GP Practice Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

Work closely with GPs, other healthcare professionals, and patients to ensure optimal use of medicines and improve patient care

Undertake both patient-facing and telephone medication reviews to ensure effective use of medicines through shared decision-making discussions

Conduct clinical safety searches to ensure blood tests/BPs are up-to-date and highlight to GPs or clinical pharmacist if abnormalities detected

Undertake medicines reconciliation and process discharge summaries / specialist letters to update patients medical records accordingly to ensure smooth transition of care at the interface

Undertake structured medication reviews with patients, including care home residents and refer complex patients to GPs or clinical pharmacist

Provide basic medication advice to patients under the supervision of a clinical pharmacist or GPs

Assisting in chronic medication reviews, including polypharmacy reviews

Manage and synchronise repeat prescription and issue acute prescription, if appropriate

Support primary care team with shared care protocols e.g. ensuring shared care guideline is followed, checking compliance with blood tests, liaising with patients and updating records

Support the implementation of national and local ICB policies and initiatives within GP practice through undertaking clinical audits, support delivery of IIF, Qof and PIS targets

Assist the delivery of medicines optimisation incentive schemes such as cost-effective medicine switches

Medicines Management

Medication Reviews: Conduct regular medication reviews to ensure they are appropriate, effective and safe. This includes checking for any potential drug interactions or contraindications

Repeat Prescriptions: Help manage and issue repeat prescriptions, ensuring that patients receive their medication in a timely manner and providing information on how to use it

2. General Responsibilities

Maintain and document all necessary records, including the use of GP system

Monitor the prescribing trend within the GP surgery and identify any areas for improvement

Work with GPs and clinical pharmacist to reduce health ine

Work with PCN-wide MDT and practice to support medicines optimisation to get the best values from medicines and reduce costs/waste

Implement safe repeat prescribing system, and timely monitoring and management of high-risk drugs including DOAC and drug safety alerts on ECLIPSE

Attend meetings such as clinical meeting and care home MDT as required

Attend training courses and supervision sessions as required.

Support the integration of pharmacy team with community pharmacy, primary and secondary care colleagues across the system

Carry out 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

Support capacity and access improvements by participating in the triaging system to free up GPs for more urgent appointments

Comply with regulations and GPhC Standards and Codes of Conduct

Experience

Essential

• Good level of written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and independently as required
• Good computer skills
• Understanding of pharmacy law, ethics and current legislation.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection act.
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• Work under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective use of medicines.
• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge, including terminology.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients).
• Recognise priorities when problem solving and identify deviations from the normal pattern and can refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Good IT skills.
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional experience and direct service provision.

Desirable

• Medicines policy, current NHS policies, processes and structures especially relating to medicines and pharmacy awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
• Knowledge of, and ability to work to, policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
• Good clinical knowledge of common long-term conditions and clinical terminologies.

Qualifications

Essential

• BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualifications in pharmacy (Meeting the qualification requirements for a Pharmacy Technician as specified by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)).
• Be registered with the GPhC.

Desirable

• Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development.
• Understanding the context of general practice and having an appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing.
• Patient counselling and consultation skills.
• Be enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from an approved training pathway e.g.: Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCEP) or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH).

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Flexible, cooperative & adaptable.
• Motivated forward-thinker.
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required.
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations.

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).