PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNICIAN

Job Specification & Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade / Pharmaceutical Technician Basic Grade
Grade Code:- 3212
Campaign Reference / NRS1079
Closing Date / 12noon on Wednesday 2nd April 2014
Proposed Interview Date (s) / Week commencing 5th May 2014
Taking up Appointment / A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.
Organisational Area / West North West Hospitals Group
Location of Post / West North West Hospitals Group
·  There is a whole time 1 year Fixed Term (temporary) contract available in Galway University Hospital (GUH). Informal enquiries to Treasa Ni Ici, Senior Pharmacist UHG. 091 54 2265 or email:
·  There are 2 whole time permanent vacancies available-
1.  Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Informal enquiries to Geraldine Colohan, Chief Pharmacist, Portiuncula 090 96 24781or email:
2.  Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Informal enquiries to Blánaid O’Connell, Chief Pharmacist, MGH, 094 90 42195 or email
The successful candidate may be required to work in any service area within the vicinity as the need arises.
A recruitment panel will be created for Portiuncula Hospital, Mayo General Hospital and Galway University Hospital from which future permanent or specified purpose vacancies of full-time or part time duration will be filled.
Details of Service / Portiuncula Hospital:
Clinical pharmacy services at Portiuncula hospital are provided to patients being treated in the following specialities; medical, surgical, obstetrics & gynaecology, urology, paediatrics including neonatal intensive care, oncology and other areas. Services include:
o  Dispensary based services
o  Medicine reconciliation services on admission/ discharge for all adult patients
o  Complete prescription review twice weekly
o  Pharmacy led Warfarin clinic
o  Staff Dispensing
o  Medicines information service
o  Medication safety Initiatives
o  Oncology ordering/dispensing but not a compounding service
Mayo General Hospital:
Pharmacy Services at Mayo General Hospital include:
·  Provision of pharmaceutical services in MGH includes dispensary services and the provision of limited and selected ward-based 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, haematology, rheumatology and other areas
·  Aseptic Service for Chemo production for our Onc/Haem Day ward
·  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, domestic and portering staff.
Galway University Hospitals (GUH):
Galway University Hospitals (GUH), comprising of University Hospital Galway (UHG) and Merlin Park University Hospital (MPUH), provide a comprehensive range of services to emergency and elective patients on an inpatient, outpatient and day care basis across the two sites. UHG and MPUH together employ approximately 3,000 whole time equivalent staff and has approximately 720 in-patient beds as well as day and infusion lounge facilities.
GUH plays a leadership role in acute service delivery, providing regional services for a wide range of specialities (listed below), to support the policy of regional self-sufficiency. GUH is a Supra Regional Centre for Cancer and Cardiac Services and is working towards developing a Level One Trauma Centre. There are also clinical arrangements with hospitals outside the region in providing a number of tertiary services.
GUH Pharmacies (located at UHG and MPUH) purchase, store, distribute and dispense medicines for the wards, departments and patients of these two hospitals. Our clinical service monitors prescriptions from admission to discharge and advises on the appropriate, safe and economic use of medicines, something we refer to as the ‘Quality Use of Medicines’. Our aseptic services unit prepares approximately 1300 chemotherapy I/V items per month as well as other I/V medicines. We have pharmacists working in Antibiotics Stewardship, Medicines Safety and Clinical Trials and we are developing the clinical role of our pharmacy technician team. We also publish medicines guidelines which we accomplish by working closely with our medical, nursing and therapy colleagues. We are committed to continuous quality improvement (we use ‘lean’ methodologies in examining and changing pharmacy processes) and to personal learning and development for all grades of staff.
Information about the West- North West Hospitals Group:
The West North West Hospitals Group includes;
University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital;
Sligo Regional Hospital,
Letterkenny General Hospital;
Mayo General Hospital;
Portiuncula Hospital;
Roscommon County Hospital.
Our Academic Partner is the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Vision
The formation of the hospitals groups, which will transition to independent hospital trusts, will change how hospitals relate to each other and integrate with the academic sector. Over time, the groups will deliver:
·  Higher quality service
·  More consistent standards of care
·  More consistent access to care
·  Stronger leadership
·  Greater integration between the healthcare agenda and the teaching, training, research and innovation agenda
Mission Statement from West- North West Hospital Group / Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to provide high quality and equitable services for all by delivering care based on excellence in clinical practice, teaching, and research, grounded in kindness, compassion and respect, whilst developing our staff and becoming a model employer.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
Our Vision is to build on excellent foundations already laid, further developing and integrating our Group, fulfilling our role as an exemplar, and becoming the first Trust in Ireland.
OUR GUIDING VALUES
Respect - We aim to be an organisation where privacy, dignity, and individual needs are respected, where staff are valued, supported and involved in decision-making, and where diversity is celebrated, recognising that working in a respectful environment will enable us to achieve more.
Compassion - we will treat patients and family members with dignity, sensitivity and empathy.
Kindness - whilst we develop our organisation as a business, we will remember it is a service, and treat our patients and each other with kindness and humanity.
Quality – we seek continuous quality improvement in all we do, through creativity, innovation, education and research.
Learning - we will nurture and encourage lifelong learning and continuous improvement, attracting, developing and retaining high quality staff, enabling them to fulfill their potential.
Integrity - through our governance arrangements and our value system, we will ensure all of our services are transparent, trustworthy and reliable and delivered to the highest ethical standards, taking responsibility and accountability for our actions.
Teamworking – we will engage and empower our staff, sharing best practice and strengthening relationships with our partners and patients to achieve our Mission.
Communication - we aim to communicate with patients, the public, our staff and stakeholders, empowering them to actively participate in all aspects of the service, encouraging inclusiveness, openness, and accountability.
These Values shape our strategy to create an organisational culture and ethos to deliver high quality and safe services for all we serve and that staff are rightly proud of.
Reporting Relationship / To the Chief Pharmacist, their deputy or Senior Pharmaceutical Technician
Purpose of the Post / Provision of a hospital pharmaceutical service
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / ·  The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
·  Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
·  Performance management systems are part of role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme
·  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 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 HR Manager
·  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
KPI’s
·  The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
·  The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
·  Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
·  In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
·  The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:
·  Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
·  All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
·  Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
·  In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.
·  In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Building is not permitted.
·  Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
·  Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety
·  Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (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.
·  The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
·  The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
·  The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:
o  Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives
o  Document Control Information Management Systems
o  Risk Management Strategy and Policies
o  Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
o  Decontamination Code of Practice
o  Infection Control Policies
o  Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
o  Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
·  The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Hospitals Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
·  The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
·  The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
·  It is the post holders’ specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.
·  The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
·  The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
·  The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
·  It is the responsibility of the post holder to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management / Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Candidates must, on the latest date for receiving completed applications for the post:-
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 on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.