Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

This hybrid role supports both the safe and effective delivery of medicines management within the practice, and the delivery of our growing clinical trial portfolio.

Job Responsibilities

• Support the Practice and Research Pharmacist to ensure the Practice fulfils the requirements set out by the ICB each year relating to medicines management.
• Support the Practice and Research Pharmacist with medicines reconciliation, particularly post hospital discharge.
• Work closely with GPs, the Medication Care Co-Ordinator, the reception team and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive optimal pharmaceutical care.
• Support audits, formulary management, and adherence to local prescribing guidelines.
• Manage basic medication/prescription queries and provide appropriate advice and education to patients regarding their medications.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives within the practice.

Participate in practice clinical meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation.

• Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, SOPs, protocols, guidelines and procedures.

• Work collaboratively with the clinical research team to support the set-up, conduct, and close-out of clinical trials involving Investigational Medicinal Products in primary care.
• Support the Practice and Research Pharmacist to ensure proper storage, temperature management, dispensing, labelling, and documentation of IMPs according to Good Clinical Practice and MHRA regulations.
• Maintain accurate records, complete data entry into trial management systems, and participate in monitoring visits and audits.
• Support the Clinical Research Team with the preparation of medications using aseptic technique.

This job description is not meant to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post. The candidate would be expected to undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as agreed with the practice

Confidentiality

To abide by the principles of confidentiality as defined in the Staff Handbook, as required by law and in accordance with professional responsibilities

Health & Safety

To always act with due consideration for the health and safety of self and others in accordance with practice policies

Equality and diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues

Safeguarding

The post holder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of a child or adult they are responsible for or comes into contact with and will be trained to an appropriate level

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

• General Pharmaceutical Council GPhC approved pharmacy technician course/qualification
• Current registration as a pharmacy technician with the GPhC

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to provide clinical and technical services: provide advice in relation to care, provide information on common drug dosages and use; advise patients, carers and staff on issues relating to medication regimes and changes to prescribing
• 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 the ability to work to a deadline
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills be a team player but have the ability to work independently
• High level of computer literacy
• Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics, medicines optimisation, including legislation and policy
• Awareness of the NHS 10-year plan and the issues affecting primary care
• Awareness of data protection, GDPR and Patient confidentiality
• Ability to prepare medications using aseptic technique following set instructions

Desirable

• Understanding of practice prescribing budgets
• Experience of leading change
• Ability to motivate others, especially related to implantation of changes where these may not be welcome

Experience

Essential

• Experience working as a pharmacy technician within primary care, hospital or community.
• Up to date clinical pharmacy knowledge and practical knowledge of medicines optimisation principles and evidence-based medicine
• 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 EMIS Web clinical system
• Experience of IMP management within clinical trials
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification

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).