Practice Development Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Services

Job overview

Exciting Opportunity: Practice Development Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Services.

Duration: 12-month secondment contract.

Join our dynamic Clinical Services team at Denmark Hill! We’re looking for a dedicated Practice Development Pharmacy Technician who is passionate about enhancing pharmacy practice and patient care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate expert knowledge and practice in all aspects of Medicines Management Practice.

• Working collaboratively with the Clinical Services Team to deliver high quality and effective education and training on local policies, procedures and safety initiatives; supporting implementation and embedding changes in practice
• Proactively supporting the training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and other trainees on-the-job

• Lead the continuous education, training, and professional development of staff, promoting the acquisition of new skills, knowledge, and competencies.

• Act as an autonomous professional practitioner and role model within the department.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To develop the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician Service across the Denmark Hill site, working with the chief pharmacy technician, clinical services and other lead pharmacy technicians within the clinical service
• To be responsible for the education and development of all MMPTs, MMPAs and trainees in practice supporting on-the-job training and practice development
• To lead the continuing education, training and professional development of staff continuously promoting the acquisition of new skills, knowledge and competence in Medicine Management and the wider department
• To provide a medicines management service to a clinical area such drug history taking, ordering medicines, PODs and POD locker checks, etc as required by the chief pharmacy technician – clinical services
• To support the Chief Technician for Clinical Services in identifying areas of potential cost savings and implement systems and policies to realise savings as needed
• To line manage Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians and Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistants based on the Denmark Hill site

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Policy/Service development

• To develop the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician Service across the Denmark Hill site, working with the chief pharmacy technician, clinical services and other lead pharmacy technicians within the clinical service.
• To be responsible for the education and development of all MMPTs, MMPAs and trainees in practice supporting on-the-job training and practice development.
• To lead the continuing education, training and professional development of staff continuously promoting the acquisition of new skills, knowledge and competence in Medicine Management and the wider department.
• To ensure that all medicines management processes are followed by all staff
• To maintain and develop high quality, consistent, patient-focused pharmacy services in conjunction with clinical and patient services staff.
• To adhere to and maintain quality standards and performance indicators for safe medicines use and medication safety initiatives.
• To develop teaching programmes for all grades of staff in Medicines Management
• To develop and maintain accurate training records and produce reports as required.
• To participate in regular audits of the quality of medicines use and medication safety.
• To work collaboratively with the Clinical Services Team to deliver high quality and effective education and training on local policies, procedures and safety initiatives; supporting implementation and embedding changes in practice.
• To proactively support the training of pharmacy staff on-the-job and undertaking training needs analysis to determine priority areas for continual educational support required for Medicines Management Team
• To be able to follow departmental SOPs and dispense medication accurately.
• To develop SOPs pertaining to medicines management.
• To be able to use pharmacy computer systems correctly, enter data accurately from transcription sheets, prescription forms and any other prescriptions written by others and ensure that data is stored and archived appropriately in accordance with local and regionally agreed guidelines.
• To develop and support Patient Centred Pharmacy Practice initiatives.
• To encourage and support compliance with the formulary and departmental policies & procedures.
• To highlight medicine management incidents using the InPhase system and develop corrective/preventive action plans in conjunction with the clinical leads.
• To be a role model and maintain high standards of practice at all times.
• To work with the Clinical Services team to develop and maintain orientation packages
for new staff and be responsible for their orientation in clinical areas.
• To demonstrate expert knowledge and practice on all guidelines, policies and procedures for Clinical Services and Pharmacy practice. This will involve actively participating in providing medicines management services.
• To demonstrate professional accountability to service users, stakeholders and the profession.

