Pharmacy Technician

Overall Purpose of Job
The provision of exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do.

The post holder will participate and support the development, delivery of a high quality Dispensary service, under the management of the Dispensary Services Manager and Head of Pharmacy.

• The post holder will rotate between the Dispensary, Aseptic and Clinical Ward services.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Maintain throughout the Hospital an awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities.
• Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the Values of the Hospital.
• Participate in the pharmaceutical service as part of a punctual, dedicated and professional team
• Create, promote and maintain open communications and healthy working relationships
• Work with a team of skilled staff
• Maintain the principles of equity, accountability and quality in daily work
• Participate in departmental mentor/mentee and tutor/tutee programmes
• The successful candidate will be subject to direction and supervision of the Dispensary Services Manager, participate in the provision of a comprehensive pharmaceutical service including:-

1. Process orders delivered to the Pharmacy in accordance with procedures and documentation requirements and having regard to special requirements such as maintenance of cold chain and handling of cytotoxic products
2. Report shortages to the Senior Technician (Purchasing) in a timely manner
3. Check and document expiry dates of all incoming stock and bring short-dated stock to the attention of the Senior Technician (Purchasing) in a timely manner
4. Identify stock required for “to-follow” orders and follow departmental policies to ensure that these orders are completed
5. Ensure that pharmacy shelves are neat, tidy and fully stacked and that stock is rotated
6. Carry out stock checks, including expiry date checks as required
7. Carry out drug pre-packaging as required by the Dispensary Service Manager

8. Assist in the picking and charging of pharmacy top-up lists
9. Assist with destruction of pharmaceuticals as required
10. Record and respond to telephone calls and messages
11. Participate in the training of new Pharmacy staff and the on-going training of self and other staff
12. Participate in the provision of ward-based top up and stock rotation in line with agreed levels and frequencies in hospital based wards and off site facilities such as St Joseph’s Hospital
13. Ensure that all documentation necessary for the safe and effective operation of pharmacy services is produced in a timely and efficient manner
14. Participate in the supervised dispensing of individual prescriptions for patients and staff under the direction of the appropriate Pharmacy Service Manager.
15. Participate in the supervised compounding of extemporaneous products.
16. Assist with processing of returns from wards by participating in the sorting, relabelling and revalidation of packages of returned drugs for recycling or destruction
17. Pre-package bulk products and the assembly of stock and non-stock ward and department orders
18. Ensure the timely collation and input of all data concerning drug usage in the hospital in line with departmental policy.
19. The performance of all duties and responsibilities in line with all Pharmacy Department procedures and protocols as well as hospital wide procedures
20. Participate as appropriate in the supervised Pharmacy Department validation programmes for Top Up, Top Up Assembly, Issuing of Requisitions, Receipt of Goods, pre-packaging, extemporaneous compounding and Aseptic compounding of cytotoxic and monoclonal agents and any other function that may in the future be included in the overall project.
21. Ensure that all departmental and hospital wide Health and Safety protocols and procedures are adhered to and all areas of non-compliance are promptly addressed.
22. Performance of such other duties appropriate to the post, including the participation in extended opening rosters including weekend opening as may from time to time be assigned by the Head of Pharmacy Services.
23. To liaise and co-operate with other Pharmacy department staff
24. To liaise and co-operate with other hospital departments, wards and staff with particular reference to medical and nursing staff on hospital wards and off site facilities
25. To facilitate changes within the service in work, procedures, techniques or technologies
26. To ensure that the needs of patients and professional staff are being adequately met
27. To ensure that departmental and organisational policies are adhered to
28. To facilitate the maintenance and updating of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in line with changing practices locally, nationally and internationally.
29. To ensure that the relevant documentation or electronic files are generated, reviewed and stored in the appropriate manner with regard to technician services in accordance with current standards under the direction of the Dispensary Service Manager.
30. To facilitate the timely collation and input of all data from their service concerning training, education & audit in line with departmental and hospital policies.
31. Performance of such other duties appropriate to the post, including on call and the participation in extended opening rosters including weekend opening as may from time to time be assigned by the Head of Pharmacy Services.

