Rachel Fantarrow is national senior medicine management pharmacy technician at WithYou. We asked her about her career path and role.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS FIELD?
I really wanted to be a nurse and follow in my mum’s footsteps but I didn’t think I was clever enough for university, then I saw an advert for a dispenser in a community pharmacy which caught my eye.
The pharmacist I began working for was a lady who I always mention and thank for believing in me all those years ago. She encouraged me to enrol at Sunderland University and complete the BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science. I worked my way up from a dispenser to a registered pharmacy technician working in various pharmacy locations and roles. One day I was sitting at lunch reading the ‘Chemist and Druggist’ when I saw an advert for a pharmacy technician working in a prison. I didn’t know much about offender health back then, I had been a special constable for almost nine years and had seen the trauma caused by crime and criminality but had not seen how the rehabilitation of offenders worked or what the inside of a prison even looked like.
I was successful in that role and joined as a senior pharmacy technician. I learned so much working across various prisons, and after I left I saw an advert for a medicine management technician in a drug and alcohol service. After speaking to the lead pharmacist, I came off the phone so excited and I really knew it was something that I had a great passion for and wanted to be involved in.
This role incorporates so many of the transferable skills I have learned in my career as a pharmacy technician and I am constantly learning more each day.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?
Working in a national role is a mix of home working and working in services, and not one day is the same. One week I may be home all week and the next I may be working in a service three hours away from my home. This variety is great as I get the opportunity to meet so many new people and really see the value our organisation makes to each of our clients, focusing on a patient-centred approach.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT
I work with a wide range of professionals such as medical directors, lead clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, clinical leads and nurses, prescribers (NMPs), heads of services, directors, stakeholders – all with a multidisciplinary approach to positively impact the outcome that someone achieves when accessing support for substance use.
My role is so varied and can range from things like delivering training, writing guides, harm reduction, medicine management, audits, presenting at external events, community pharmacy visits, destruction of CDs, incident management, drug alerts, managing other pharmacy technicians, recruitment and induction.
WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING?
For me I feel proud that I can support other pharmacy technicians, clinical staff and non clinical staff to ensure that medication management is carried out safely and effectively, which directly impacts our patients and clients, and their care.
I pride myself on my ability to share knowledge, and help enhance the skills of my colleagues. This not only improves overall quality of care provided but also fosters a collaborative environment where everyone works towards common goals.
I love the sector that I am currently working in and the clients that we support, knowing that the efforts from all the teams working together contribute to safer medication use and better health outcomes.
The role of a pharmacy technician working in drug and alcohol services is vital in ensuring that the healthcare team operates efficiently and that patients and clients receive the best possible support.
The impact on people supported in a substance use environment can be significant. Our clients often experience improved health outcomes, and they also have access to treatment and support which can lead to reductions in substance use, which in turn decreases the risk of associated health problems, such as infectious diseases or mental health issues.
WithYou really helps to foster a sense of community and belonging for individuals who use our services. Many people struggling with substance use feel isolated and having a supportive environment can enhance their motivation to seek help and stay engaged in their own personal recovery.
Overall, the support offered in substance use environments plays a crucial role in promoting recovery and enhancing the quality of life for those affected, and I’m so pleased to be a part of that.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE?
I would love to see more clients accessing support services, more access to mental health services, job training, housing assistance and more help to address underlying issues that contribute to substance use.
I also want to see an increase in education, offering more awareness around addiction and recovery.
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING A SIMILAR CAREER?
For any pharmacy technician considering working in a drug and alcohol setting, I would say the role is crucial in ensuring that clients receive the right medications and harm reduction advice while also supporting the individual on their recovery journey.
There are so many transferable skills that can be brought into this sector from community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and prison pharmacy.
The role requires not only a strong understanding of pharmacology but also a compassionate approach to those dealing with addiction. As a pharmacy technician you are a registered healthcare professional and your ability to communicate effectively and empathise with patients and clients can make a significant difference in the treatment experience, ultimately helping someone on their path to recovery and that is so rewarding to experience.
See opportunities like Rachel’s on DDN Jobs