Page 4919 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019

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(3) What are the committee’s terms of reference.

(4) What is the pharmacy’s plan to return to full staffing.

(5) What is the full staffing structure.

(6) When was this structure last reviewed as to required skill sets and staffing adequacy.

(7) What was discovered in the review.

(8) Have those discoveries been implemented; if not, why not.

(9) Which positions are vacant as at the date on which this question was published in the Questions on Notice Paper.

(10) What is the target date for reaching full staffing.

(11) Why has there been a high turnover of pharmacy staff in recent years.

Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) Canberra Health Services (CHS) Pharmacy Workplace Consultative Committee (WCC) has drafted a competency standards manual, which describes the competence to be demonstrated for progression through the Pharmacist classification levels 1 to 3.5, and the composition of the panels that will assess this competence. The draft has been circulated to all pharmacists at CHS, as well as unions, and feedback will be considered before the manual is endorsed and implemented.

(2) The membership of the WCC is:

CHS Director of Pharmacy

CHS Human Resource Business Partner, Medical Services

CHS Senior Director - Workforce Relations, People and Culture

CHS Advisor - Workforce Relations, People and Culture (Secretariat)

Calvary Director of Pharmacy or delegate

ACT Health Directorate Chief Pharmacist or delegate

Professional Pharmacists Australia representative

Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) representative

Health Services Union of Australia (HSU) representative

(3) The Committee’s terms of reference (Attachment A) were ratified by the WCC at their meeting on 13 November 2019.

(4) A plan has been developed to increase attraction and retention and return to full occupancy. This plan includes targeted recruitment activity, specific support for education and development of key roles, and increasing the intake of intern pharmacists.

(5) The pharmacy staffing structure comprises:

1.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Director of Pharmacy

55.5 FTE pharmacists

24.5 FTE technical and health support officers

2.7 FTE other support staff in nursing and administration.


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