Purpose of the role:

This post is part of an established clinical service which is still evolving in response to the needs of the service. The post holder will be expected to support the delivery of care to patients on the clinical pharmacy caseload as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) across various mental health hospitals, hospices and ophthalmic sites. They will be expected to provide pharmacy technical support to professionals involved in the care of patients and to participate in the development and support the delivery of safe and effective medicines management.

Principal Accountabilities:

Patients

• Arrange the efficient and prompt supply of medicines where needed by assisting with ordering medication, stock top-ups and TTOs.
• Communication with the patient on medication/compliance issues, highlighting difficulties to senior pharmacy technician, clinical pharmacist, ward manager and relevant doctors.
• To support discharge through working as part of the ward-based team, including checking and sending TTOs and assessing/incorporating patient’s own drugs for use on discharge.
• To prioritise the above in case of an urgent request for in-patient or urgent discharge medication.

Stock maintenance

• Support the wards in managing and maintaining safe and efficient stock levels of pharmaceuticals and order replacement stock from Ashtons.
• Dispose of and collect ongoing data on returned and wasted medicines.
• Ensure the clinic rooms are clean, tidy, and a safe place to work.
• Assist with co-ordinating drug trolley/cupboards (monitor expiry dates, assemble stock, collection/deliver to wards, update relevant paperwork).

Miscellaneous

• Communicate with patients and Health Care Professionals.
• Assist with the destruction of Controlled Drugs no longer suitable for use with a ward nurse.
• Carry out audits including Clinic Room Audit, Medicines Management Audit, Controlled Drugs Audit and Clozapine Audit (where applicable).
• Administrative tasks e.g., managing pharmacy documentation, to ensure records are fully maintained.
• To participate in other initiatives designed to improve the efficiency of medicine management activities as necessary and in line with competencies.
• To identify good practice in medicines management which could then be used to improve services to patients.
• Support colleagues during periods of absence to carry out tasks in other hospitals/Brighton dispensary when needed.

Education and training

• Assisting the Pharmacy team to deliver Medicines Management training.
• Be responsible for own continuing professional development in line with professional requirements to continue to update knowledge and skills.
• Maintain own mandatory training requirements.
• Attend educational sessions and carry out further training as deemed appropriate by Clinical Supervisor.

Risk management and clinical governance

• Ensure all medication incidents are reported in accordance with Hospice policy.
• Assist where appropriate in investigating errors in prescribing, dispensing or drug administration.
• Assist the team in ensuring compliance with CQC standards for medicines management.
• Attend meetings with the multi-disciplinary team to report audit findings/new guidance where applicable.

Information technology

• Be competent in using basic computer programmes.
• Use the internet on a regular basis to ensure access to up-to-date information on medicines related issues and to access work emails.
• To be competent in using relevant parts of electronic care record systems to effectively carry out the job.

Finance/resources

• To ensure stock levels are maintained, stock is rotated, and waste is kept to a minimum.
• To highlight and make suggestions to ensure best use of Hospice finances in relation to cost effective use of medicines.

This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and may be reviewed in the future depending upon operational requirements and staffing.

Consultation will occur before any such changes take place.

Essential Skills:

• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional working relationship between various Health Care Professionals.
• Able to work within a stressful environment.
• Ability to work within a palliative care environment.
• Ability to strive and aspire to delivering high quality care and to improve care for patients and their families.

Interpersonal skills

• Positive attitude
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Ability to work on own initiative

Desirable Skills:

Education

• Two or more A Levels (or equivalent)
• Excellent knowledge of the English language essential
• Excellent general knowledge desired

Skills

• Advanced in Word and Outlook
• Competent in Excel

Key Relationships:

• People team – training
• Clinical Supervisor
• Lead Pharmacist
• Clinical Pharmacists
• Hospice MDT
• Medical team
• IPU Nursing team
• Community Clinical Nurse Specialists
• GPs
• Community Pharmacists,
• Primary Care Healthcare Professionals
• Secondary Care Healthcare Professionals