Administrative

• Assist in the essential record keeping and filing of prescriptions and pharmacy orders etc in the pharmacy.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Be mindful of cost effectiveness where relevant.
• Engage in IT developments as they apply to patients and service administration
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the role as may be assigned by the Supervising Pharmacist, or Superintendent Pharmacist.
  

Finance/Resource Management

• To comply with department SOPs in particular those relating to efficient stock control in the issue, return and reuse or safe disposal (as appropriate) of drugs from wards, departments & clinics

Staff Training

• To provide training and advice on Pharmacy Department services to ward, nursing and medical staff as directed by the Dispensary Services Manager.
• To participate in the induction of new Pharmacy staff as required.
• To participate in the training, development of training and supervision of new staff members.
• Engage in personal development planning and performance review for self and others as required
• To comply with all Hospital and Departmental policies & procedures, mandatory training, work safely and efficiently.

Health and Safety

• Work within Health & Safety Hospital Policies on all matters related to Health & Safety within the Hospital. Be aware of the Health and Safety at Work Act and comply with the regulations set down to ensure safety to patients, visitors and colleagues.
• Record all accidents and untoward occurrences according to Hospital policy.
• Attend fire lectures and fire drills in accordance with the law and to be fully aware of the position of fire alarms, emergency equipment and exits.
• Ensure compliance to standards in respect of all legislative requirements, including Manual Handling, Security, Infection Control and Standard Precautions.
• Adopt the correct administrative procedures when dealing with complaints from patients/relatives following set policies and procedures.
• Infection prevention and control is an essential aspect of patient care. All post holders must attend mandatory training in infection prevention and control and be compliant with all measures required by the Hospital.
• Post holders must be familiar with the Hospital’s Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as the Hand Hygiene Policy, the Uniform Policy (where one exists) and Personal Protective Clothing Policy. Post holders who have clinical responsibilities must incorporate into their clinical activities up-to-date evidence that supports safe infection control practices and procedures, for example the use of aseptic techniques and the safe disposal of sharps
• In the course of normal work the post holder will come into possession of confidential information concerning patients and staff. This information should be treated confidentially and in accordance with the Data Protection Act and European Union regulations.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that he/she maintains the integrity and quality of both computerised and manual data
• Performance of such other duties appropriate to the post that may from time to time be introduced by the Head of Pharmacy Services.

To perform such other duties appropriate to the office as may from time to time be assigned by the Chief Executive or designated Officer.
This job description is not exhaustive and is intended as a basic guide to the scope of duties. It is subject to regular review and amendment as necessary.

The job description is an outline of the post as it is currently perceived by the hospital and will be subject to review and amendment. This job description will therefore be subject to change in light of the various strategies for the hospital and the development of the Clinical Directorate model and any future developments that arise and will evolve and change over time.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 22 of the Health Act 2004, I hereby approve the qualifications, as set out hereunder, for the appointment and continuing as Pharmaceutical Technician in the HSE.

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) Possess the Pharmaceutical Technicians Diploma awarded by the University of Dublin.
Or

(ii) Possess a Pharmacy Technicians qualification at QQI Level 6 awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology, Athlone Institute of Technology,
Letterkenny Institute of Technology or Carlow Institute of Technology.

Or
(iii) Possess the Pharmacy Services Certificate (NVQ 3) offered by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union.
Or
(iv) Are currently employed as a Pharmacy Technician in the publicly funded health service.
Or
(v) Possess a relevant qualification at least equivalent to (ii) or (iii) above.
And

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, (including a high standard of suitability, professional knowledge and ability), for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

2. Age
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where s/he is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.

3. Health
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Informal Enquiries ONLY to: (Please note NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted via the Informal Email)