Job summary
Join an Innovative and Supportive Multidisciplinary Team!
We are seeking a highly motivated Pharmacy Technician to become part of our forward-thinking multidisciplinary team within the South East Oxford Health Alliance Primary Care Network (SEOxHA PCN). If you're passionate about improving patient care and excited to work in an evolving role, this is the opportunity for you.
Why Join Us?
This is your chance to apply your existing pharmacy knowledge and skills in a new, challenging environment while expanding your expertise in primary care. You'll have the opportunity to:
- Be at the forefront of medicines optimisation services, making a tangible difference to patient outcomes.
- Support the development and delivery of clinical services in a dynamic PCN environment.
- Work closely with a collaborative team to improve access to healthcare and enhance the quality of care.
About the Role
The successful candidate will be based across three practices within the South East Oxford area:
- Donnington Medical Partnership
- Temple Cowley Health Centre
- The Leys Health Centre
Your role will involve a balance of patient-facing activities, including technician led clinics, and clinical administration, supporting the network with medicines optimisation, quality improvement, and contributing to key NHS frameworks such as QOF.
You'll be integral to streamlining operational processes and creating efficiencies across the network, allowing us to make the most of skill mix and improve service delivery.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
- Deliver medicines optimisation services, focusing on improving patient safety and outcomes.
- Deliver technician led medication or chronic disease review clinics, within area of competence, under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- Deliver medicines reconciliation at the point of discharge and on other transfers of care. Support reconciliation when appropriate if patients have been seen in outpatient settings.
- Provide clinical support to general practice teams and patients, including medication reviews, dealing with medication queries (within competence) and supporting treatment adherence.
- Assist in quality improvement initiatives for high risk and shared care medicines, contribute to the achievement of QOF and other enhanced service targets.
- Use and maintain information reporting systems and databases relevant to the position, including medicines optimisation, prescribing data, cost savings, and patient outcomes. Undertake prescribing audits using GP clinical systems (eg. EMIS).
- Liaise with other pharmacy stakeholders, including but not exclusively: community pharmacy teams, hospital pharmacy teams and the Medicines Optimisation team at the ICB.
- Develop systems and processes to ensure optimal use of pharmacy resources and enhance patient access to care. And contribute to the review and development of practice repeat prescribing protocols and standard operating procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing.
About us
The SEOxHA Network delivers health and wellbeing services to a population of 33,000. The local community is a rich blend of cultures and diverse backgrounds.
This is a unique opportunity to develop the role within the Primary Care Network (PCN) and work with other team members to develop the PCN as a whole.
There are clinical pharmacists and a pharmacy technician, social prescribing link workers, and learning disability & care home patient coordinators in the PCN.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be working as part of the mufti-disciplinary team across several GP practices to provide patient facing and remote support alongside a wider pharmacy team. The purpose of the role is to support the general practice workforce and improve patient care by:
- Supporting patients and the practice(s) with medication reviews
- Undertaking medicines reconciliation post discharge
- Managing prescription processes
- Providing support on medicines optimisation and quality improvement (including QOF)
- Supporting the integration of the pharmacy team across sectors
Development support and mentorship will be provided by a senior pharmacy technician or clinical pharmacist, and the post holder will be expected to work towards the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway if this has not already been achieved.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical aspects of the role
All activities are referrable to the clinical pharmacist to support and advise.
Medication Review
- Pharmacy technicians provided with appropriate training and education relevant to their specific area of practice can competently undertake level 1 (prescription review a technical review of the list of a patient's medicines) and level 2 review (treatment review a review of medicines with the patient's full notes). Any findings which require a clinical decision to be made need to be referred to a clinical pharmacist or GP
- Identifying and prioritising patients requiring Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) and medicines reconciliation
- Organising necessary monitoring testing prior to SMRs
- Cost effective prescribing understanding local formularies and carrying out audits to see if there are suitable, cost effective alternatives that will offer the patient the same therapeutic outcome but at a lower cost.
- Undertaking patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use - assessing compliance, usage, waste, and education.
