Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Job Overview

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve. We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Band 4 Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician to join our forward thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP/YOI Feltham. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will look after the healthcare needs of patients residing in secure environments and have the opportunity to impact health and well-being. Our motto is “Caring NOT Judging”, and we work in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies to provide high-quality primary care and mental health services to those who may have offended or are at risk of offending, to improve health and promote social inclusion.

Important note: This is a training post to learn the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become a registered pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Main duties of the job

• This is a training post to learn the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become a registered pharmacy technician with the GPhC.
• To work under supervision with a pharmacist or another pharmacy technician carrying out the required duties of a registered pharmacy technician.
• To assist the Dispensary Manager to ensure all tasks in the pharmacy dispensary are completed as per objectives.
• To provide work within the wider healthcare team to provide comprehensive, optimised pharmaceutical services, while maintaining the required level of security at all times.

Working for our organisation

• Ongoing career progression through monthly supervision and annual personal development plans/appraisals.
• Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities and progression through various career pathway opportunities such as the Preceptorship Programme and support with Revalidation.
• Excellent staff benefits, including health and wellbeing services, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and relocation package (subject to criteria).
• MyTrustBenefits portal with discounts and access to free online courses.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• Undertake a two-year training programme to qualify as a pharmacy technician.
• Support the Medicines Management Team with the delivery of a legal, safe, high-quality pharmaceutical service.
• Assist in developing medicines optimisation standard operating procedures and pharmacy service protocols.
• Complete operational duties such as stock control, date checking of medicines and temperature recording.
• Be fully conversant with local pharmacy protocols and assist with administration of controlled drugs as required, including updating controlled drug registers and instructing clinical staff in record-keeping, security and storage.
• Assist with the medicine reconciliation process and support completing medication histories from relevant sources.
• Organise and provide stock and non-stock pharmaceuticals and manage medicines management systems for safe handling.
• Assist in regular stock usage reviews with nursing staff and maintain the SystmOne clinical system for electronic patient records.
• Identify potential shortages and coordinate suitable alternatives or delivery timetables.
• Ensure timely ordering of medications before cut-off times and arrange orders from secondary care when required.
• Ensure medicines are ordered and supplied in accordance with legislation, local procedures and Trust Medicines Policy.
• Participate in medicines management and primary care team meetings; maintain high safety and security standards.

Communication

• Provide advice to patients on medicines and health-related issues under supervision and communicate issues promptly to appropriate staff.
• Present information clearly in written or verbal form for the target audience and liaise with nursing staff regarding medicines supply.

Training

• Undertake the two-year training programme to become a qualified pharmacy technician and adhere to the learning agreement.
• Be organised and self-motivated in achieving programme requirements and support training/induction for other staff as appropriate.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Essential: 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including Maths, English and Science; ability to meet the apprenticeship standard; willingness to undertake Functional Skills in English and/or Maths if necessary.
• Desirable: Pharmacy Service Skills NVQ level 2 (QCF) or equivalent; Level 2 apprenticeship in Pharmacy Services; completion of medicine optimisation training (POD assessment and transcribing for supply).

Previous Experience

• Essential: Experience of working in a team,Health and Safety practices, working to deadlines, and experience in a pharmacy setting.
• Desirable: Experience in secure/prison environments or pharmacy settings within secure environments.

Skills & Knowledge

• Essential: Fluent English (written and spoken), good organisation and prioritisation, strong communication, computer literacy, ability to meet objectives and deadlines, good time management.
• Desirable: Dispensing skills and confident use of electronic prescribing/order systems.

Attitudes, Aptitudes and Personal Characteristics

• Essential: Ability to motivate self and others, a team worker who can relate to all staff, ability to work under pressure, maintains confidentiality.

Other

• Essential: Ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy; ability to promote and work with a 7-day-a-week service model.