Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Job overview

Senior Pharmacy Assistant

Department: Pharmacy

Band 2 - 3 Progression £23,615 Per annum, pro rata if part time time

Hours: Full time, 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

The intention of the role is to progress Pharmacy Assistants into a Band 3 role once performance targets have been achieved.

You will be given support and training to complete set competencies in order to become a Band 3. The expected timeframe to undertake and complete relevant competencies is between 12 to 18 months. Tasks which must be completed to progress include:

Level 2 Pharmacy qualification completed via external training programme Completion of in-house validations including handwashing, transfer sanitisation and broth test.

Completion of all in-house training knowledge training modules

Completion of all dispensing activity logs

If successful, you be joining a supportive team that encourages both professional and personal development. Are you the person to help us make this happen? If so, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.

Interview date: 07 November 2024

Main duties of the job

We are a department of over 100 staff providing pharmacy services through team-working and prioritising the needs of those we serve. Based in the Aseptic Unit you will provide an excellent service to the trust ensuring prompt and efficient production and supply of medicines.

Duties will include:

Prepare a range of aseptic products when required.

Carry out environmental monitoring and cleaning of the aseptic unit.

Accurately dispense or check outsourced IV treatment, oral and concurrent medications.

Dispensing for Inpatients, Outpatients and Discharge.

Participating in the Pharmacy Weekend and Bank Holiday rotas.

Working for our organisation

NHS Staff Survey: 68% of this staff group look forward to going to work.

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking

• Free tea and coffee

• Great flexible working opportunities

• Discounted gym membership

• Lease car scheme

• Generous annual leave and pension scheme

• On site nursery (chargeable)

• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Trust Responsibilities

To be part of the pharmacy team and work with staff within the pharmacy department and across the Trust to enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved

Professional Responsibilities

To ensure the Pharmacy department is compliant with relevant statutory and professional standards on Health & Safety, COSHH, Clinical Governance, and Medicines Management by ensuring your actions take account of all guidance provided.

Please refer to attached Job description for further information.

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential criteria

• Education Supervisor / Train the trainer or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• NVQ level 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences (or BTEC, City and Guilds equivalent).
• GCP Training (or willing to undertake).

Experience Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a Pharmacy aseptic environment.
• Education and training of staff.
• Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department.
• Experience of using the JAC Computer system.
• Experience in stock control management

Skills Essential criteria

• IT Skills for dispensing, monitoring performance and reporting/audit
• Dedication to high quality patient care
• Flexible to meet service and patient need
• Meeting deadlines

Desirable criteria

• Good training skills
• Team builder skills
• Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
• Evidence of effective support for less experienced staff
• Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments

Personal and people development Essential criteria

• Positive Commitment to CPD
• Polite and courteous
• Professional attitude
• Initiative
• Self motivated and team player

Communication Essential criteria

• Good Communication skills, written and verbal
• Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, hospital/ward staff and primary care or community health services and other organisations about medicines management or other technical information