For the last 3 years I have been working at Kings NHS Trust. I initially started the trust in November 2020 as a Pharmacy Assistant (ATO) rotating in Dispensary, Stores & Distribution and Aseptics, here I gained a clear understanding of the role of hospital pharmacy and the pharmacy service along with the benefits this has to patient care. In 2021 I moved into a Senior Pharmacy ATO role in Dispensary. Here I was responsible for training new staff in dispensing (specifically controlled drugs) and developed knowledge and skills in patient counselling. My counselling skills were further developed in the last 2 years where I completed the Level 4 Pharmacy Technician course gaining skills in Patient Counselling, Medicines Optimisation, Audits, Accuracy Checking, Leadership and Teaching. I have also worked and gained exposure to different specialist areas of pharmacy such as clinical trials, sexual health, medication safety and specialist pharmacy services including liver and paediatrics.

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I want to gain experience working in different hospitals as I have only worked in one trust since starting working in hospital pharmacy. Colleagues and friends have also recommended TLA to me as a reputable locus agency.

A recent situation when I was under pressure and handled it successfully was when I was responsible for managing the busy outpatient pharmacy. I planned and prioritised tasks in order of urgency and importance and set realistic goals, whenever workload increased or unexpected situations arose, I re-evaluated and adapted my objectives accordingly. I also ensured clear communication with my team, effectively conveying expectations and delegating tasks accordingly to ensure KPIs were met. However, I did not only delegate tasks but actively participated as a team player, helping in various duties. This ensured that the service ran smoothly and avoided pressure on the team.

This act dictates the regulation of medication within the UK. In relation to pharmacy this act outlines rules to ensure that pharmacies operate safely and employ appropriately qualified staff. This act also sets grades for different medications to control how they can be supplied for example over the counter or prescription only medication. This act ensures the safe supply of medication promoting patient safety and under this act individuals can be prosecuted for the illegal supply and distribution of medication.

I cannot prescribe medication, as I am not a prescriber and understand the limitations of my role. I would explain my role and what I am able to do and refer to the appropriate healthcare professional.

If I was involved in an incident or complaint in regards to myself or my practice, I would report this to my line manager and document my explanation of the event. I would co-operate with any investigation process and give honest answers to any questions. I would seek guidance and advice in regards to dealing with this complaint that I am involved in. If the outcome of the investigation shows me to be at fault I would use the incident as a learning opportunity to change my practice to prevent a similar complaint occurring in the future.

Clinical governance can be defined as a framework that must be followed by all NHS staff to ensure that each patient receives a good quality of care by maintaining and constantly seeking to improve high standards in health services. This can be ensured by following different aspects of clinical governance such as audits, risk management, education and training, practising evidence based practice, patient and public involvement, staff management and information management (data protection act).

When working in outpatient pharmacy a parent was waiting for their Childs medication and expressed frustration about the waiting time to receive the medication. I firstly stated that I understand their frustrations but also outlined the reasons behind the delay ensuring the safety of the medication before it goes to their child. I outlined what we was doing and gave them an estimate on how much longer the prescription was going to take. The parent understood the points I raised but was still dissatisfied with the wait time. I referred them to the Patient Advice and Liaison service if they wished to make a formal complaint explaining that their views were valuable and we would appreciate ways we could improve the service. This calm and professional approach enabled the de-escalation of a hostile situation.