Medicines Management Assistant (MMA)

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Medicines Management team at Northampton General Hospital as a Medicines Management Assistant. Over the last 3 years, we have significantly expanded our Medicines Management team as part of our Dedicated Ward Pharmacy service, and we are now looking for a new Medicines Management Assistant to join our team. We are a constantly evolving service and are always striving for better care for our patients.

The role involves working closely with the Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists and ward staff. Duties of the role include, transferring patients own medicines, on ward dispensing in our satellite Pharmacies, ensuring wards have their required stock of medications and enabling the re-use of medicines.

If you are looking for a new challenge in a busy, fast paced environment ensuring that patients are at the forefront of all you do, then this role may be what you are looking for. Candidates must have the ability to work independently as well as part of a larger team and be able to manage their time efficiently. You must have excellent communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Main duties of the job

The role involves working as a Medicines Management Assistant within a multidisciplinary team on the wards at Northampton General Hospital.  This role is ward based and involves transferring patients’ medication between wards, dispensing in Pharmacy and at ward level, supporting the wards and the Clinical team with medicines management.

Working closely with the ward staff, the Pharmacy Clinical, Distribution and Dispensary teams, ensuring all required medication is available on the wards for the patients during their stay and also at discharge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To use technical and pharmaceutical skills to ensure control, security, quality and value for money of medicines. This will include the following tasks:

• Visit allocated areas when needed to manage stock medicines up to their re-order level using electronic devices or paper, ensuring   they are not over stocked. This includes Satellite Pharmacies.
• Leave the cupboard in a tidy state to aid proper selection by ward staff.
• Perform regular expiry date checks and remove and replace affected medicines on expiry across allocated areas.
• Review usage across allocated areas to maintain optimum levels to help reduce wastage.
• Liaise with senior staff over stock issues.
• Liaise closely with Distribution and Procurement staff, and chase orders when necessary.
• To help maintain an accurate computerised pharmacy stock control system.

Automated cabinets – To undertake only when necessary;

• Correctly put the stock away.
• Perform regular cycle counts to aid ward staff maintain correct stock levels.
• Remove excess stock.
• Assist in keeping the cabinets clean.
• Instruct ward staff on how to use medicines properly and escalate when necessary.
• Inform Omnicell administrator of any issues, pack size changes and additions/deletions.
• Perform regular expiry date checks and remove and replace affected medicines on expiry.

To support the Clinical/Medicines Management Team and the wards with Medicines Management. This will include the following tasks:

• Assess and return stock medicines for re-use according to departmental procedure.
• When required, collect and deliver medicines to wards/theatres and clinics.
• Resolve job appropriate queries and refer to senior staff as necessary.
• Datix/record deviations from storage conditions and potentially harmful practices found in clinical areas.
• To check names on medications in patient’s locker ensuring correct medication for allocated patient in that bedspace and transfer if necessary.
• To participate in regular checks of ward and fridge temperatures, trolley checks and other treatment room checks as per trust requirement.
• To assess ward fridge and returns box for patients’ medicines no longer on the ward and transfer medicines as required.
• To monitor and audit the use of pre-pack medication on allocated wards following Trust policy.
• Participate in audits relevant to the Clinical Service.
• To support the service by ensuring patients have all relevant medications prior to discharge.

To assist in the provision of medicines for the treatment of patients. This will include the following tasks:

• To accurately and promptly dispense medicines for patients whose prescriptions have been validated by a Pharmacist, either at ward level, or in the Dispensary.
• To supply controlled drugs and keep appropriate records.
• To liaise with the appropriate Pharmacy MMT Team Leader and Senior Technician, Stores to ensure that any ‘to-follow’ medicines are ordered and supplied to patients.
• To support the Clinical Pharmacy team in the provision of completing medicines reconciliation and supplying medications for inpatient use.
• To inform the appropriate Pharmacist/MMT of any problems with the supply of medicines ordered.

Other Duties. This includes the following tasks:

• To assist in the training of staff.
• To collect and submit data to support the production of the scorecard and other reports.
• Act as a mentor/role model for new staff or rotational staff.
• To plan own daily tasks and supports other staff with their tasks.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, in person and over the phone.
• To assist in the maintenance of a clean and efficient environment suitable for the handling and compounding of medicinal substances.
• To ensure SOPs are up to date at all times and to inform                    Management of any changes or improvements required