AGENDA FOR CHANGE
NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title:
Pharmacy Technician – Vaccine Services.
Reports to:
Senior Pharmacy Technician, Distribution Manager
Department(s):
Pharmacy Department, Raigmore Hospital.
Directorate:
Pharmacy Services
Operating Division:
Integrated Pharmacy
Job Reference:
DHNHSHINTGPHAR27
Band:
No of Job Holders
Last Update :
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14.04.2014
2. JOB PURPOSE
The post holder will:
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To ensure that vaccines are safely and efficiently and effectively distributed across northern NHS
Highland
To ensure that holding centres in northern NHS Highland manage vaccine stock safely, efficiently
and effectively.
To ensure that necessary policies and procedures around vaccine management are maintained
and that all staff working with vaccines adhere to these policies and procedures.
Provide training to pharmacy technicians and assistants and GP practice staff across northern
NHS Highland in good vaccine management
Support board vaccine campaigns
To minimize vaccine waste.
3. DIMENSIONS
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Value of vaccines distributed annually £400,000
Vaccine holding locations in northern NHS Highland
Vaccine distribution locations in northern NHS Highland including 67 GP Practices and 215
School locations
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4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
Head of Specialist
Pharmaceutical Services
Pharmacy Technician Team
Leader (planned)
Senior Pharmacy
Technician, Distribution
Manager
Pharmacy Technician –
Vaccine Services
THIS POST
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5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The function of the Pharmacy Service is to develop and provide patient-focused pharmaceutical care,
which meets the present and anticipated needs of Raigmore Hospital in accordance with local health
plans, national strategies and national standards. The intention of the service is to link all branches of
the profession in order to better co-ordinate pharmaceutical care for patients and members of the public.
The focus is on active participation in, and contribution to specialist pharmaceutical services, irrespective
of location, and to multi-disciplinary, multi-professional and multi-agency teams.
The main
responsibilities are:
1. The development and operational delivery of pharmaceutical care across Raigmore Hospital.
2. The provision of expert advice on the safe, cost effective, and evidence-based use of medicines
and on other pharmaceutical matters.
3. The implementation of robust clinical, corporate and staff governance systems within Pharmacy
Services in order to minimise risk and assure patient and staff safety and well=being.
4. To develop and build upon uni-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary integration of services and joint
working to assure continuity of pharmaceutical care.
The role of the Distribution section at Raigmore Hospital is to provide a cost –effective storage and
distribution service for pharmaceuticals on behalf of the managed service of NHS Highland. The section:
 Is the main holding centre for NHS Highland for routine and non-routine medicines. This involves the
regular review of stock levels held both to eliminate any wastage by over stocking and also to
promote compliance with NHS Highland Joint Formulary policies and protocols.
 Is the designated holding centre for specific strategic drug stocks including antidotes, vaccines,
recombinant blood factor products and pods containing drugs to be dispensed to the general public in
the event of a chemical or biological terrorist attack in the region.
 Manages the routine and non-routine supply of drugs and pharmaceutical sundries to over 500
destinations throughout NHS Highland. This includes regular supply of items requiring strict
adherence to “cold chain” procedures and “top-up” services to selected wards and departments.
Non-routine supplies are also made to other health related agencies including community
pharmacies, veterinary practices, Northern Constabulary, Royal Army Medical Corps, Scottish
Ambulance Service, Care Homes, etc.
 Prioritises daily workload for the distribution team
 Assists in the development and helps maintain procedures for the supply of medicines and
pharmaceutical sundries. This includes the development of customised indents for functional groups
or individual locations.
 Plans and co-ordinates the supplies of medicines and especially vaccines, in accordance with
Government led campaigns, e.g. the supply of vaccines for the childhood immunisation programme.
 Co-ordinates the return of drugs and pharmaceuticals from all locations as required by regulatory
agencies, or for other reasons.
6. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder will:
1. Manage and maintain safe, efficient and cost effective stock management systems within NHS
Highland centralised Vaccine Services.
2. Participate in internal and external audit and review, working with the team to plan and implement
recommendations.
