Lead Homecare Pharmacy Technician

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond. We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for the care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission rates our services as ‘good’. We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience.

By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers. The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special. As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

• Ensure a safe, efficient and cost-effective homecare service to patients prescribed paliperidone and aripiprazole long-acting injection to community units in Croydon, Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth.
• Work with the Trust’s approved homecare provider to ensure medicines are delivered in a timely manner in accordance with a valid prescription.
• Assist in delivering the targets set out in the pharmacy Business Plan.
• Supervise Pharmacy Technicians, Assistant Technical Officers and where appropriate, Trainee Pharmacists and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians (PTPT).
• Ensure that the standards of service provided by the Pharmacy Department is of the highest standard and leads to the best possible outcomes for service users whilst maintaining cost saving efficiency.
• Work closely with the Procurement Manager, Dispensary team, clinical pharmacists and stores and distribution team to ensure a uniform approach.
• Provide support for the SLaM dispensaries.
• Ensure regular self-development with line manager.

Main duties of the job

• Manage and develop the delivery of homecare services, ensuring they align with national standards, guidelines, and local policies.
• Participate in service review meetings with homecare providers.
• Monitor compliance with relevant standards for homecare services.
• Provide specialist clinical technical services and advice on homecare medicines.
• Ensure the safe and timely supply of medicines to patients at the CMHT.
• Ensure accurate medication records are maintained.
• Resolve issues related to medication delivery, including discrepancies and non-deliveries.
• Counsel patients on the use of their medicines.
• Provide advice and information to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.
• Address and resolve patient complaints.
• Train and support staff on homecare medicines management.
• Maintain accurate records and data.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.
• Undertake audits and quality control checks.
• Manage stock control and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Work with pharmacy procurement to ensure contract prices are up to date and accurate.
• Be an expert in the use of IT systems used within homecare.
• Understand the complexities of psychotropic medications.
• Be sensitive to the potential for medication non-adherence.
• Work with patients who may have cognitive or emotional challenges.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust provides the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK. We are a world leading Trust in research, working closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. Our services include the Maudsley Hospital, Lambeth Hospital, Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Ladywell unit at Lewisham Hospital. We are also part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. The pharmacy department provides a clinical and dispensing service to wards and community teams in Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham across four main hospital sites as well as a wide variety of community mental health teams. We provide information about medication to both staff and patients to improve understanding and contribute to evidence-based care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure Pharmacy homecare service operates within the expected standards in the service level agreement and escalate when incidents occur.
• Lead communications with the homecare provider by attending regular review meetings.
• Co-ordinate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to implement homecare delivery services.
• Work with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to review existing and develop new homecare service specifications.
• Work with Pharmacy senior leadership team, and other Pharmacy staff to identify, plan, and develop new opportunities for homecare services.
• Investigate, develop, and report on the current and future processes for patients consenting to receive homecare medicines management.
• Co-ordinate the service review meetings for homecare medicines management working closely with homecare companies, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, other healthcare staff, and patients.
• Produce quarterly reports on quality and financial indicators on all homecare medicine services and ensure quality monitoring is carried out and reported appropriately.
• Ensure invoices are processed in a timely manner via the Pharmacy computer system and investigate and resolve any invoice discrepancies.
• Provide specialist advice on medicines and processes associated with homecare medicines management to patients, carers, and homecare contractors.
• Support the community transformation team in the move to long-acting injections (LAI) and very long-acting injections (VLAI), by maintaining up to date records of administration to identify those eligible to move.
• Work under guidance of SOPs, GMP, GDP and COSHH. Work independently to develop and implement SOPs for homecare medicines management which may include policies that impact on areas other than homecare medicines management.
• Ensure compliance with current homecare medicines management guidance and contribute nationally to the development of homecare medicines management guidance and policy.
• Undertake research into homecare medicines management services, which may include the trial of novel methods of providing homecare medicines management, or services for medicines previously not managed through homecare.
• Maintain high professional standards at all times and ensure compliance with statutory regulations concerning pharmaceuticals and the provisions of the Health and Safety at work act are complied with.
• Responsible for training and supporting all grades of staff on homecare medicines management.
• Develop an induction & training package for area and act as “Key Trainer” for your area ensuring all staff are trained in safe practices.
• Contribute to service developments ensuring change is managed smoothly.
• Assist in auditing the service against set targets.
• Arrange pilot schemes to assess benefits of new ways of working.
• Develop efficient communication channels with the rest of pharmacy to ensure a good understanding of the service and the roles and responsibilities of staff.
• Forge links nationally and regionally with other technicians in homecare services in order to share best practice.
• Responsible for ensuring good dispensing/distribution/manufacturing practice.
• Prioritise workload and analyse situations to resolve problems.
• Ensure accurate documentation and records are maintained within the service area.
• Identify and implement risk reduction strategies in your area of work.
• Foster and maintain a good working relationship with colleagues and other healthcare staff.
• Maintain good communication with patients and carers. Serve as the first point of contact regarding complaints from homecare patients and service users.

