Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Support the role of the Clinical Pharmacist at PCN level in the delivery of the new Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice model

Medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

Undertake medication use reviews

Day to day handling of prescription queries within area of own competence

File, action and forward pathology results according to Practice policy.

Provide technical and administration support to clinical workforce and practice administration team (including prescription clerks)

Delivery of training and development to practice based prescribing clerks and administrators to support improved co-ordination and effective pharmacy administration within General Practice

Report on key performance indicators for CPGP to demonstrate added value for patients and General Practice in accordance with NICE guidance

Utilise a polypharmacy approach

Use and maintain information reporting systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, medicines optimisation, prescribing data, cost savings, and patient outcomes

To support the development of and undertake (where applicable) audits within the agreed programme which address MHRA / NICE / CCG etc priorities

Work closely with the PCN CP Lead and CCG Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice lead as well as building strong relationships with other partners

Train prescription clerks to undertake workflow optimization in relation to prescription ensuring relevant paperwork is flowed to the relevant member of the team to action

To monitor and manage the PCN medicine management plan

Participate in PCN meetings (where applicable), patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of pharmacy technician within the CPGP model and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimization

Working closely with the PCN Clinical pharmacist, review recommendations form NICE guidance and other national policies to ensure the practices work in a safe and effective manner.

To support all practices within the PCN in the achievement of QOF contributions, PCN DES and other enhanced services

Promote the use of the electronic Prescribing

Working closely with the Clinical Pharmacist, develop the protocols for safe repeat prescribing

To actively review how e consult can used to promote remote medicine management and actively support the process for managing e consultations.

Support self-care agenda through patient education on the importance of compliance and adherence to medication regimen and further provide holistic advice to manage patient health and well-being

Liaise with other pharmacy stakeholders e.g. Medicines Optimisation team, community pharmacy, and hospital pharmacy teams.

Support the Medicines Optimisation team in the delivery of the Medicines Optimisation strategy

Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act; Caldecott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct

Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines

Support PCN priorities such as:

Care homes

Antimicrobial stewardship

MDT working

Supporting practices to reduce wastage and ensure medication optimisation

Utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits e.g EMIS Web

Undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice

Work within the shared care protocols

Help manage COPD patients during winter, ensuring they have safety netting advice and rescue packs in place to manage an exacerbation

As instructed by the CCG Medicines Safety Officer, ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result

Regular monitoring of prescribing expenditure at individual practice level and propose changes to ensure containment within identified resource

Undertake training and development, to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice-based work

Carry out other duties which are appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as the priorities of the service change

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GP practices, CCG staff and other healthcare professionals/stakeholders across the interface

Provide clinical and professional support to GPs and members of the primary healthcare team

Provide direct support and advice to GP practices and health professionals to promote and implement high quality prescribing to the benefit of patients

Promote cost-effective, safe, evidence-based prescribing in accordance with national guidance and the local Medicines Optimisation Strategy

General

The post holder will: Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GP Federation and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.

Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.

The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguarding protection policies and procedures

Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Flexible and cooperative
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Able to finish work tasks
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services or equivalent.

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core Practice hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home

Experience

Essential

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

• Experience working in a primary care setting
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP practices, QOF and enhanced services
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners
• Good clinical system IT knowledge of EMIS Web

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Good personal organisational skills
• Effective time management
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).