3. Ensure that all Distribution staff understand, agree and work within Standard Operating Procedures
(SOP’s), to provide a consistent, efficient and effective service.
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4. Contribute to the review and implementation of SOP’s for all processes.
5. Provide information of stock investigations, financial limits and corrective actions to line managers.
6. Audit, monitor and report on integrity of cold chain within the centralised storage facility and at all
points in the cold chain.
7. Co-ordinate vaccine and transport deliveries to ensure cold chain maintenance.
8. Provide advice and information on audit recommendations, immunisation programmes and campaigns.
9. Act on vaccine shortage information, ensuring alternative products are sourced based on clinical
decisions, in order to ensure a continuous supply to the customer.
10. Liaise with other department managers for optimum utilisation of pharmacy resources to ensure
delivery of the Vaccine Service.
11. Provide guidance and support for staff, using motivational techniques to build and effective team.
12. Identify training and development needs for staff through Personal development plans and review.
13. Assist in the provision of work based training & assessment for staff, ensuring competence in their
roles.
14. Provide support in recruitment and selection of staff in accordance with agreed skill mix and capacity
plans.
15. Handling all commercially sensitive and confidential information in accordance with NHS Highland
policies.
16. Using NHS Highland electronic DATIX system for Incident recording and reporting.
17. Authorised signatory for staff leave requirements during Distribution Managers absence.
18. Implement Health and Safety policies, providing staff with direction, help and guidance, ensuring safe
working and appropriate control measures are managed, reducing risk.
19. Contribute to contingency planning, including computer system management, within their area of
responsibility, ensuring that a quality, robust vaccine service is maintained.
20. Participate in computer file management updates as required.
21. Assist with the implementation of Pharmacy Strategies by instigating agreed developments.
22. Maintain own continuing professional development for registration with the General Pharmaceutical
Council of Great Britain
23. Deputise for the Senior Pharmacy Technician (Distribution Manager).
24. Assist with duties in other Pharmacy areas during periods of staff shortages as necessary.
7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
Personal Computer
Telephone
Photocopier
Fax Machine
Printer
Electronic monitoring equipment
Cool boxes and packaging
Moving and Handling equipment (kickstools, trolleys etc)
7b. SYSTEMS
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Microsoft Windows and Office packages
Intranet hosted systems
Pharmacy JAC System
Electronic temperature monitoring software
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
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The review of performance is undertaken through the agreement of performance objectives and
individual performance review by the Distribution Manager.
Work is dictated by operational service requirements, vaccine programmes and campaigns in
accordance with NHS Highland Health plan and within National Policy.
Work will be assigned by the Distribution Manager as appropriate.
Self determined based on audit results of cold chain monitoring and stock movement
Identify own training and development needs in order to fulfil all aspects of the post.
Assigns work to distribution staff as necessary.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
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The post holder is expected to act decisively and autonomously in their professional capacity, being
accountable for their actions
The post holder will work mainly unsupervised and in accordance with SOPs and is responsible for
managing their own time and prioritising their own work and that of their team.
Manage vaccine shortages to ensure that the vaccine programme is maintained with no or minimal
disruption to patients and clinical staff.
Interpret data on cold chain monitoring to ensure that vaccines continue to reach their destination in
useable condition.
Provide supervision to their team.
Work in accordance with NHS Highland policies and make decisions where discretions is required,
e.g., PIN policies.
Make decisions on when to alert more senior staff regarding operational problems.
Help to drive and implement changes within the team which will lead to improved patient care,
departmental performance and staff satisfaction.
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
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Deliver and maintain a timely service to the patient, ensuring the vaccines reach the right place at
the right time.
Ensuring that vaccines are maintained within the correct temperature range so that wastage is
minimised/eliminated.
Managing short supply and long supply chain problems to ensure that the vaccination programme
across northern NHS highland runs smoothly.
Build effective relationships, working in partnership with others to enable delivery of a high quality
patient-focused pharmaceutical service.
Managing change within vaccine services while ensuring accuracy and quality of an effective,
efficient and patient focused service.
Maintain intense concentration in a variety of situations.
