Job Specification and Terms and Conditions
Pharmaceutical Technician Staff Grade
Job Title and
Grade
Pharmaceutical Technician Staff Grade
(Grade:3212)
Competition
Reference
NRS0867
Closing Date
Friday 24th May 2013 at 12.00 noon.
Proposed
Interview date(s)
Taking up
Appointment
Location of Post
Week commencing 17th June 2013.
Organisational
Area
Details of Service
Start date to be decided at Job Offer stage
There is one permanent vacancy based across the St. Ita’s & St Camillus’
Community Hospitals’ sites. There are also two initial Specified Purpose vacancies
in the Pharmacy Department, Mid Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
One of these vacancies is for a 1 year period, the other is for TBC months.
After interviews, a panel will be formed for the Mid West Area from which current and
future vacancies will be filled.
Health Service Executive West
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Reporting
Relationship
Purpose of the
Post
Principal Duties
and
Responsibilities
Provision of pharmaceutical services in Mid West area, Pharmacy
Departments, which includes dispensary services and the provision of wardbased clinical services
Pharmacy services are provided to patients being treated in the following
specialities; medical, surgical, orthopaedic, obstetrics & gynaecology,
paediatrics including neonatal intensive care, dermatology, oncology and
haematology
Potential future developments include expanding the current clinical
pharmacy service
Improving the standards of medication management practice in all areas by
the development of protocols is also a potential future development
The pharmacy team includes pharmacists, technicians, clerical admin and
porter staff.
To the Chief Pharmacist, their deputy or Senior Pharmaceutical Technician
Provision of a hospital pharmaceutical service
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To carry out the assembly of requisitions for departments.
To carry out the assembly of prescriptions as may be appropriate.
To carry out the preparation of cardiac resuscitation boxes/trays.
To perform extemporaneous compounding as directed.
To perform the aseptic compounding of Total Parenteral Nutrition and I.V.
Admixtures including cytotoxic drugs if required
To carry out the pre-packaging of bulk preparations.
To carry out top-up medication distribution systems to wards and
departments
To ensure the receipt, checking and storage of goods received
To be responsible for stock control including ward stocks
To ensure the maintenance of standards of clinical hygiene within the
pharmacy
To operate computers as required
To attend continuing education courses as deemed advisable/necessary by
the Chief Pharmacist or departmental head in consultation with the
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NRS0867 Pharmaceutical Technician Staff V2
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Personnel Officer
To agree duty and annual leave rosters with Supervisor.
To be involved in checking processes in accordance with departmental
protocols and procedures
To assist in the training of new staff in accordance with departmental
procedures
To liaise with management and staff in matters of departmental procedure or
as when problems arise
To make recommendations to the Supervisor as to how methods and
procedures can be improved
To observe and report to the Supervisor any unusual situations,
occurrences, conditions or complaints including those related to drugs, drug
requests, drug usage or security within the pharmacy or hospital
To advise the Supervisor of malfunctioning or unsafe equipment in the
pharmacy
To ensure that work is carried out in a safe manner in accordance with the
provisions of the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act
To perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned
from time to time
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:
Qualifications
and/ or
experience
Applicants must possess:
(A) The Pharmaceutical Technicians Diploma awarded by the University of Dublin.
or
(B) a recognised qualification at least equivalent to (a) above
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and
capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health
such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient
service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a
new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A
candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
Post Specific
Requirements,
additional
qualifications
and/or experience
required
None
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NRS0867 Pharmaceutical Technician Staff V2
Skills,
competencies
and/or knowledge
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Competition
Specific Selection
Process
Shortlisting /
Interview
Demonstrate experience in use of pharmacy equipment
Demonstrate evidence of up-to-date pharmaceutical knowledge in the field
Demonstrate patient centred focus
Demonstrate team working skills both within the Pharmacy and in a multi
disciplinary team
Demonstrate ability to communicate appropriately to clients, medical staff
nursing staff etc.
Demonstrate the ability to multi task, work flexibly and under pressure
Demonstrate the ability to work alone and to exercise initiative
Demonstrate evidence of computer skills including as part of the dispensing
process
Demonstrate awareness of the security considerations/confidentiality
involved in working in a hospital pharmacy
Demonstrate the ability to work in a changing environment
Demonstrate planning and organisational skills
Demonstrate fluency in both written and spoken English
Demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Education
Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your
application form. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the
post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge
section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about
your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not
being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Code of Practice
Those successful at the shortlisting stage of this process (where applied) will be
called forward to interview.
The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of
Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The
Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and
fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the
responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilities for candidates on matters
relating to their application, when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to
requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process, and review in relation
to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the
HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled
“Code Of Practice, Information For Candidates”.
Codes of Practice are published by the CPSA and are available on
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code
of Practice, Information For Candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change
the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be
neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
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NRS0867 Pharmaceutical Technician Staff V2
HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Pharmaceutical Technician Staff Grade
Tenure
One initial vacancy is permanent and whole time, and the other two are
full-time Specified Purpose contracts. These posts are pensionable. A
panel will be formed from this recruitment campaign and future permanent
or specified purpose vacancies will be filled from this panel. The tenure of
these posts will be indicated at "expression of interest" stage
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by
the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and
Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration
The Salary scale for the post is:
A. Existing Irish Public Health Service 01/01/10 employees: €34,768 €41,04
B. €31,291- €37,084 currently working in organisations outside the Irish
Public Health Service
As per the instruction from the Department of Finance a 10% pay reduction
will be applied to all appointments where the appointee is not already
working in the Irish Public Service.
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: TBD hrs. It will be
confirmed at job offer stage.
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs
(Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for
Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms
of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts
from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call
arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work
are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to
meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the
terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of
Towards 2016).
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the post is: TBD days. It will be
confirmed at job offer stage.
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NRS0867 Pharmaceutical Technician Staff V2
Superannuation
This is a pensionable position within the HSE. The successful candidate
will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension
scheme. Please be advised that pension scheme membership will be
notified within the contract of employment.
Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on
1st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are
entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are
no less favourable to those to which they were entitled at 31st December
2004.
Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this
appointment.
Probation
Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the
Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a
probationary period of 12 months.
Protection of Persons
Reporting Child Abuse Act
19981
This post is one of those designated in accordance with Section 2 of the
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998. You will remain a
designated officer for the duration of your appointment in this post or for the
duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the
categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. Such officers will, on
receiving a report of child abuse, formally notify the Senior Social Worker in
the community care area in which the child is living.
Health & Safety
Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role for
example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention
and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
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NRS0867 Pharmaceutical Technician Staff V2