JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
:
Chief Technician – Medicines Information
DEPARTMENT
:
Pharmacy Department Heartlands, Solihull & Good Hope Hospitals
GRADE
:
Band 6
HOURS OF DUTY
:
37.5 hours per week. The Trust operates a 7 day working policy. The
hours will include weekend, late night and bank holiday working on a
rotational basis
MANAGES
:
All Technician, ATO and A&C staff in area of responsibility.
ACCOUNTABLE TO
:
Pharmacy Operational Site Lead
RESPONSIBLE TO
:
Medicines Information Manager (Pharmacist)
JOB SUMMARY
The Chief Technician manages the technical work and is responsible for the specialist technical functions
of own pharmacy areas, taking responsibility for solving complex problems and dealing with a broad
range of non-routine issues, which are often unpredictable.
The post will provide technical support for the maintenance and development of a safe and efficient
Medicines Information Service to all sites. This includes enquiry answering, database searching and
maintenance / development of systems.
Supervise all technicians and undergraduate pharmacists assigned to Medicines Information. Assist in
the provision of Medicines Information training to pre-registration and other pharmacists and other
staff in Medicines Information. Provide NVQ training and assessment for student pharmacy technicians.
Trains up to obtain the National UK Medicines Information Technician Accreditation qualification
Dispensary Duties (20% of time is allocated to these duties)
Participates in Dispensary cover (including accredited final accuracy checking) and assists with the
development of new initiatives within the pharmacy.
This post will be reviewed from time to time, and duties and the allocation of time may change in line
with experience, with the post holder’s involvement.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIIPS
Pharmacy Procurement and Outsourced Services Lead Technician
Pharmacists, Pharmacy operational site leads, Computer services manager
Chief Technicians, technicians and support staff on all sites.
Nursing, medical and other healthcare staff both Trust and non-trust
Patients and their relatives/carers, including those with language problems or other disabilities
External bodies in connection with specialist area(s), including Trust and non-trust customers
Medicines Information Units in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Medicines Information staff at other NHS centres, potentially including primary care
Interface Prescribing Manager
NVQ assessor Solihull
KEY RESULT AREAS

Participates in the provision of a comprehensive Medicines Information Service operating to
agreed levels and within National guidelines
 Promotes effective communication.
 Participates in the development and delivery of procedures in own area and contributes to the
policy development for other areas.
 Participates in recruitment selection for staff in own area and other areas on request.
 Responsible for contribution to measuring/meeting KPI targets within area of work.
 Communicates relevant information / processes to appropriate staff in a timely manner.
 To support the NVQ training of Student Technicians and the MI training of rotational
Pharmacists and Pre-Registration Pharmacists
 Ensures the safe and efficient handling of all Medicines Information enquiries
 To assist the Medicines Information Manager in implementing new initiatives affecting the service
and to participate in service development in own area and beyond own area of activity when
required
 Assist in the induction training of clinical pharmacist & student technicians.
 Participates in the safe and efficient processing prescriptions through the dispensary.
 Dispensing accuracy and checking technician accreditation.
 Providing quality assurance for unlicensed medicines and management of the unlicensed medicines
database.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
The postholder: GENERAL
1. Manages and motivates staff in their area.
2. Plans and implements changes in practice in their area including networking with colleagues across
the region to share best practise and innovations
3. Deputises for other Chief Technicians/Pharmacy operational site lead(s)/Pharmacy Procurement and
Outsources services lead where appropriate.
4. Ensures that policies and procedures are written and are reviewed regularly and are disseminated
effectively.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
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13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
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Ensures that Trust and pharmacy policies and procedures are adhered to.
Ensures that policies and procedures comply with Health & Safety and COSHH Regulations
Ensures maintenance of equipment, furnishings, etc.
Ensures appropriate records are maintained.
Monitors performance against standards, auditing appropriately including written reports. Has
involvement with the Pharmacy operational site leads, on recruitment of technicians and assistant
technical officer into their area of responsibility.
Is involved in dispensing, provision of advice and counselling of patients, in area of speciality,
according to the need.
To be responsible for auctioning/cascading drug alerts/product recalls within the Trust.
Manages performance and sickness absence for technical staff in accordance with Trust policy
Works closely with other Chief Technicians to implement training and development of support staff
in their section/department.
Works closely with other Chief Technicians to organise and implement induction, training and
development of students, technicians and others seconded to the section/department, but takes
overall responsibility for their section.
Assists tutors in training and development of pre-registration pharmacists/student technicians in the
relevant areas.
Work in conjunction with other Chief Technicians to promote good communication to pharmacy
services, both internal and external to the department.
Participating in the development of computerised systems with other Chief Technicians as
appropriate with the needs of the Trust.
