Job summary
We are looking for a part time Pharmacy Technician to join our multidisciplinary team at The Arch Medical Practice. This is an important role supporting the safe and effective use of medicines.
The successful candidate will work closely with clinical pharmacists, GPs, nurses, and the wider team to support medicines optimisation and improve patient care. The role includes managing repeat prescribing processes, supporting medication reviews, handling medicines queries, and ensuring safe systems are in place for prescribing and monitoring.
You will also play a key role in medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, supporting patients with long-term conditions, and helping to identify and resolve medicines-related issues. A strong focus of the role is improving patient safety, supporting adherence, and ensuring patients get the best outcomes from their medicines.
This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys working as part of a team, has strong attention to detail, and is confident working in a busy primary care environment. You will have opportunities to develop your skills, contribute to service improvement, and work closely with experienced clinical pharmacists and GPs.
We are a supportive training practice where learning and development are encouraged, and staff are valued. You will be supported by the wider pharmacy and clinical team, with opportunities to develop your role within a growing and evolving service.
Main duties of the job
The Pharmacy Technician will support the clinical pharmacy team and wider practice in delivering safe, effective medicines management. They will play a key role in supporting repeat prescribing systems, ensuring prescriptions are processed accurately and in a timely manner, and helping to maintain safe medicines processes across the practice.
They will work closely with pharmacists, GPs, and the wider multidisciplinary team to support medicines optimisation activities, including medication reviews, medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, and responding to medicines-related queries from staff and patients.
A key part of the role will involve helping to ensure patients receive the most appropriate medicines safely, supporting adherence, and identifying any issues relating to prescribing or supply. The post holder will also contribute to improving systems and processes within the practice to enhance efficiency and patient safety.
The role requires good attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a busy primary care environment. The successful candidate will be supported in their development and encouraged to contribute ideas for improving services.
This is a varied role with opportunities to work closely with clinical colleagues and be part of a supportive and evolving pharmacy team within the practice and Primary Care Network.
About us
The Arch Medical Practice is a GP training practice based in Hulme, close to Manchester city centre. We provide primary care services to a diverse and growing patient population and are committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and accessible care.
We are a large multidisciplinary team made up of GPs, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, healthcare assistants, and administrative and reception staff. We work closely together in a supportive and collaborative way, with regular meetings to support communication, continuity, and shared decision-making.
As a training practice, we support GP trainees and other learners, and learning and development is part of everyday working life. We also work closely with our Primary Care Network and wider health and social care services to support joined-up patient care.
We aim to maintain a friendly and supportive working environment where staff feel valued and listened to. We recognise the pressures of primary care and focus on safe, sustainable working practices alongside good teamwork and open communication.
Staff wellbeing is important to us and we offer a range of benefits including free on-site parking, staff yoga sessions, walking group, free fruit and breakfast items, Cycle to Work scheme, standing desks, practice fleeces, and an Employee of the Month scheme.
We encourage staff development and provide opportunities for learning, supervision, and progression within a supportive environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following are the core
responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician in delivering health services:
a.
Support medication reviews and medicines
reconciliation for new care home patients
b.
Support initiatives for antimicrobial
stewardship to reduce inappropriate
antibiotic prescribing
c.
Assist in the delivery of medicines
optimisation and management incentiveschemes and patient safety audits
d.
Support the implementation of national
prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other
primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical
audits (e.g., use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and
contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services
e.
Work with the multi-disciplinary team to
ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient
ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
f.
Support practice reception teams in
sorting and streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and Clinical
Pharmacists to review the more clinically complex request
g.
Support medicines optimisation systems
with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging
and implementing electronic prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and
timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines
h.
Provide training and support on the
legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of
the Electronic Prescription Service
i.
Develop relationships with other
pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and members of the multi-disciplinary team to
support integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care
including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health
j.
Be aware of duties and responsibilities
regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on
Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
k.
Handle prescription queries and requests
directly
l.
Be an integral part of the general
practice team
m.
Demonstrate initiative and be creative
in finding solutions to problems
n.
Participate in clinical audits and
research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with
the development, and updating of practice protocols / guidelines and procedures
locally
o.
Support in the delivery of enhanced
services and other service requirements
p.
Support in the management of patient
complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any
necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
q.
Undertake all mandatory training and
induction programmes
r.
Contribute to and embrace the spectrum
of clinical governance
s.
Attend a formal appraisal with their
manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has
been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives
can be agreed
t.
Maintain a clean, tidy, effective
working area at all times
There may be, on occasion, a requirement to
carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and
staffing levels
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following are the core
responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician in delivering health services:
a.
Support medication reviews and medicines
reconciliation for new care home patients
b.
Support initiatives for antimicrobial
stewardship to reduce inappropriate
antibiotic prescribing
c.
Assist in the delivery of medicines
optimisation and management incentiveschemes and patient safety audits
d.
Support the implementation of national
prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other
primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical
audits (e.g., use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and
contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services
e.
Work with the multi-disciplinary team to
ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient
ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
f.
Support practice reception teams in
sorting and streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and Clinical
Pharmacists to review the more clinically complex request
g.
Support medicines optimisation systems
with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging
and implementing electronic prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and
timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines
h.
Provide training and support on the
legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of
the Electronic Prescription Service
i.
Develop relationships with other
pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and members of the multi-disciplinary team to
support integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care
including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health
j.
Be aware of duties and responsibilities
regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on
Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
k.
Handle prescription queries and requests
directly
l.
Be an integral part of the general
practice team
m.
Demonstrate initiative and be creative
in finding solutions to problems
n.
Participate in clinical audits and
research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with
the development, and updating of practice protocols / guidelines and procedures
locally
o.
Support in the delivery of enhanced
services and other service requirements
p.
Support in the management of patient
complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any
necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
q.
Undertake all mandatory training and
induction programmes
r.
Contribute to and embrace the spectrum
of clinical governance
s.
Attend a formal appraisal with their
manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has
been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives
can be agreed
t.
Maintain a clean, tidy, effective
working area at all times
There may be, on occasion, a requirement to
carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and
staffing levels
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Meets GPhC qualification and training requirements to register as a Pharmacy Technician
- Working towards, enrolled in, or qualified via an approved training pathway (e.g. Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP)
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing specialist training relevant to primary care or medicines optimisation
- Experience working in a primary care (GP practice or PCN) setting
- Understanding of GP practice systems, QOF, and enhanced services
- Awareness of the wider NHS structure, including PCNs and commissioners
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Meets GPhC qualification and training requirements to register as a Pharmacy Technician
- Working towards, enrolled in, or qualified via an approved training pathway (e.g. Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP)
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing specialist training relevant to primary care or medicines optimisation
- Experience working in a primary care (GP practice or PCN) setting
- Understanding of GP practice systems, QOF, and enhanced services
- Awareness of the wider NHS structure, including PCNs and commissioners
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.
