Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Patient Services (SATO), Band 3

Job overview

Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Patient Services (SATO), Band 3

- The Senior Pharmacy Assistant performs a wide range of duties within the Pharmacy Department, that help the Pharmacists & Technicians to provide a comprehensive dispensing and distribution service.

- Main duties are based in the Dispensary. It will include dispensing and final accuracy checking a variety of prescription types and electronic systems. Dependent on service need, it may include visits to wards to top-up stock, transfer medicines from pharmacy into patient bedside lockers, transfer medicines from a patient's previous ward to their current ward, filling orders for wards and departments, reception duties covering hospital staff and patients, computer ordering, and general house-keeping duties.

Job description

- Dispensing for In-patients, out-patients and patients that are going home, according to standard operating procedures.

- Handing out completed outpatient prescriptions to patients or their representatives, according to standard operating procedures

- Coordinating the supply of items that are owed to patients and ensuring they are dispensed & onward transport is arranged in a timely fashion. Checking order levels are adequate for supply and resolving any supply issues.

- Dispensing controlled drugs according to standard operating procedures.

-Completing a final accuracy check of dispensed items in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.

- Expiry date check the medicines on the shelves regularly.

- Ensure that any out-of-date items are removed in-line with Standard Operating Procedures

- Assist at Staff and patient reception areas:

- Front Reception: Meet & greet the general public, receiving prescriptions and payment from the general public. There is a need to operate whatever equipment is provided to process transactions be it card machine or till.

- Direct any other business callers as required.

- To co-ordinate others to do this task if necessary.

- To answer the telephone and deal with routine enquiries regarding work in progress and communicating with the relevant member of staff for additional advice as required. Transfer calls to appropriately qualified staff if necessary

- Role may involve stock top-up to inpatient areas following thorough training

Job responsibilities

Dispensary

Under the supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician or nominated deputy

- Dispensing for In-patients, out-patients and patients that are going home, according to standard operating procedures.

- Handing out completed outpatient prescriptions to patients or their representatives, according to standard operating procedures

- Co-ordinating the supply of items that are owed to patients and ensuring they are dispensed & onward transport is arranged in a timely fashion. Checking order levels are adequate for supply and resolving any supply issues.

- Dispensing controlled drugs according to standard operating procedures.

- Keep stock on the dispensary shelves, top up & tidy as required with backup stock from the stores.

- Expiry date check the medicines on the shelves regularly.

- Assist at Staff and patient reception areas:

- Front Reception: Meet & greet the general public, receiving prescriptions and payment from the general public. There is a need to operate whatever equipment is provided to process transactions be it card machine or till.

- Direct any other business callers as required.

- To co-ordinate others to do this task if necessary.

- To answer the telephone and deal with routine enquiries regarding work in progress and communicating with the relevant member of staff for additional advice as required. Transfer calls to appropriately qualified staff if necessary.

Working alongside the Stores & Distribution team and dependent on service need:

- May be required to provide a top up service to wards, keeping the assigned wards fully stocked with medicines, ensuring they are rotated and expiry dates are checked, as stated in the top up standards.

- To ensure that the wards stock medicine supply needs are met and that the stock is used cost-effectively with minimum waste, liaising with Ward Sisters and Ward Pharmacists as required. This will include sorting returned medicines for re-use, counting them and returning to stock via the computer system.

- Process & assemble orders for wards & departments. Involves data entry and correct selection of goods, paying heed to Pharmacy stock control systems and ordering.

- Assist in sorting returned & waste medicines.

- Assist in keeping records of workload e.g. filing, photocopying.

- To ensure the patient services section always has a readily available supply of sundry items e.g. bottles, bags to use, by topping up daily and checking status of orders as required.

General

- Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.

- Be responsible for managing self to organise own daily duties. Be willing to re-arrange duties and prioritise according to service need if required to cover for absence. Senior Pharmacy Assistants will sometimes co-ordinate cover for duties & oversee/train less experienced staff.

- Shares advice & knowledge to train new assistants on the standard operating procedures within the working area.

- Participate in internal audits and surveys of service delivery as required. Ensure the standard operating procedures within the working area.

- Participate in internal audits and surveys of service delivery as required. Ensure the standard operating procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety procedures followed. There is a responsibility for stock control and security of medicines within daily duties.

- Provide Late night, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday cover as per rota.

- Comply with the code of expectations & values that the trust expects

About the organisation

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.

As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good level of literacy and numeracy.
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical services or equivalent or evidence of willingness to work towards qualification.

Desirable

• Proven picking/dispensing accuracy
• Final Accuracy Checking Qualification or willingness to work towards

Experience

Essential

• Previous pharmacy experience

Desirable

• Previous pharmacy experience working in a hospital
• Previous responsibility for carrying out ward stock top-up

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of written Standard Operating Procedures
• Ability to use computer, basic skills to operate electronic Pharmacy Systems

Desirable

• Recent experience of implementing change or quality improvement

Qualities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Professional appearance
• Able to perform manual handling tasks

Desirable

• Capacity to work calmly under pressure
• Ability to work in a team or independently as necessary
• Motivated and reliable

Supporting documents

• Job Description & Person Specification.pdf (PDF, 472 KB)