Liaises with other wards/departments to provide a safe and effective supply of medicinal products
within the Trust.
Take part in projects and audits appropriate to area of responsibility.
Liaises closely with external suppliers to ensure efficient delivery of service to the Trust.
Handles complex problems or specific technical issues, which are non-routine.
Carries out any other duties as may be required within the nature and grade of post.
MEDICINES INFORMATION
1.
2.
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6.
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8.
9.
To undertake technical work and day to day planning and organisation of the Medicines
Information Unit and assist in the provision of a safe and efficient Medicines Information Service
In circumstances where the Medicines Information Manager and their deputy are absent,
maintain the safe provision of Medicines Information Services, following appropriate policies,
procedures and guidelines
To receive, record, search and provide answers to Medicines Information enquiries
according to department policies, procedures and protocols.
To maintain and develop information filing systems and computer databases and to be
responsible for archiving/reporting of enquires. E.g KPI’s, unlicensed medicines database.
To conduct information searches as appropriate, including the use of CD ROM’s and the
internet.
To produce Medicines Information workload statistics and relevant reports e.g. KPI Data.
To assist with quality assurance audits of the service and other audits relevant to
Medicines Information.
To maintain and develop ‘HOTLINE’, patient enquiry service
To develop and provide training and assessment for student technicians in line with NVQ
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
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18.
requirements.
Supervise the work of and provide appropriate training for all grades of technicians and
undergraduate pharmacists assigned to Medicines Information.
Assist in the provision of induction training to all grades of pharmacists, particularly database
searching and information retrieval skills. Assist in the training of pre-registration pharmacists.
To assist with the pro-active provision of Medicines Information to prescribers and
other healthcare professionals.
To monitor and respond to formulary requests, delegating/escalating queries in
line with local policy.
To provide quality assurance and assessment for purchasing and supply of
unlicensed medicines within the trust.
To support the implementation of systems to manage the use of unlicensed
medicines within the trust.
Provide support to the Interface Formulary Working Group
To supervise the ordering of Medicines Information resources.
To develop and maintain cross-site co-operation in the provision of Medicines
Information services.
DISPENSARY
1. All aspects of dispensing including provision of advice & counselling of patients and
other duties which may be required within the nature and grade of the position.
2. Carries out the final check of the dispensing process as an accredited checking technician
3. To maintain core pharmacy technician skills.
DISPENSARY COMPONENT
Carries out the final check of the dispensing process as an accredited checking technician
Undertake routine Dispensary work on a rota system as required by technicians working within HEFT
General
Infection control
Staff will work to minimise any risk to clients, the public and other staff from Healthcare Associated
Infection including MRSA and C difficle by ensuring they are compliant with the Health Act 2006 – Code
of Practice For The Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (They Hygiene Code); and
by ensuring they are familiar with the Trust’s Infection Control Polices, located on the Intranet.
All employees must comply with the Trust Infection Control Policy. All employees must attend infection
control training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager.
Confidentiality
As an employee you have a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information
which comes into your possession regarding patients, employees or any other business relating to the
Trust
In accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protected disclosures are exempt from this
express duty of confidentiality.
Health & Safety
As an employee you have a responsibility to abide by all of the safety practices and codes provided by
the Trust and have an equal responsibility with management for maintaining safe working practices for
the health and safety of yourself and others.
All employees must comply with the Trust Infection Control Policy. All employees must attend infection
control training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager
Quality Assurance
As an employee of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust you are a member of an organisation that
endeavours to provide the highest quality of service to our patients. You are an ambassador of the
organisation and, as such, are required to ensure that high standards are maintained at all times.
As an employee you have a responsibility for data quality. All employees are accountable for the quality
of data they input into Trust systems and/or document in paper-based records, and must ensure that it
is accurate, complete, valid and timely at all times.
Equal Opportunities
As an employee you have a responsibility to ensure that all people that you have contact with during the
course of your employment, including patients, relatives and staff are treated equally in line with the
Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Risk Management
You have a responsibility for the identification of all risk which have a potential adverse affect on the
Trust’s ability to maintain quality of care and the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and for the taking
of positive action to eliminate or reduce these.
Safeguarding
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust has a responsibility to safeguarding and promoting the welfare
of children, young people and vulnerable adults who use our services. The Trust expects all staff and
volunteers to share this responsibility. As part of the selection process for this post you may be required
to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and maintain ISA registration. If you are successful
appointed, you will receive confirmation of which checks and/or registration you are required to have.
The Job Description is subject to change and may be reviewed by the manager in conjunction with the
post holder.
The Trust operates a no smoking policy and is working towards a smoke free environment.
Updated:
June 2013