Job Specification and Terms and Conditions
Pharmaceutical Technician Senior
Job Title and Grade / Pharmaceutical Technician Senior(Grade Code 3021)
Competition Reference / NRS02484
Closing Date / 12noon Wednesday, 3rd June 2015.
Proposed Interview date(s) / 10th , 11th , 12th June 2015, please take note of these dates for your Diary
Taking up Appointment / Start date to be indicated at Job Offer stage.
Location of Post / Pharmacy Department, Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital
Organisational Area / HSE Dublin North East
Details of Service / Cavan General Hospital pharmacy provides services to all inpatients - (265 beds in total) including medical, surgical, maternity, paediatric, neonatal, oncology, renal dialysis and psychiatric patients. We also provide services to community care including public health care nursing, mental health services, four nursing homes and St. Christopher’s Hospice.
Monaghan Hospital pharmacy provides inpatient-services to Step Down patients (6 beds), Rehabilitation patients (20 beds) and to Community Care including Mental Health Services, Residential Elderly, St. Davnet's Psychiatric Hospital, Disability Services Monaghan Town, Oriel House, Ambulance Base and St. Mary's Castleblayney.
The Oncology Day Ward has 7 dedicated chemotherapy chairs and 1 trolley. In 2014 over 300 patients were seen by the service and over 3000 chemotherapy doses were issued from pharmacy to the Oncology Day Ward.
Reporting Relationship / Reports to: Chief II Pharmacist
Purpose of the Post / The senior pharmacy technician will be responsible for:
- Assisting the Senior Pharmacists in all duties in the Dispensary, roll out of pharmacy top up service throughout the hospital and development of Pharmacy services with Chief Pharmacist.
- Assisting the Senior Pharmacists in all duties in the Oncology Pharmacy involving in processing chemotherapy orders and compounding chemotherapy for the Oncology Day Ward.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Duties and Responsibilities
Management/Supervisory Duties
1. To manage/supervise staff and or the workload assigned to them by the Chief Pharmacist or deputy
2. To organise and manage the day to day workflow.
3. Prioritising work on a daily basis.
4. To supervise the staff in their team.
5. To make recommendations to the Supervisor as to how methods and procedures can be improved.
6. Participate in audit protocols and policy formation.
7. Participate in the development and updating of Standard Operating Procedures
8. 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.
9. Participate in induction programmes.
10. To liaise with other departments and services e.g. Clinical Nurse Manager, Lab., Finance.
11. Participate in service development.
12. Participate in continuing education and research activities consistent with the post.
13. Participate in the training of other staff.
14. Responsible for service delivery in the area to which they are assigned.
15. Maintenance of computer system.
Technical Duties in the Dispensary
1. Participate in dispensing individual prescriptions for patients.
2. Dispensing and maintenance of MDA controlled drugs.
3. Dispensing and maintenance of specialised drugs e.g. clozapine.
4. Participate in compounding extemporaneous products.
5. Maintenance of cardiac resuscitation emergency trolley
6. Take responsibility for the sorting of returned drugs for recycling or destruction.
7. Participate in stock rotation, stock levels, checking expiry dates, ordering stock and putting orders away.
8. Participate in stock taking.
9. Participate in the ward top-up service
10. Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may from time to time be assigned by the Pharmacist in charge.
Technical Duties in the Oncology Pharmacy
1. To aseptically prepare intravenous preparations (cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic) and sterile analgesia preparations according to procedure.
2. To maintain the sterility and integrity of the isolators and clean room used for re-constitution.
3. To participate in the microbiological monitoring of the isolators and their environment.
4. To carry out stock control and ordering procedures for all materials (pharmaceuticals and disposable equipment) used in the compounding unit.
5. To maintain good computer and paper records for cancer services patients.
6. To maintain standards of clinical hygiene and safety within the isolator environment, including maintenance of all areas and all equipment according to procedure.
7. To participate in the preparation and maintenance of policies and protocols for all aspects of aseptic and cancer services.
8. To undertake audit of these protocols to ensure best practice is being observed at all times.
9. To carry out any other duties relevant to this line of work as may be designated by the Chief Pharmacist.
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 have on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office:
(i) The Pharmaceutical Technicians Diploma awarded by the University of Dublin.
Or
(ii) A Pharmacy Technicians qualification atQQI Level 6 awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology, Athlone Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology or Carlow Institute of Technology.
Or
(iii) The Pharmacy Services Certificate (NVQ level 3) offered by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union
Or
(iv) Be currently employed as a Pharmacy Technician in the publically funded Irish Health Service
Or
(v) A relevant qualification at least equivalent to (ii) or (iii) above.
And
b) have at least three years fulltime satisfactory post qualification hospital experience
and
c) possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
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.
Post Specific Requirements, additional qualifications and/or experience required / Demonstrate depth and breadth of hospital experience as relevant to the post
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge / · 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
Campaign Specific Selection Process
Shortlisting / Interview / A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting 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.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.
Code of Practice / 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, facilities for feedback to applicants 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.
HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Pharmaceutical Technician Senior
Tenure / The initial vacancies are permanent and whole time. The posts are pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled. 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 (correct as at 01/01/2010) for the post consists of six points: €42,862 - €43,797 - €44,733 - €45,669 - €46,605 - €47,542.
Working Week / The standard working week applying to the post is to 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 to be confirmed at job offer stage.
Superannuation / This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st 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 which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004
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 as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 / As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
Infection Control / 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.
Ethics in Public Office 1995 and 2001
Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.10) / Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.2010) are designated positions under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. Any person appointed to a designated position must comply with the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as outlined below;
A) In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.
B) In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Officer.
C) A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/
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