Job Description

Job title: / Technician- Pharmacy Practice
Department/School: / Faculty of Science, Dept Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Grade: / 5
Location: / 5 & 7 West
Job purpose
This post underpins pharmacy practice teaching in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. This role involves supporting the teaching in applied pharmacy practice practicals. This will include providing pharmacy technician duties as would be provided in actual practice, engaging in role plays with students and demonstrating appropriate use of dispensing software (e.g. label generation, patient medication record software and electronic prescribing) as well as extemporaneous dispensing. In addition, this role will include supporting the use of simulators (manikins, blood pressure arms and pharmacy management simulations) for student learning through the running of simulated teaching scenarios and by providing technical support and advice where appropriate. This role also includes the maintenance of equipment and the organisation of, and preparation for, dispensing practicals.
Reports to:
The post holder will be line managed by the Departmental Technical Team Leader (teaching), but will work closely with academics, students, research staff and technicians across the Department.
Staff management responsibility
None
Special conditions
Lifting and handling of heavy and/or large objects is sometimes required and training will be given if necessary.Lifting/handling aids are provided where appropriate.
To be flexible and to assist with technical duties in other areas of the department, if requested by the Head of Department or Technical Team Leader due to variations in workload, staff shortages or re-organisation.
From time to time you may be asked to assist in the facilitation of schools liaison, CPD, UCAS and Open Day activities. This will form part of your substantive role and you will not receive additional payment for these activities.
Main duties and responsibilities

Using a high degree of technical expertise, provide technical support in pharmacy practice teaching to include the technical running of dispensing practicals, the use of simulated manikins and the maintenance and engagement with relevant technical software.

1 / Provide student support during dispensing, including extemporaneous dispensing, and simulation practicals to include teaching students how the software (e.g. patient medication record or labelling) works as well as engaging in the use of role play and dispensed product checking to facilitate student learning.
2 / Identify, support and maintain pharmacy practice software to include the patient medication record, labelling and electronic prescribing software.
3 / Prepare relevant student paperwork and products for the running of student dispensing practicals and assessments.
4 / Work under the guidance of academics to monitor and keep appropriate records for controlled drugs.
5 / Monitor and maintain the stock levels of medicines used during dispensing practicals.
  • Re-order medicines as appropriate
  • Keep records of stock
  • Monitor medicine expenditure and provide advice on equivalent, cheaper medicinal products to be used in learning scenarios

6 / Work as part of a team of technicians supporting the Department’s teaching activities
7 / Assist with the design and development of new dispensing exercises (to include extemporaneous dispensing), simulations and role plays.
8 / Assist with the operation and maintenance of simulated manikins, pharmacy management simulators, computer equipment and Scotia Medical Observation and Training System (SMOTS) cameras.
9 / Help maintain the pharmacy practice teaching suite as a healthy and safe working area with very good housekeeping.
10 / Liaise with academics, demonstrators, students and technicians as appropriate.
11 / Participate in pharmacy practice group teaching meetings
12 / Provide assistance with schools liaison, UCAS, Open Day and CPD activities as required.
Special conditions
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager.

Person Specification

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by
A/F / I/T / R
Qualifications
Completion of an Eligible Qualification for registration as a pharmacy technician / √ / √
Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy technician / √ / √
Experience/Knowledge
Prior experience of working in a pharmacy environment / √ / √
Prior experience of working in an undergraduate or postgraduate teaching environment. / √ / √
Knowledge of pharmacy law with regard to prescription writing, dispensing and labelling of medicinal products / √ / √ / √
Knowledge of pharmacy law with regard to the prescription writing, dispensing, labelling and record keeping of controlled drugs / √ / √ / √
Knowledge of technical software relevant to the provision of pharmacy services (particularly patient medication record and labelling software). / √ / √ / √
Knowledge of simulators, simulation software and remote recording equipment / √ / √ / √
Knowledge of the appropriate storage, stock control and disposal of medicinal products / √ / √ / √
Skills
Able to use, support and maintain pharmacy software and simulation equipment. / √ / √ / √
Able to engage in role plays to facilitate student learning. / √ / √ / √
Able to design and contribute to the design of new pharmacy practice teaching exercises / √
Excellent IT skills / √ / √ / √
Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with academics, students and other technical staff. / √ / √ / √
Attributes
Ability to work in a team / √ / √ / √

Commitment to facilitate students’ learning within their practical classes, and to provide a high quality learning experience

/ √ / √ / √

Able and willing to engage with a wide and varied range of people

/ √ / √ / √

Flexible and adaptable

/ √ / √ / √

Able and willing to take initiative and be proactive

/ √ / √ / √
Able and willing to work unsupervised and to organise and prioritise own workload, with a knowledge of when to ask for help / √ / √ / √

Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R - References