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RESPONSIBILITIES

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS

·           The scope of communication is diverse and can be at all levels within the Trust and with limited external organisations. The post holder will provide or receive complex, sensitive information, requiring tact or persuasive skills. 

·           Regular communication is required with the following individuals and groups:

o   Members of the pharmacy and senior management team

o   Lead clinical pharmacists e.g., to discuss national or local actions regarding patient safety issues

o   Ward/Departmental managers

o   Harm free care group

o   To be an identified interface between pharmacy and the risk management team regarding the Trust’s incident reporting software.

o   Medical and nursing staff involved with medication incidents, safer medication practice

o   Senior clinical staff and managers at Trust-wide meetings/events

o   Patients and carers

o   Other staff

o   Pharmacists and technicians in other organisations, regarding patient safety issues

2. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

·        To develop self and contribute to the development of others.

·        To develop knowledge and practice in medication safety.

·        To identify and agree objectives for own professional development which reflect local and national service needs.

·        To maintain and develop own knowledge skills in clinical governance, quality improvement, human factors and risk management.

·        To use effective prioritisation, problem solving and delegation skills to manage time effectively.

As a practising Pharmacy technician:

Excellent written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills are required to:

·        Communicate medicines related information and advice to patients, carers, consultants, other medical staff, and other healthcare professionals. Types of medicines related information include:

o   Direction for use of pharmaceutical products, side effects, adverse drug reactions, pregnancy, breast feeding, obtaining further supplies and any other related issues.

o   This could be in sensitive situations including cancer treatment, terminal illness and the effects of drug administration or prescribing errors or other drug misadventures.

o   Discussions are usually on a one-to-one basis with patient, doctor or other healthcare professional.

·        Counsel patients and carers about their medicines and treatment. 

·        Negotiate with or influence colleagues on the ward and within pharmacy to achieve desired outcomes.

·        Be an identified interface between pharmacy and service users (at ward and departmental level) to aid communication and efficiency.

·        Interpret prescriptions for drug problems such as drug dosage, form and administration. Considerations will include legality, clarity, risks associated with prescribed medicines and prescriptions, and make interventions.

·        Contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of systems to ensure effective medicines management associated with patient safety, with awareness of the strategic influences affecting the provision of pharmaceutical services.

·        Lead clinical governance and risk management issues in area of responsibility under the guidance of the Governance and Medication Safety Pharmacist. This will also include the promotion of issues as a pro­active member of the various groups and committees.

ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENT SKILLS

·        To analyse and interpret prescriptions/worksheets etc. to ensure legality, validity, accuracy and resolve those issues within professional boundaries.

·        To accurately and consistently utilise Trust IT to analyse and provide data for reports on medication safety.

·        To reduce the risk of medication error by ensuring any relevant policies or procedures are followed and safe systems are in place for the dispensing, supply and storage of medicines.

·        To be responsible for ensuring that errors in any stage of the medicine use process are investigated and any remedial action is implemented as necessary.

·        To have extensive technical knowledge and skills to carry out or instruct others in the dispensing of prescriptions, including unlicensed drugs, controlled drugs, in-patient and outpatient prescriptions in accordance with the agreed procedures.      

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

·        To facilitate and co-ordinate medication and patient safety activities with other individuals, specialist groups and healthcare professionals.

·        To be responsible for ensuring that issues relating to patient safety are reported and investigated appropriately and that suitable responses are provided and remedial action is implemented.

·        To ensure the clinical governance agenda affecting all aspects of medicines management for patient safety, as defined by the Associate Director of Pharmacy MRC and Governance, is implemented, and promoted throughout the Trust.         

PATIENT CARE

Management duties:

·        To improve the quality of patient care and patient experience by managing the delivery of a programme of clinical audit relating to medicines management across the Trust.

·        To undertake risk management and clinical governance activities and contribute towards the delivery of the appropriate quality standards and targets outlined in the Trust’s Quality agenda.      

·        To undertake a ward based clinical role to ensure efficient and effective delivery of medicines management and optimum patient care in accordance with departmental procedures.

·        To undertake a department based technical role as an accredited checking pharmacy technician.·       

POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

·        To implement policies within own area of responsibility and propose policy or service changes that positively impacts medication safety or service provision .

·        To recommend actions which deliver Trust wide compliance with national and local policy relating to medicines management and patient safety. To drive complex change throughout the area of responsibility. 

·        To deliver a reduction in risk (clinical and financial) by proposing and, where appropriate, supporting the implementation of changes to medicines optimisation processes throughout the Trust.

·       To support the development of policies and procedures relating to medicines optimisation, with reference to patient safety, both internal and external to pharmacy.

·        To identify, develop and implement research and audit activity.

FREEDOM TO ACT

·        To be responsible to the Governance and Medication Safety Pharmacist who sets the parameters and objectives for the post. 

·        To work with a wide range of pharmacy and other healthcare staff to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the pharmacy service and medicines optimisation strategy.

·        To manage the medication safety audit programme.

·        To manage data collection for the purpose of demonstrating performance against key indicators for the medication safety agenda utilising Trust IT systems.

·        To analyse, interpret and present data (e.g. Trust incident reports, medication safety indicators) either verbally, via written reports or formal presentations.

·        To work with other senior managers within pharmacy to identify areas for continued development and improvement and, where appropriate, to be responsible for implementation and delivery of change.

As a practicing pharmacy technician:

·        To be responsible and accountable for own actions, working independently within the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Standards and Guidance for Pharmacy Professionals, all procedures, policies and other guidance provided by the Trust; to manage own day to day workload independently and be aware of own limitations within this process.

·        To support the work of other senior technical staff, undertaking relevant duties as required e.g. providing cover. Whilst deputising, the post holder will have the authority and autonomy to ensure day to day organisational effectiveness of the area being covered.

·        To represent the pharmacy service on relevant committees both within and external to the Trust.

·        To take reasonable care for own health and safety, and that of others who may be affected by own activities; to cooperate with the Trust by complying with all health and safety rules and safe systems of work; and to inform line manager of any work situation, or practice which may be considered a danger to health and safety.

·        To observe regulations in respect of the health and safety at work act, COSHH and data protection act.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

·        To plan, deliver and review interventions to enable people to learn and develop.

·        To lead on specific aspects of research and development projects.

·        Influence the development of knowledge, ideas, and work practices.

·        To plan and deliver research / evidence-based care and treatment in partnership with other healthcare professionals.

·        To support colleagues in the development of knowledge and skills through acting as an assessor, teacher and facilitator of educational courses.

·        To identify and plan resources required for own learning and development.

·        To reflect on own practice through clinical supervision / mentorship and to develop skills as a clinical supervisor / mentor to others.

·        To develop and maintain a peer network of support, information and learning with other healthcare specialists at a local and national level.

OTHER

·        Any other duties as may reasonably be allocated by the Governance and Medication Safety Pharmacist or Chief Technician.

·        Maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio and maintain personal knowledge and skills in line with developments in Pharmacy practice.