Job summary
The Pharmacy Technician
will work with clinicians to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective
best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will help patients to get the
best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved
protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice,
including promotion of repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical
risk, and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
Pharmacy technicians
play an important role, complementing Clinical Pharmacists, Community Pharmacists,
and other members of a multi-disciplinary team.
Pharmacy Technicians are different to Clinical Pharmacists as they are
not able to prescribe or make clinical decisions, instead working under
supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines.
Please note - following on from the closing date 9th Febuary 2024, Interviews for this role will be held 22nd February 2024.
**Pay will be dependant on experience **
Main duties of the job
To support the Clinical
Pharmacist at the Practice, as follows:
To
carry out medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and
to update patients medical records and prescriptions.
To
carry out medication switches, dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
to ensure safe and cost-effective prescribing.
To
initiate repeat prescribing for appropriate patients.
To
provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing in order to
support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
To
participate in medication audits and QOF quality improvement projects.
To
respond to medication queries from patients, staff and care homes in a
professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice
protocols
To
support care homes in maintaining effective medicines and management and reduce
waste.
To
carry out domiciliary visits where required to support patients use of
medication.
To
advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines, as appropriate.
To
action drug alerts.
To
act as a link between practice and local community and hospital pharmacy
services.
To
support practice teams, as follows:
Liaise with patients and pharmacies regarding
prescription queries and requests.
Work with the practice medicines and management
teams, clinicians, and other practice staff to resolve all medicines related
queries.
About us
Our well-established practice has a committed team and excellent performance against local and national requirements. Gillingham Medical Practice is a two-site PMS practice with six GP Partners, providing high quality primary healthcare to a geographically extensive rural population of over 13,000 patients.
We have a thriving nursing team, working closely with our GPs, nurse practitioners, HCAs, Pharmacist, social prescribing team and allied health professionals, as well as our fantastic administrative support staff. We are a training practice for registrars and medical students.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support the Clinical
Pharmacist at the Practice, as follows:
To
carry out medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and
to update patients medical records and prescriptions.
To
carry out medication switches, dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
to ensure safe and cost-effective prescribing.
To
initiate repeat prescribing for appropriate patients.
To
provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing in order to
support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
To
participate in medication audits and QOF quality improvement projects.
To
respond to medication queries from patients, staff and care homes in a
professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice
protocols
To
support care homes in maintaining effective medicines and management and reduce
waste.
To
carry out domiciliary visits where required to support patients use of
medication.
To
advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines, as appropriate.
To
action drug alerts.
To
act as a link between practice and local community and hospital pharmacy
services.
To
support practice teams, as follows:
Liaise with patients and pharmacies regarding
prescription queries and requests.
Work with the practice medicines and management
teams, clinicians, and other practice staff to resolve all medicines related
queries.
Undertake any other duties appropriate to the
post, as required. Please refer to the attached full job decription.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support the Clinical
Pharmacist at the Practice, as follows:
To
carry out medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and
to update patients medical records and prescriptions.
To
carry out medication switches, dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
to ensure safe and cost-effective prescribing.
To
initiate repeat prescribing for appropriate patients.
To
provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing in order to
support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
To
participate in medication audits and QOF quality improvement projects.
To
respond to medication queries from patients, staff and care homes in a
professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice
protocols
To
support care homes in maintaining effective medicines and management and reduce
waste.
To
carry out domiciliary visits where required to support patients use of
medication.
To
advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines, as appropriate.
To
action drug alerts.
To
act as a link between practice and local community and hospital pharmacy
services.
To
support practice teams, as follows:
Liaise with patients and pharmacies regarding
prescription queries and requests.
Work with the practice medicines and management
teams, clinicians, and other practice staff to resolve all medicines related
queries.
Undertake any other duties appropriate to the
post, as required. Please refer to the attached full job decription.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a pharmacy technician.
-
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical science or NVQ Level 3 Diploma in pharmacy service skills or equivalent with underpinning knowledge.
- Must be qualified from, enrolled in, undertaking or be prepared to start an approved training pathway. For example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH).
Desirable
- BTEC Level 4 in pharmaceutical science.
Experience
Essential
- Up to date clinical pharmacy therapeutic knowledge and practical knowledge of medicines optimisation principles and evidence-based medicine.
- Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics, medicines optimisation, including legislation and policy.
- Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the practice.
- Understanding of the NHS agenda and the issues affecting primary care.
- Experience of change management and putting ideas into practice.
- Experience of completing clinical audits
Desirable
- Experience as a primary care pharmacy technician or part of a primary care medicines optimisation team.
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing.
- Experience of analysing prescribing data.
- Knowledge of SystmOne.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate routine, complex or sensitive information to patients/carers regarding prescribed medicines including where there may be communication difficulties and/or barriers to understanding.
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience.
- Good time management skills and ability to work to a deadline.
- Ability to manage competing demands on time and prioritise/re-prioritise effectively as necessary to meet the needs of the team and patients.
- Excellent interpersonal skill. A team player with the ability to work independently.
- High level of computer literacy.
- Awareness of data protection, GDPR and Patient confidentiality.
Desirable
- Understanding of practice prescribing budgets and NHS BSA activities and prescription remuneration.
- Experience of leading change.
- Ability to motivate others, especially related to implantation of changes where these may not be welcome.
- Evidence of patient-facing experience.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a pharmacy technician.
-
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical science or NVQ Level 3 Diploma in pharmacy service skills or equivalent with underpinning knowledge.
- Must be qualified from, enrolled in, undertaking or be prepared to start an approved training pathway. For example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH).
Desirable
- BTEC Level 4 in pharmaceutical science.
Experience
Essential
- Up to date clinical pharmacy therapeutic knowledge and practical knowledge of medicines optimisation principles and evidence-based medicine.
- Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics, medicines optimisation, including legislation and policy.
- Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the practice.
- Understanding of the NHS agenda and the issues affecting primary care.
- Experience of change management and putting ideas into practice.
- Experience of completing clinical audits
Desirable
- Experience as a primary care pharmacy technician or part of a primary care medicines optimisation team.
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing.
- Experience of analysing prescribing data.
- Knowledge of SystmOne.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate routine, complex or sensitive information to patients/carers regarding prescribed medicines including where there may be communication difficulties and/or barriers to understanding.
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience.
- Good time management skills and ability to work to a deadline.
- Ability to manage competing demands on time and prioritise/re-prioritise effectively as necessary to meet the needs of the team and patients.
- Excellent interpersonal skill. A team player with the ability to work independently.
- High level of computer literacy.
- Awareness of data protection, GDPR and Patient confidentiality.
Desirable
- Understanding of practice prescribing budgets and NHS BSA activities and prescription remuneration.
- Experience of leading change.
- Ability to motivate others, especially related to implantation of changes where these may not be welcome.
- Evidence of patient-facing experience.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