Medicines optimisation
- Supporting patients with medicines compliance and adherence, e.g. checking patient's inhaler technique
- Management of high-risk drugs setting up and overseeing audits, ensuring adequate drug monitoring is undertaken. Highlighting biochemistry results which require review by a clinical pharmacist / GP, setting up alerts on the system for monitoring of certain drugs.
- Undertaking activities to reduce medication waste, increase cost-effective prescribing and increase patient safety
- Expertise on lifestyle and medication
- Addressing public health needs of patients
- Addressing social care needs of patients
- Providing lifestyle advice
- Linking with other healthcare professionals and organisations for information
- Carrying out audits on inappropriate use of antibiotics and sharing findings with the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT)
- Managing the cascading process for MHRA alerts
Care home
- Medicines reconciliation of new care home patients
- Synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings
- Liaising with community pharmacy
Technical and administrative
Medicines reconciliation
- Reviewing and refining the reconciliation process
- Streamlining the reconciliation process once discharge letters have been received and forwarding any clinical queries to a clinical pharmacist / GP as appropriate
- Ensuring efficient processes are being followed by the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff
- Providing training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Providing leadership for medicines optimisation across the PCN and sharing best practice
- Supporting the MDT to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed
- Provide training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) / prescription management
- Implement efficient ordering and return processes for reducing medication wastage
- Provide training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Promotion of eRD and online ordering to patients
- Support practice reception teams to direct prescription requests appropriately, e.g. clinically complex request to be reviewed by GP/clinicaI pharmacist
Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
- Provide training and support to the MDT and PCN team on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines
- Lead on the implementation of EPS protocol
- Ensure efficient processes are being followed by the MDT and non-clinical and clinical staff
MHRA alerts
- Reviewing, refining and managing the process of MHRA alert cascades
- Identifying patients who may fall within the alert criteria via GP clinical system searches and forwarding to the clinical pharmacist / GP for review
Developing relationships across the PCN
- Answering medication related queries from patients, GPs, MDT, community pharmacy and other healthcare professionals
- With MDT, secondary care, community pharmacy
- Provide direct contact details for prescriptions
Behavioural Competencies and Skills
Collaborative Working Relationships
- Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role in patient care
- Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, other professionals, other NHS / private organisations e.g. CCGs)
- Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Actively work towards developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality
- Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG pharmacists and technicians on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit
- Liaises with CCG pharmacy technicians to benefit from peer support
Leadership
- Liaises with other GP practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients
- Demonstrates understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace
- Demonstrates understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision
- Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service
- Reviews last year's progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others
- Demonstrates ability to motivate self to achieve goals
Management
- Demonstrates understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and / or service
- Demonstrates understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation
- Demonstrates understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice
- Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy / protocol
- Follows professional and organisational policies / procedures relating to performance management
- Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team
Education, Training and Development
- Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and / or service
- Demonstrates understanding of the mentorship process
- Demonstrates ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from a more experienced colleague
- Demonstrates self-development through continuing professional development activity
- Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice
Research and Evaluation
- Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate and review literature
- Demonstrates ability to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support the practice
- Demonstrates ability to generate evidence suitable for presentation at local level
- Demonstrates ability to apply the research evidence base into working practice
- Demonstrates understanding of the principles of research governance
This Job description is intended as a guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. The description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account new developments.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be working as part of the mufti-disciplinary team across several GP practices to provide patient facing and remote support alongside a wider pharmacy team. The purpose of the role is to support the general practice workforce and improve patient care by:
- Supporting patients and the practice(s) with medication reviews
- Undertaking medicines reconciliation post discharge
- Managing prescription processes
- Providing support on medicines optimisation and quality improvement (including QOF)
- Supporting the integration of the pharmacy team across sectors
Development support and mentorship will be provided by a senior pharmacy technician or clinical pharmacist, and the post holder will be expected to work towards the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway if this has not already been achieved.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical aspects of the role
All activities are referrable to the clinical pharmacist to support and advise.
Medication Review
- Pharmacy technicians provided with appropriate training and education relevant to their specific area of practice can competently undertake level 1 (prescription review a technical review of the list of a patient's medicines) and level 2 review (treatment review a review of medicines with the patient's full notes). Any findings which require a clinical decision to be made need to be referred to a clinical pharmacist or GP
- Identifying and prioritising patients requiring Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) and medicines reconciliation
- Organising necessary monitoring testing prior to SMRs
- Cost effective prescribing understanding local formularies and carrying out audits to see if there are suitable, cost effective alternatives that will offer the patient the same therapeutic outcome but at a lower cost.
