Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

Work with the Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacists and Clinicians in accordance with agreed practice prescribing standard operating procedures

Liaising with the Medicines Management Team, having at least quarterly meetings to review progression

Process repeat medication requests, including the conversion of acute requests to repeat medicines, changing quantities of medicines, syncing patient medications ,e- RD , arranging compliance aids

Issuing prescriptions in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency and directing queries to appropriate clinician

Provide advice and guidance to patients regarding medication optimisation and lifestyle e.g. inhaler techniques.

To provide medication review services to patients via clinics in practices, domiciliary visits and in residential and nursing homes and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care

To support the achievement of the practices prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets, PCCF and other medication management targets, working in collaboration with the Targets Team

Dealing with medication queries from patients and well a query from clinicians in line with agreed protocols.

To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken.

Liaise with secondary and primary care colleagues to ensure correct medicines are continued following the transfer of care.

To assist the Senior Clinical Pharmacist with data analysis of prescribing behaviour in line with NICE guidance and local clinical commissioning directives.

To assist with the development and review of medicine audits.

Specific work/prescribing initiatives under the support of the Pharmacist.

Conduct medication reconciliation following discharge from hospital, clinic visits and other transfers of care (e.g. new patients, care home residents), to ensure that medication changes are safely implemented in a timely fashion with the support of the pharmacist

To link with hospital and community pharmacy colleagues to address discrepancies, supply issues and queries within competency.

Liaise with the wider health care team including primary care staff, community nurses and care home staff with medication queries.

To support the safe and effective repeat prescribing of high-risk medicines ensuring that regular monitoring as per local/shared care guidance is taking place.

To document interventions made to patients medications in their health care records to ensure there is a clear audit trail and changes are clearly accounted for.

To promote cost effective, safe, evidence-based prescribing in accordance with local formulary, medication optimisation strategy and national guidance.

Attend local meetings seeking to improve access to medicines or repeat prescribing processes.

Seek advice from the patients GP or practice lead GP as appropriate.

Link/liaise with local strategic groups to ensure work is aligned with local health and wellbeing priorities.

Establish positive working relationships and effective communication with network practices, integrated care health and care teams, and a range of local voluntary sector and community organisations.

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

To use highly developed knowledge and skills to provide high standards of patient centred care.

To maintain accurate contemporaneous records on all aspects of the care process and patient contact.

Contribute to the development of the service, e.g. developing service pathways, paperwork and sharing good practice across network practices.

Awareness of, and compliance with, all relevant local/clinical policies and guidelines.

Participate in and be responsible for monitoring progress against key performance targets.

To attend and participate in practice clinical meetings and other multi-disciplinary meetings where necessary.

NB: This job description outlines the key duties that are expected of you within the role although is not an exhaustive list. It may be amended in line with experience, business requirements and as a result of any future organisational change.

3. Other Responsibilities:

Health and Safety

• To comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• To take responsibility for his/her own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her own acts or omissions.

Equality and Diversity

• To carry out at all times his/her responsibilities in line with the Modality Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure.

Risk Management and Clinical Governance

• To work within the Clinical Governance Framework of the organisation, incorporating Risk Management and all other quality initiatives.

Confidentiality

• To maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, clients, staff and other users of the services in accordance with the Caldicott Guardian and the Data Protection Act 1998 including outside of the work environment. Any breach of confidentiality may render an individual liable for dismissal and/or prosecution.

General

• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, within the bounds of his/her own competence as guided by the attached management framework.
• To work across Modality sites as required to provide cover for sickness and annual leave.
• The postholder is expected to be flexible and accommodating, following consultation, in terms of any changes to operating times in the future.

Experience

Essential

• 2 year experience in primary care

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office packages and case management systems
• EMIS user skills
• Knowledge of the principles of medication optimisation
• Good pharmacy knowledge including terminology
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improvement of prescribing
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation
• Understanding of current national policies, in particular those that impact on medicines management services
• Experience of medicines reconciliation
• Understanding of community pharmacy systems
• Ability to develop and implement policy and procedure to sustain a quality service
• Understanding of QOF
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• High levels of analytical literacy skills
• Organised with good time management
• Ability to follow policy and procedure
• Personal Qualities
• Polite and confident
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Flexible and cooperative
• Displays self-confidence and self-awareness, especially in dealing with staff and patients
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information in situations where there may be barriers to understanding both to patients, their families /carers and other professionals
• Ability to work under pressure
• Other requirements
• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Qualifications

Essential

• GPhC Registered Pharmacy Technician
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmacy services
• Accredited Checking Technician
• 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)

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).