Patient Care
• To provide a medicines management service to a clinical area such drug history taking, ordering medicines, PODs and POD locker checks, etc as required by the chief pharmacy technician – clinical services.
• To liaise with care managers, community pharmacists and GP’s to ensure accurate drug histories are obtained for all patients on admission.
• To review patients’ own drugs and assess their suitability for re-use against the pharmacy department’s standardised criteria.
• To remove medications no longer required with the consent of patient.
• To cross check with patients if the medication history sent by their GP is up to date and correct and to check concordance with the patient.
• To counsel patients regarding the safe and appropriate use of their medicines.
• To assist in the development and promotion of self-medication schemes, assessing
patients for suitability.
• To apply sound professional judgment to issues related to medicines use as required in conjunction with relevant senior pharmacists.
• To refer problems outside the limits of own expertise to the Chief Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Services, the Principal pharmacist, Clinical Services or the Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services as appropriate
• To deliver a customer-focused service and to adhere to the highest principles of customer services when dealing with patients, staff and the public.
• To contribute to the provision of information to trust staff on the safe use of medicines.
• To develop a good understanding of the medicines process within the trust in order to identify risks in medicines use.
• To final accuracy check clinically screened prescriptions for a minimum of eight hours / month within the dispensary and / or at ward level to maintain ACPT competency.

Financial/resources management
• To support the Drug Expenditure Project.
• To ensure thorough and complete records/databases are maintained including IVIG and off tariff drugs as needed.
• To maintain and present, when necessary, records of drug cost-savings or efficiencies achieved.
• To comply with SOPs relating to efficient stock control in the issue, return and recycling or safe disposal (as appropriate) of drugs from wards, departments & clinics
• To co-ordinate applications for internal and external training opportunities for Medicines Management Staff.
• To support the Chief Technician for Clinical Services in developing appropriate business cases for Pharmacy training and development.
• To support the Chief Technician for Clinical Services in identifying areas of potential cost savings and implement systems and policies to realise savings as needed.
• To utilise own time efficiently and productively.

Staff management and training
• To line manage Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians and Medicines Management Pharmacy Assistants based on the Denmark Hill site.
• To participate in the recruitment and selection of pharmacy staff.
• To work with the Principal Pharmacists, the Chief and Lead Pharmacy Technicians, Clinical Services, and the Associate and Deputy Chief Pharmacists, Clinical Services to identify and prioritise pharmacy technicians’ medicines management input.
• To support the development of training packages and competency assessments for all clinical pharmacy staff and to participate in the training and induction of pharmacy staff.
• To attend and contribute to regular pharmacy team meetings.
• To adhere to personally and ensure that the team of medicines management pharmacy technicians adhere to, Trust and departmental guidelines on the code of conduct on wards with regard to confidentiality, infection control, dress code.
• To support pharmacy technicians in achieving the ACPT accreditation.
• To carry out the duties of an ACPT
• To be a Practise and/or Educational Supervisor
• To assess, review and give constructive feedback about Pharmacy practice and competencies of staff in Clinical Services
• To act as an autonomous professional practitioner and always behave in a manner that is professional, positive and polite.
• To participate in the recruitment and selection of pharmacy staff.
• To maintain a portfolio for continuing professional development according to departmental policy
• To attend training and/or study days as required by the Chief Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Services
• To contribute to the training of non-pharmacy staff in the trust

Research and development
• To publish or present project work carried out in conjunction with colleagues.
• To undertake audit and other project work to assess, monitor and improve medicines use and service quality.
• To participate in other departmental audits and projects as required
• To develop, implement, monitor and evaluate policies and guidelines.
• To supervise other Pharmacy staff in undertaking audit projects.
• To be aware of research and developments in the field of Pharmacy practice and Patient Services.
• To utilise and evaluate tools to audit education, training and professional practice within
Pharmacy.
• To undertake own research and publish practice research in Pharmacy Training & Development. • To present the results and outcomes of own research and audits locally, nationally or internationally as appropriate.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services with underpinning knowledge provided by the BTEC Certificate in Pharmaceutical Sciences OR other recognised Pharmacy Technician Qualification meeting requirements for registration with GPhC
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician qualification
• Practise Supervisor accreditation or equivalent or working towards one

Desirable criteria

• Successful completion of short courses relevant to practice, to include supervisory/management qualification
• Educational Supervisor or equivalent or working towards one

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
• Good knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel applications
• Good Management Practice
• Knowledge of current and future role of pharmacy
• Significant experience relevant to Hospital Pharmacy Practice with assessed competencies
• Experience of research and audit work
• Experience working as a Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician
• Experience of training and supervision of pharmacy staff

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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