PCN Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles and ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients

Carry out medicines optimization tasks including effective medicine administration (e,g, checking inhaler techniques), supporting medication reviews and reconciliation. Where required, utilize consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medication effectively

As determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronize medicines for patient transfers between care setting, linking with local community pharmacies

Support the Clinical Pharmacists in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e organize necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR

Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information and help in tackling local health inequalities

Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients

Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally

Assist in the delivery of medicines and patient safety audits

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and the wider PCN. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to all appropriate elements of the delivery of the Direct Enhanced Service

Assist in the monitoring of high-risk medications and reviewing safety issues

To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement

To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP/pharmacist where appropriate

To assist in the submission of claims for personally administered drugs and high cost drugs as required

Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimization processes are being following

Implement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage

Providing training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health

Support practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings

Support the PCN to deliver on QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services where appropriate

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of prescribing and medicines management issues
• Understanding of working effectively within multi-disciplinary groups and hospital pharmacy
• 2 Years Post Qualification experience
• Dealing with public/patients
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation
• Good clinical knowledge including terminology

Desirable

• Experience in training others

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients or wider group audiences, using a variety of methods of communication
• Able to develop effective working relationships at all levels
• Demonstrate ability to identify and implement best practice
• Ability to work independently and within a team and demonstrate the ability to work together with patients and other healthcare professionals to achieve best possible outcomes
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to prioritise and manage own work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good computer skills including word-processing, spreadsheets, presentations.

Personal Qualities / Other

Essential

• Professional appearance & demeanour
• Adaptable to change - flexible in accepting new procedures and policies
• Ability to demonstrate initiative: proactive and self-motivated
• Progressive and continuing professional development
• Enthusiastic
• Hold a current UK driving licence and be able to drive between practices

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services (BTEC) (or Equivalent)
• Registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Evidence of CPD
• Enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from, an approved training pathway {For example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP) or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) or courses approved by the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) as meeting the requirements of the UK-wide APTUK/PCPA National Competency Framework for Primary Care Pharmacy Technicians}

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Vine Surgery Partnership

Address

Vine Surgery Partnership

Hindhayes Lane

Street

Somerset

BA16 0ET

Employer's website

https://www.vinesurgery.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)