Managing workload that is subject to constant interruptions and unpredictable work patterns as
priorities change at short notice, according to the needs of the service
Responding to urgent requests for formal and informal advice through a variety of communications
means.
Proactively working with staff to help develop and maintain the team.
Balancing time between management and operational responsibilities.
Improving and maintaining knowledge of current pharmaceutical developments and changes.
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11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
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Communicate with a wide range of people through all disciplines and levels of authority across NHS
Highland.
Communicates technical pharmaceutical information verbally and in writing to pharmacy colleagues
and other healthcare staff, responding to non-clinical, ad-hoc and routine queries.
Provides and receives routine and sensitive information which may require use of tact, empathy and
diplomacy.
Within Pharmacy Department
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, administrative and clerical staff, porters
Outwith Pharmacy Department
Other integrated pharmacy staff
Various other health professionals (e.g. Public health consultant, nursing staff, clinicians)
General practitioners and their staff
Transport Services
eHealth staff
Health and Safety staff
Estates staff
Outwith NHS Highland
Other NHS health board pharmacy staff
Immunisation co-ordinators
Suppliers
Transport contractors
Maintenance contractors
Training providers
Vaccine operational group (Scotland)
12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical
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Requires keyboard skills
Sits, stands and walks for varying periods throughout each day.
Can sit for long periods – inputting at a keyboard, up to 2-3 hours per day.
Lifting bulky and unwieldy boxes and move pallets in accordance with Moving and Handling
regulations.
Mental
 Accuracy is required due to the pharmaceutical components, detail and specific nature of the work
undertaken.
 Concentration for long periods up to 3 hours at a time.
 Dealing with short notice disruption to work schedules requiring reprioritisation of workloads and staff
resources.
 Working under pressure to meet deadlines.
 Dealing with emergency requests for vaccines which may require out-sourcing.
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Pressure of dealing with conflicting demands within all sections of the department.
Emotional
Occasional indirect exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
 Dealing with verbal aggression from staff frustrated at lack of vaccine.
Environmental
 Working under artificial lighting daily
 Working in temperature controlled areas – exposure to low temperatures
 Potential for exposure to substances hazardous to health.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
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SVQ/NVQ Pharmacy Services Level 3 with recognised accredited underpinning knowledge
programme, or recognised equivalent as defined by the RPSGB.
Experienced Pharmacy Technician with at least 3 years post qualification pharmacy experience and
a minimum of 2 years recent experience in a hospital environment.
Have a minimum of 2 years supervisory/management/training experience.
Good working knowledge of the NHS, including management, operational, partnership, and clinical
governance policies and procedures.
Knowledge of principles of good stock control.
Knowledge of Health and Safety policies
Well developed interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal.
Competence in general computing applications eg Microsoft office suite.
Knowledge of the Medicines and Health Care Products Agency (MHRA) ‘Good Distribution Practice’,
Training provided in JAC Pharmacy Computer system
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder to whom
the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Date:
Head of Department Signature:
Date:
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PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
POST OF: Pharmacy Technician – Vaccine Services
BASED : Raigmore Hospital
Attributes
1. Qualifications
REF:
Essential
Desirable
S/NVQ Pharmacy Services Level 3
or equivalent qualification.
Pharmacy Technician registrant of
General Pharmaceutical Council of
Great Britain
2. Experience
Significant post qualification
pharmacy experience
Some recent hospital post
qualification experience
Supervisory/management/training
experience
3. Skills/Knowledge
Working knowledge of the NHS and
its policies.
Knowledge of principles of good
distribution practice
Knowledge of hospital pharmacy
practice
Knowledge of medicines used in a
hospital environment
Knowledge of vaccines
immunisation programmes.
and
Relevant knowledge pertaining to
use of BNF, Medicines for Children,
Martindale.
4. Personal Characteristics
Honest
Reliable
Self Motivating
Flexible
Hard Working
Team Player
Ability to give/receive feedback
Assertive
Confident
5. Other
Competence in general computing
applications
JAC pharmacy computer system
Health & Safety Policies
Evidence of CPD
DATE OF ISSUE: 14/04/2014
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