Job summary
We are looking to recruit a skilled, experienced and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our PCN in the north of Portsmouth, Hampshire.
You will work with our PCN pharmacists and practice staff across three of our PCN sites to ensure safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medication.
Main duties of the job
To provide support to our GPs, Clinical Pharmacists, other clinical staff and reception teams, coordinating discharge summaries and medication reviews, playing a central role in repeat prescribing processes, liaising with our patients, nursing homes, carers, hospital and community pharmacies, responding to medication queries and updating medical records.
About us
Portsmouth North PCN is made up of The Drayton Surgery, Highclere and Kirklands Surgery, with a combined population of circa 33,000 patients.
We have a range of key staff members already working to enhance the health of our patient population including 4 Clinical Pharmacists, 3 Pharmacy Technicians, 3 Social Prescribing Link Workers and 3 Care Coordinators.
Management is provided by the Clinical Director, Lead Pharmacist and PCN Operations Manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The pharmacy technician will work within their scope of clinical practice and:
- Process monthly prescriptions for nursing/care homes, checking for changes and adherence/over-ordering issues.
- Support PCN & practices to achieve financial targets.
- Use practice and Ardens templates to monitor high risk drugs.
- Identify blood tests, recalls and reviews using established protocols and forward these to the appropriate clinician.
- Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively
- Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing
- Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
- Pharmacy technicians will provide leadership for medicines management systems across PCNs, supporting practices 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
- Participate in CQC related work. Including conducting medication related audits, arranging patient appointments and gathering information all in preparation for CQC inspections and reviews
- Support the pharmacist's in handling acute medication requests within competency and escalating any that are out of scope.
- Support and respond to medicine related queries from clinicians, patients and relatives both face to face, via phone or via email. Queries can include issues with interactions or ADRs, availability of stock, swallowing difficulties, cost-effectiveness, urgent requests or extra supplies.
- Review hospital discharge notifications and outpatient hospital letters and reconcile medication against current repeats, flagging up and correcting discrepancies.
- Promote safe use of medication, reporting of medicine related incidents and pro-actively preventing safeguarding incidents.
- Use knowledge of GP computer prescribing systems and community pharmacy dispensing systems to advise on solving problems related to prescribing/dispensing and other areas to develop the skills of practice and pharmacy staff.
- Support the review of care home procedures, making recommendations for potential improvements.
- Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, protocols, guidelines, SOPs and procedures.
- Support practice prescribing budgets by on-going monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing and enhancing cost-effective prescribing. This includes staying aware of latest QIPP and other cost targets.
- Help review medication with the pharmacists and make recommendations for prescribing changes to improve outcome and ensure prescribing of the most cost-effective product
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The pharmacy technician will work within their scope of clinical practice and:
- Process monthly prescriptions for nursing/care homes, checking for changes and adherence/over-ordering issues.
- Support PCN & practices to achieve financial targets.
- Use practice and Ardens templates to monitor high risk drugs.
- Identify blood tests, recalls and reviews using established protocols and forward these to the appropriate clinician.
- Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively
- Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing
- Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
- Pharmacy technicians will provide leadership for medicines management systems across PCNs, supporting practices 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
- Participate in CQC related work. Including conducting medication related audits, arranging patient appointments and gathering information all in preparation for CQC inspections and reviews
- Support the pharmacist's in handling acute medication requests within competency and escalating any that are out of scope.
- Support and respond to medicine related queries from clinicians, patients and relatives both face to face, via phone or via email. Queries can include issues with interactions or ADRs, availability of stock, swallowing difficulties, cost-effectiveness, urgent requests or extra supplies.
- Review hospital discharge notifications and outpatient hospital letters and reconcile medication against current repeats, flagging up and correcting discrepancies.
- Promote safe use of medication, reporting of medicine related incidents and pro-actively preventing safeguarding incidents.
- Use knowledge of GP computer prescribing systems and community pharmacy dispensing systems to advise on solving problems related to prescribing/dispensing and other areas to develop the skills of practice and pharmacy staff.
- Support the review of care home procedures, making recommendations for potential improvements.
- Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, protocols, guidelines, SOPs and procedures.
- Support practice prescribing budgets by on-going monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing and enhancing cost-effective prescribing. This includes staying aware of latest QIPP and other cost targets.
- Help review medication with the pharmacists and make recommendations for prescribing changes to improve outcome and ensure prescribing of the most cost-effective product
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) plus Level 3 QCF Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science or GPhC accredited equivalent prior to July 2011
Desirable
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions
Skill
Essential
- Able to drive and hold a clean driving license
Experience
Desirable
- Completed CPPE pathway or close to finishing.
- PCN, General Practice or Secondary Care experience.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) plus Level 3 QCF Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science or GPhC accredited equivalent prior to July 2011
Desirable
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions
Skill
Essential
- Able to drive and hold a clean driving license
Experience
Desirable
- Completed CPPE pathway or close to finishing.
- PCN, General Practice or Secondary Care experience.
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).
Additional information
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).