Pharmaceutical Technician – Basic Grade Rotational

Beacon Hospital

Located in South Dublin, Beacon Hospital is one of the most advanced private hospitals in Europe, with over 1700 Consultants, nurses and healthcare professionals. Beacon Hospital provides 24 hour, world-class acute care services including orthopaedics, physiotherapy, cardiology, women’s health, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, plastic & reconstructive surgery, ENT, neurology, general surgery, comprehensive cancer care and emergency medicine.

Overall Purpose of Job

To undertake a broad range of pharmaceutical activities and by participation in the structured rotational programme, demonstrate competence to provide a service making full use of Technician extended roles to provide excellent pharmaceutical care to the patients of Beacon Hospital

To support the Senior Technician by supervising the daily running of the inpatient Pharmacy

Responsibilities and Deliverables

• The purchase, storage and supply of all medicines and related items consistent with quality and value for money.
• The provision of dispensary-based services, including the provision of extemporaneous dispensing, Pyxis maintenance, stock management, charging and returns processing.
• The timely collation and input of data concerning drug usage in the hospital, in line with departmental policy.
• The performance of all duties and responsibilities in line with all Pharmacy Department procedures and protocols, as well as hospital wide procedures.
• Participate in continuing education consistent with the post.
• 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.
• Performance of such other duties appropriate to the post, including on call and the participation in extended opening rosters including weekend opening and other such services that may from time to time be introduced by the Director of Pharmacy Services

Dispensary

• Process orders delivered to the Pharmacy Department in accordance with procedures and documentation requirements and having regard to special requirements such as maintenance of cold chain and handling of cytotoxic products.
• Operate Pyxis dispensing system as per department policy.This includes loading, refilling, outdating and general maintenance as required.
• The purchase, storage and supply of all medications consistent with quality and value for money and in line with agreed levels and frequencies. Ensure accurate charging of medications.
• Pre-packaging of bulk products and the assembly of CPR grab-boxes and other kits.
• Compounding of extemporaneous products in accordance with policy, where required
• Dispensing of individual prescriptions/requisitions for patients and staff, including clinical trial as per local training and policy
• Top-up feeding products as per policy.
• Check and document expiry dates of all incoming stock and bring short-dated stock to the attention of the Senior Technician in a timely manner. Report shortages to the Senior Technician in a timely manner.
• Provide accuracy check on dispensed/picked items, provided validated as competent and on the Pharmacy log, in line with policy.
• Ensure that Pharmacy shelves are neat, tidy and fully stacked and that stock is rotated.
• Carry out stock checks as required.
• Pick and charge Pharmacy top-up lists refills.
• Processing of returns from wards and destroy of pharmaceuticals as required, in line with hospital policy.
• Record and respond to telephone calls and messages.

Aseptic Services

• To provide technical cover for Aseptic Services on a rotational basis, once deemed competent via departmental training process.
• Aseptic preparation of all parenteral chemotherapy drugs prepared in the unit, including clinical trial materials, in pharmaceutical isolators
• Monitoring, and recording regular checks, on allocated isolator(s) prior to commencing work in that isolator.
• Following training, performing routine tests and validations on critical equipment
• Undertaking operator and process validations, as determined by the Quality Assurance programme in the unit.
• Producing worksheet and label documentation for chemotherapy prescriptions using pharmacy and prescribing electronic systems.
• Helping to ensure completed treatments are delivered, or collected, by appropriate ward and medical staff.
• Assisting in the maintenance of adequate levels of drugs and equipment, by ensuring proper stock rotation and informing senior technicians when stock levels are unusually low and performing stock check process on a daily basis.
• Maintaining records and documentation of activities, by completing worksheets, isolator and equipment records and any other documentation appropriately.
• Assisting with the maintenance of documentation systems in the Unit, including filing and archiving documentation.
• Assisting in compiling workload statistics and other management information as required.
• Operating the Unit equipment in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Attendance at such courses and meetings as required in the interests of the service and your professional development.

Training and Development

• Participates in in-service training and continuing education programmes within the department and Hospital.
• Assists in the training of pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacy students, undergraduate pharmacy students, student pharmacy technicians and pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Participates in the training of hospital staff in pharmacy-related topics as necessary

Information Technology

• Competent in the use of the hospital-wide Pyxis automated drug cabinets.
• Provides support to clinical staff on the use of automation in relation to Pyxis systems

Quality

• Participate in the JCI Accreditation and adherence to standards and hospital-wide quality management programmes.
• Ensure that the medication use process is measured, analysed and optimised by undertaking relevant pharmacy audits.
• Participate in dispensary-based policy formation and the development of pharmaceutical services.
• Reports all medication incidents in a timely fashion, via the approved reporting system and participates in any remedial actions that are designated the responsibility of the pharmacy department.

Flexibility

The above indicates the main duties of the post, which may be reviewed in the light of experience and developments within the service.

This post requires a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Possess a Pharmaceutical Technician diploma

Experience

• Working or technical knowledge of new technologies including automation
• Compounding experience

Skills & Abilities

• Participate in the pharmaceutical service as part of a punctual, dedicated and professional team.
• Create, promote and maintain open communications and healthy working relationships.
• Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others
• Contribute to the improvement of services
• Experience in training.

Personal Competencies

• Is self-motivated and committed towards quality service provision.
• Has an inherent person-centred philosophy which is respectful and assertive towards clients, staff and other contacts.
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Is honest and trustworthy.
• Is accurate.
• Is computer literate
• Can motivate others.

Under the Hospital’s Health & Safety risk assessment, Beacon Hospital requires that all Employees, Consultants and Contractors that can receive a Covid 19 vaccination must do so in order to exercise their roles in a safe manner, and minimise the risk of endangering their own health, the health of patients, or the health of those that they work with.

“Beacon Hospital is an equal opportunity employer;we ensure that our practices support a diverse and inclusive environment for all present and future employees"