Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
Working as part of a team to complete core activities in the dispensary and distribution services to ensure a safe and effective daily supply of medicines to wards and patients.
Participate in day-to-day pharmacy duties under the direction of the Dispensary and Distribution Managers, in accordance with existing policies and procedures.
Main responsibilities, tasks, and abilities required
In the dispensary, you will be responsible for distributing in-patient supplies and discharge medication to the Yeovil District Hospital Wards, all commercial contracts, and St Margaret’s Hospice in Taunton. You will be expected to manage out-of-stock drugs in a timely manner and prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. You will be needed to complete the Dispensing Accuracy Assessment following appropriate training. Attention to detail and accuracy are necessary qualities. Teamwork is essential, and you will work with experienced technicians to learn how to keep the dispensary’s workflow running smoothly. To verify that stock is fit for usage, you will conduct routine stock checks and expiry date checks at the dispensary. Good communication skills are required because you will be answering the dispensary phone and dealing with any questions that may arise.
In distribution, you will receive pharmaceutical goods and ensure that their storage criteria are satisfied when putting them away. You will verify expiration dates and stock levels, as well as ensuring that proper stock rotation policies are followed. You will be required to engage in the ward top-up service, which ensures that the wards have appropriate supplies. You will need to assemble sterile fluid orders for delivery to wards. This is a manual work that requires the ability to lift big objects in compliance with the manual handling policy/training.
About us.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of perks to its employees, including flexible working arrangements, an NHS pension system, a significant annual leave allowance, and a dedication to career development.
You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a variety of NHS-exclusive shopping and leisure discounts.
We are proud of our professional and diverse workforce, and as an inclusive company, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Working in Somerset allows you to experience the lovely countryside, places of outstanding beauty, and stunning beaches while being close to vibrant city centres such as Bristol, Bath, and Exeter, as well as London, which is only two hours away.
The location has outstanding educational facilities, and property costs are low compared to neighbouring regions.
Somerset has something for everyone, from the rural to the cosmopolitan!
Job Description
Ward Services
The tasks listed above may be carried out in the pharmaceutical department or the ward setting.
Communication and Key Working Relationships
To collaborate closely with Pharmacy Technicians, Pre-registration pharmacy technicians, Pharmacists, Trainee Pharmacists, procurement staff, nursing staff, discharge facilitation team, etc., to ensure that departmental processes run smoothly.
Respect all levels of personnel and work in a professional manner.
To foster excellent working connections with dispensary colleagues.
Planning and Organisation
To organise specific parts of the dispensary to provide a regular supply of medicines to patients. For example, organising “to follow” medication, arranging and organising clinic prescriptions for dispensing and collection.
Analytics
None
Responsible for patient/client care, treatment, and therapy.
To respond to patient enquiries over the phone or in person and assist in facilitating favourable outcomes even when patients are distressed.
To administer medication to patients in a safe and effective manner, in accordance with departmental SOPs.
Policy, service, and R&D responsibility
Reading of Standard Operating Procedures only
Responsible for finance, equipment, and other resources.
There is no financial duty other than ensuring that medicines and resources are not wasted unnecessarily.
Responsible for cleaning pharmacy desk stations and medicine shelves.
Responsibility for assisting in the replenishment and organisation of dispensary consumables.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership, and Management
No line management or leadership is required.
After a proper training period, pharmacy support workers and new employees will need to be supervised.
Information Resources and Administrative Duties
See the tasks and responsibilities section for further details.
Any other specific tasks are required.
To participate in staff training programs.
To do any other duties that are appropriate to the function.
Participate in the Saturday, Sunday, and bank holiday rotations.
Participate in the late-night rota.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Good general education.
– must have good scores in mathematics, science, and English (A*-C or 4 or higher).
Desirable
NVQ2 or BTEC 2 modules in dispensing services or similar.
Experience
Essential
Experience working with the public in a customer service job.
Experience working with a variety of software.
Experience working as a team
Additional Criteria:
Essential
Skills and Abilities
able to demonstrate initiative.
Computer literacy includes the ability to utilise Microsoft Word, email, and the internet.
Ability to work in a team
Flexibility about changes in work schedules
Professional appearance.
Honest, trustworthy, and capable of keeping absolute confidentiality at all times.
Self-motivated with zeal for work.
Communication skills
Capable of demonstrating a decent level of English language
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
PLANNING AND ORGANISING SKILLS
Methodical having strong organisational abilities in the job. Capable of prioritising workload and meeting deadlines.
Ability to improve processes and implement change
Physical skills
Capable of working standing for extended periods of time, though a chair is supplied for calmer moments.
OTHER
Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support for patients
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This position is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, which requires a Disclosure application to be submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service (previously known as CRB) to check for any past criminal conviction.
Certificate of Sponsorship
applicants from job seekers who require existing skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are encouraged and will be reviewed alongside all other applicants. For further information, visit the UK Visas and Immigration page.
From April 6, 2017, skilled worker applicants requesting for entrance clearance into the UK were required to show a criminal record certificate from each country where they had lived continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the previous ten years. This requirement also applies to adult dependents (those over the age of 18). Guidance can be found here. Criminal background checks for international candidates.
UK Professional Registration
Applicants must hold current UK professional registration. For further information, please visit the NHS Careers page.