Health and science
Pharmacy services assistant
Supporting the delivery of pharmacy services.
Summary
The Pharmacy Services Assistant (PSA) works under the supervision of a Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, or other accountable healthcare professional. The PSA provides a variety of pharmacy and medicines services to patients, the public and other professional healthcare teams. The PSA supports the delivery of pharmacy services in a variety of pharmacy environments. A PSA will be involved in supporting the supply, preparation and assembly of medicines and products; issuing them to patients and other healthcare professionals and assisting in providing advice to patients to help them to make effective use of their medicines. They will be responsible for ordering and receiving medicines, as well as their storage, disposal and return. They will have an understanding of healthy lifestyle choices and relevant screening services. They will understand and work to standard operating procedures (SOPs), a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by their organisation to help staff carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with pharmacy regulations.
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
dispensing procedures, and practices
K2:
the different types of prescriptions
K3:
how to complete pharmacy calculations, eg the number of tablets or volume of liquid to be supplied.
K4:
different weights and measures eg grams, kilograms, millilitres to litres
K5:
doses and forms of medicines
K6:
issues that may affect how medicines are taken
K7:
the documentation relating to administration, supply and methods of medicines distribution support
K8:
the management of medicines and the supply chain
K9:
the roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy and healthcare team
K10:
how to follow standards and codes of conduct, as well as work within the limitations of your role
K11:
the requirements and rationale behind Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
K12:
how to work in the patients’ best interest, with other people, both inside and external to the organisation
K13:
where to go for help and advice about anything to do with work
K14:
the importance of personal development and how to reflect on your work
K15:
why it is important to communicate effectively at work; how to communicate with individuals who have specific language needs or wishes; ways to make yourself understood; how to reduce problems with communication
K16:
legislation, policies and local ways of working and handling information; how to keep information confidential; why it is important to record and store patient information securely and what to do if you think information is not secure
K17:
application of relevant systems used in Pharmacy Practice and the restrictions and values around the use of social media
K18:
what it means to give ‘person centred care and support’ and give people choices about their care
K19:
why it is important to gain consent
K20:
why it is important to get people actively involved in their own health and care
K21:
the importance of treating people as valuable and unique individuals
K22:
how to promote healthy lifestyles, such as the importance of healthy eating, regular exercise and reducing health risks such as alcohol consumption and smoking.
K23:
how health inequalities affect different parts of society
K24:
the other organisations which can support the wellbeing of a patient
K25:
how to identify risks and hazards in a workplace environment
K26:
what appropriate action should be taken in response to incidents or emergencies following local guidelines
Technical Educational Products
- ST0299: Pharmacy services assistant (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0299
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £20,909 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 7114 Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 7114/02 Pharmacy dispensing assistants
S1:
receive and log prescriptions
S2:
assemble prescribed items, undertake an in-process accuracy check and issue prescribed items
S3:
work according to legislative requirements, and organisational policies
S4:
order, receive, maintain and issue pharmaceutical stock
S5:
provide appropriate advice when authorised on supplied medicines and products, their storage and disposal
S6:
work within the parameters of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the pharmacy
S7:
act in accordance with systems and organisational governance
S8:
recognise and act within the pharmacy regulatory, legal and ethical standards
S9:
support the team in the development of others
S10:
maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal
S11:
communicate effectively with the public, carers and other health and social care professionals using a range of techniques to determine their needs, and keep information confidential
S12:
handle information (record, report and store information) related to individuals and/or patients in line with local and national policies
S13:
use pharmacy IT systems and other IT resources according to legislative requirements and organisational policies
S14:
demonstrate person centred care and support within a pharmacy setting
S15:
make pharmacy patients and patient safety your first concern
S16:
use judgement and refer service user as appropriate to another member of the team, GP, healthcare worker, manufacturer etc
S17:
maintain the interests of patients and the health of the public
S18:
promote and advocate equality, diversity and inclusion
S19:
promote healthy lifestyles to customers
S20:
work safely within the parameters of your role using Standard Operating Procedures
S21:
apply policies which relate to health and safety at work
S22:
act appropriately in situations to prevent harm to yourself and others
Technical Educational Products
- ST0299: Pharmacy services assistant (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0299
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £20,909 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 7114 Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 7114/02 Pharmacy dispensing assistants
B1:
Be trustworthy and honest, respectful and caring
B2:
Act with integrity and fair conduct, have the courage to say when something is wrong
B3:
Be a reliable and capable member of the workforce and recognise your own value and that of your team
B4:
Display effective interpersonal skills
B5:
Respect patients’ values
Technical Educational Products
- ST0299: Pharmacy services assistant (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0299
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £20,909 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 7114 Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 7114/02 Pharmacy dispensing assistants