discrepancies, reporting these accordingly.



To assist in the provision of service quality and cost effectiveness of medicines identifying any improvements to senior pharmacy staff.



To organise and supervise the day to day workload and problems that may arise within the designated area of work ensuring the implementation of department rotas and planning and referring any issues to relevant senior pharmacy staff.



To supervise and participate in the assembly and preparation of extemporaneous products demonstrating Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice and adhering to Health and Safety and COSHH requirements.



To support the training of student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy technicians, Pre - registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in accordance with departmental training

packages.



To dispense clinical trials in accordance with the dispensing protocol, ensuring the

maintenance of records and information.



To accurately carry out formula and measurement checks on extemporaneous products following set procedures to ensure quality and safety standards are met.



To support the replacement of and accurately check the dispensing of the Hospital Emergency Drug Boxes to ensure a safe and effective service.



To carry out label checks for Accident and Emergency out of hour dispensing packs, ensuring information is clear and correct and that item is labelled appropriately.



To provide support to all areas of the pharmacy department as and when required.

To answer queries of a complex technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, either in the pharmacy or on the ward. To answer queries from the public referring appropriate queries to a senior member of the pharmacy team.



To undertake patient counselling, providing clear and concise information to patients/carers regarding the safe and effective use of their medication to ensure understanding and compliance. This will include providing information of a more complex nature and providing demonstrations where applicable, both in the dispensary and on the wards.



To participate in the 'Near Patient Pharmacy' scheme on assigned wards. This will include daily patient medication reviews, medicines reconciliation, assessment of patients own drugs (PODS), discussing any clinical problems with the ward pharmacist and arranging for appropriate supplies of medications.



To undertake Continuing Professional Development in order to keep pharmaceutical clinical and technical knowledge current, ensure best practice and comply with requirements for entry on the pharmacy technician register.