- Undertaking patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use - assessing compliance, usage, waste, and education.
Medicines optimisation
- Supporting patients with medicines compliance and adherence, e.g. checking patient's inhaler technique
- Management of high-risk drugs setting up and overseeing audits, ensuring adequate drug monitoring is undertaken. Highlighting biochemistry results which require review by a clinical pharmacist / GP, setting up alerts on the system for monitoring of certain drugs.
- Undertaking activities to reduce medication waste, increase cost-effective prescribing and increase patient safety
- Expertise on lifestyle and medication
- Addressing public health needs of patients
- Addressing social care needs of patients
- Providing lifestyle advice
- Linking with other healthcare professionals and organisations for information
- Carrying out audits on inappropriate use of antibiotics and sharing findings with the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT)
- Managing the cascading process for MHRA alerts
Care home
- Medicines reconciliation of new care home patients
- Synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings
- Liaising with community pharmacy
Technical and administrative
Medicines reconciliation
- Reviewing and refining the reconciliation process
- Streamlining the reconciliation process once discharge letters have been received and forwarding any clinical queries to a clinical pharmacist / GP as appropriate
- Ensuring efficient processes are being followed by the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff
- Providing training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Providing leadership for medicines optimisation across the PCN and sharing best practice
- Supporting the MDT to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed
- Provide training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) / prescription management
- Implement efficient ordering and return processes for reducing medication wastage
- Provide training to the MDT and non-clinical/clinical staff on processes
- Promotion of eRD and online ordering to patients
- Support practice reception teams to direct prescription requests appropriately, e.g. clinically complex request to be reviewed by GP/clinicaI pharmacist
Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
- Provide training and support to the MDT and PCN team on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines
- Lead on the implementation of EPS protocol
- Ensure efficient processes are being followed by the MDT and non-clinical and clinical staff
MHRA alerts
- Reviewing, refining and managing the process of MHRA alert cascades
- Identifying patients who may fall within the alert criteria via GP clinical system searches and forwarding to the clinical pharmacist / GP for review
Developing relationships across the PCN
- Answering medication related queries from patients, GPs, MDT, community pharmacy and other healthcare professionals
- With MDT, secondary care, community pharmacy
- Provide direct contact details for prescriptions
Behavioural Competencies and Skills
Collaborative Working Relationships
- Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role in patient care
- Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, other professionals, other NHS / private organisations e.g. CCGs)
- Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Actively work towards developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality
- Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG pharmacists and technicians on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit
- Liaises with CCG pharmacy technicians to benefit from peer support
Leadership
- Liaises with other GP practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients
- Demonstrates understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace
- Demonstrates understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision
- Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service
- Reviews last year's progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others
- Demonstrates ability to motivate self to achieve goals
Management
- Demonstrates understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and / or service
- Demonstrates understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation
- Demonstrates understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice
- Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy / protocol
- Follows professional and organisational policies / procedures relating to performance management
- Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team
Education, Training and Development
- Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and / or service
- Demonstrates understanding of the mentorship process
- Demonstrates ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from a more experienced colleague
- Demonstrates self-development through continuing professional development activity
- Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice
Research and Evaluation
- Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate and review literature
- Demonstrates ability to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support the practice
- Demonstrates ability to generate evidence suitable for presentation at local level
- Demonstrates ability to apply the research evidence base into working practice
- Demonstrates understanding of the principles of research governance
This Job description is intended as a guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. The description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account new developments.
Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Previous experience working in Primary Care
Qualifications
Essential
- GPhC-approved integrated competency and knowledge-based qualification
- Current registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Qualified for a minimum of two years
Desirable
- Completed the CPPE pathway training programme for primary care
Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Previous experience working in Primary Care
Qualifications
Essential
- GPhC-approved integrated competency and knowledge-based qualification
- Current registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Qualified for a minimum of two years
Desirable
- Completed the CPPE pathway training programme for primary care
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).