Managerial

• Contribute to the effective management and development of staff within the section.
• Be responsible for ensuring that all identified problems associated with ordering/invoicing are resolved in a timely manner and the JAC computer system is updated when necessary; liaising with the Procurement / IT Manager regarding any proposed changes prior to implementation.
• Act as a practice supervisor in the training and education of pre-registration pharmacy technicians during their MMT / CMHT rotation.

General

• Work to agreed objectives with annual appraisal with the Operations manager.
• Participate in labelling, assembly, preparation, dispensing and other dispensing duties should the need arise to ensure service provision.
• Participate in the provision of Medicines Reconciliation and communication with GPs to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide teaching and support to nursing and non-nursing staff regarding good dispensing practice, medicines usage and storage both internally and externally.
• Participate in research and audit undertaken in pharmacy and, where appropriate, design audits relating to the CMHT / Homecare service.
• Ensure that the principles of safe and secure handling of medicines are adopted and to take part in quality assurance systems for pharmaceutical services.
• Promote Trust Health and Safety standards in Pharmacy (Trust wide), including Fire safety.
• Attend and participate in departmental meetings and education and training sessions.
• Maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio.
• Communicate clearly and sensitively about patient medication issues both internally and externally.
• Participate in the dispensary cover rota, when required to do so.
• Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested by the Director of Pharmacy consistent with the responsibility of the post.
• Take part in annual pharmacy stocktake.
• Participate in Saturday and Bank Holiday working, when required.
• In order to be successful in this role, you will need to be organised, motivated, have excellent communication and people skills as well as the ability to adapt quickly to new situations.
• Work within the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.

Person specification

Education and Training

• NVQ Level 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences or a recognised equivalent.
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Nationally recognised ACT (Accredited Checking Technician).

Experience

• Practicing pharmacy technician with significant post qualification hospital experience.
• Experience of developing policies and procedures.
• Evidence of ability to work independently and proactively with limited supervision.
• Experience of working in hospital pharmacy.
• Experience of managing change and developing and implementing new ways of working and service improvement.
• Experience of working in Mental Health services.
• Involvement in specialist projects and/or audit.
• Experience working in CMHT setting and/or homecare experience.
• Management/supervisory experience.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of hospital pharmacy systems.
• Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office operating systems, software applications particularly use of spreadsheets, databases and computerised calendars.
• Knowledge of dispensing and distribution practice.
• Knowledge of legal requirements and guidance relating to the dispensing, supply, handling and storage of medicines.
• In-depth knowledge of MHRA Wholesale Dealer’s License requirements relating to Procurement and ordering of medicines including Homecare.
• In-depth knowledge of WellSky computer system Homecare medicines management.
• Knowledge of Homecare frameworks and ability to monitor and ensure compliance.
• Knowledge of supplier performance management and monitoring.
• Knowledge and understanding of procurement and Homecare KPIs.

Skills

• Ability to use own initiative and work effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment.
• Effective Patient Counselling skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing environments, needs and demands.
• Ability to work closely and form good working relationships with a wide range of people.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of competency in all areas covered in the job description i.e. management, dispensary, service delivery and education and training.
• Report writing skills.
• Ability to demonstrate innovation and work across professional boundaries.

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights.

We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice.
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment.
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

Please note:

• All applications for this post will need to be made online.
• Read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role.
• Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria.
• The closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible.
• Once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs.
• Should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not been successful.
• Priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees.
• Should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process.
• We are a smoke-free Trust.
• SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.