Pharmacy Assistant - HMP High Down inLondon inLondon PUBLISHED TUE 17 DEC 2024

Job Overview

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.

In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Pharmacy Assistant to join our forward thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP High Down. This post has to potential for opportunities of career progression within the Health & Justice Pharmacy Services.

By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will not only look after the healthcare needs of our patients residing in secure environments, but who also have the opportunity to have a real impact on promoting health and well-being. Our healthcare services work to a 7 day week working model, to ensure our patient's healthcare is managed and maintained to the highest of standards at all times.

Our motto is “Caring NOT Judging” so by working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable and high-quality primary care and mental health services to those who may have offended and those at risk of offending in the communities we serve, to improve their health status and to encourage social inclusion.

Main duties of the job

• To work under supervision with one of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician carrying out the required duties.
• To assist the Dispensary Manager to ensure all tasks in the pharmacy dispensary are completed as per objectives.
• To provide work within the wider healthcare team to provide comprehensive, optimised pharmaceutical services, taking into consideration the high level of security which must be maintained at all times.
• The role will involve collecting and transporting pharmaceutical delivery from prison gate to pharmacy.
  
  

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through:

• Monthly supervision
• Annual personal development plans/appraisals
• Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities.
  
  

Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to:

• Preceptorship Programme
• Support and guidance with Revalidation
• Hidden Gem and annual award ceremonies
  
  

Excellent staff benefits, our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include:

• Health and wellbeing services
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Relocation package
  
  

The trust also values its staff and you are entitled to become a member of MyTrustBenefits. MyTrustBenefits is an online portal for all CNWL staff, as well as their family and friends. It offers over 1400 discounts at hundreds of retailers nationwide. Save money on your weekly food shops, toiletries, cosmetics, cinema, meals out, holidays, travel and entertainment. You can also access free online courses on a variety of topics, professional and personal, ranging from business management, languages, law and teaching.

All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.

As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Overview of Main Responsibilities:

• Support the Medicines Management Team with the delivery of a legal, safe, high quality pharmaceutical service
• To collect and transport medication from prison gate to pharmacy, making multiple journeys in a day.
• Collect pharmacy related items from prison gate.
• Support the development of medicines optimisation standard operating procedures and pharmacy service protocols.
• Timely completion of operational duties such as stock control, date checking of medicines and temperature recording.
• To be fully conversant with all local pharmacy protocols
• To assist with daily administration of controlled drugs (as second signatory), if required and the update of Controlled Drug registers (paper or electronic as required) and to instruct clinical staff in correct procedures for record keeping, security and storage of CD’s.
• To organise and provide a supply of stock and non-stock pharmaceuticals and develop / manage medicines management systems to ensure the efficient, safe and secure handling of medicines.
• To assist to regular review stock usage with nursing staff.
• To be fully conversant with the SystmOne (clinical system) in the maintenance of patient electronic health records.
• To identify potential problems regarding the lack of availability of medicines for individual prescriptions or stock, seeking advice on suitable alternatives or an agreed delivery timetable.
• To ensure medication requests are ordered before cut off times to ensure timely delivery to the house units
• To ensure that all medicines are ordered and supplied in accordance with the relevant legislation, local standard operating procedures, and Trust Medicines Policy.
• Participate in medicines management team meetings and primary care team meetings, as required.
• Maintain high levels of safety and security and be constantly vigilant.
• Ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported within the prison in a manner which maintains the integrity and security of the medicines whilst adhering to necessary safety precautions
  
  

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above in Maths, English and Science
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Pharmacy Service Skills NVQ level 2 (QCF) / Achievement of relevant units OR achievement of an equivalent training programme accredited by the GPhC
  
  

Previous Experience

Essential criteria