First Coastal PCN

Pharmacy Technician

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The PCN Pharmacy Technician will improve the quality and safety of care offered to patients of First Coastal PCN based on the East Coast. They will support the PCN, Practices and Pharmacy team to ensure safe, effective prescribing and medicines optimisation.

We are looking for an ambitious and motivated pharmacy technician with good interpersonal skills to join our PCN team and work alongside our clinical team

As a PCN, we have a great working environment and a great team ethos.

Main duties of the job

The key aims for the pharmacy technician are to support the clinical pharmacists in the delivery of clinical pharmacy services and work as part of the pharmacy and multi-disciplinary team to:

- Increase safety and quality of prescribed medicines

- Assist with medicines reconciliation on transfer between care providers, medication reviews and structured medication reviews

- Provide support on medicines related issues to the whole PCN

- Be a point of contact for patients regarding medicines queries

- Provide remote and/or face to face support to patients as needed

- Be a point of contact for other healthcare providers in the locality e.g. community pharmacies

- To reduce the medicines related workload on doctors and pharmacists

- Assist in the management of MHRA/CAS alerts across the PCN

About us

First Coastal PCN covers a population of approximately 84,000 patients, this is made up of seven practices, Marsico Medical Practice (Mablethorpe), Hawthorn Medical Practice (Skegness), Beacon Medical Practice (Skegness), Merton Lodge (Alford), Spilsby Surgery, Stickney Surgery and Old Leake Medical Practice. These practices work together across coastal and rural to deliver care to the local population.

As an organisation, we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

An exciting opportunity has become available for an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Pharmacy Technician to join First Coastal PCN in a new role that will be developed as it progresses. This role will work closely with the Senior Clinical Pharmacist, but will also work within our Primary Care Community Team, comprising of GPs, Practice Managers and their teams, Clinical Pharmacists, Specialist Practitioners, Care Co-Ordinators, Health and Wellbeing Coaches and Social Prescribing Link Workers

Details

Date posted

27 September 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£26,530 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

A3598-24-0001

Job locations

Marisco Medical Practice

Stanley Avenue

MABLETHORPE

Lincolnshire

LN12 1DP


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will focus on:

Ensuring safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medications for patients. The postholder will have the opportunity to lead on improvements in this area, providing technical and administrative support.

Supporting the delivery of good care, helping patients to get the best outcomes from taking their medicines.

Being the main contact for non-clinical medication related queries from pharmacies, nursing homes and other health care professionals, to improve the accuracy of patient medication records.

Supporting implementation of medication changes under guidance of prescribing clinicians.

Supporting with audit work in relation to safe prescribing and general quality improvement.

Working closely with practice administration staff, GPs and pharmacists to answer any queries and take forward any work streams identified providing technical and administrative support.

JOB ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main Duties:

To undertake medicines and reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records accordingly.

To support the achievement of practices QoF targets.

Working with practices to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prescribing systems.

To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.

To participate in and interpret medication audits.

To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with medicines management team at the ICB.

To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.

To support the clinical pharmacist team to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.

To support all practices in implementing effective procedures and policies in relation to medicines management including the management and monitoring of shared care medication and MHRA Alerts.

To promote medicines adherence including checking inhaler techniques where appropriate

To take a proactive approach to promote the safe and secure handling of medicines 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 in accordance with practice protocols.

To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.

Be responsible for the organisation and planning of your own workload meeting set deadlines.

Administration duties in line with the role and responsibilities. Such as data entry/collation/processing in accordance with procedure

Responsibilities underpinning the Role

To play a role in the delivery of high-quality primary health care services.

Provide support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their outcomes, as a key member of the PCN Multi-disciplinary Team.

Working under supervision of the core network member practices taking referrals.

To make and maintain contact with local health and wellbeing service providers and build a network and knowledge of referral routes to and from service providers, keeping a Directory of Services updated.

Refer people and/or introduce them to appropriate organisations in Lincolnshire and nationally (where appropriate) e.g. voluntary, statutory (local authority) and local NHS organisations.

To present the PCN in cross organisation meetings when agreed e.g. locality/ICB meetings.

Collate feedback/analysis data on behalf of the PCN to report to the board and ICBNHSE as required.

Maintaining a positive, supportive and patient focused culture across the wider team.

Any other duties commensurate with this position.

As this is a new and evolving role, this is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with their line manager.

The content of this job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Key working relationships

Local care homes

EHCH Multi-Disciplinary Team

GP Practices within the PCN

Practice Leaders (Partners and Practice Managers)

PCN Social Prescribers

PCN Clinical Pharmacists

PCN Clinical Directors and Business Manager

Clinical Commissioning Group (ICB) and NHSE

Community Health Teams both physical and mental health

Local Authority

CONFIDENTIALITY

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the PCN as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the PCN may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the employing practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with PCN and the member practices procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, with such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of their own personal and/or professional development

Participation in the PCN mandatory training programme

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance, demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

QUALITY

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performance and take accountability for their own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

COMMUNICATION

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Communicate effectively with other team members

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will focus on:

Ensuring safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medications for patients. The postholder will have the opportunity to lead on improvements in this area, providing technical and administrative support.

Supporting the delivery of good care, helping patients to get the best outcomes from taking their medicines.

Being the main contact for non-clinical medication related queries from pharmacies, nursing homes and other health care professionals, to improve the accuracy of patient medication records.

Supporting implementation of medication changes under guidance of prescribing clinicians.

Supporting with audit work in relation to safe prescribing and general quality improvement.

Working closely with practice administration staff, GPs and pharmacists to answer any queries and take forward any work streams identified providing technical and administrative support.

JOB ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main Duties:

To undertake medicines and reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records accordingly.

To support the achievement of practices QoF targets.

Working with practices to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prescribing systems.

To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.

To participate in and interpret medication audits.

To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with medicines management team at the ICB.

To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.

To support the clinical pharmacist team to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.

To support all practices in implementing effective procedures and policies in relation to medicines management including the management and monitoring of shared care medication and MHRA Alerts.

To promote medicines adherence including checking inhaler techniques where appropriate

To take a proactive approach to promote the safe and secure handling of medicines 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 in accordance with practice protocols.

To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.

Be responsible for the organisation and planning of your own workload meeting set deadlines.

Administration duties in line with the role and responsibilities. Such as data entry/collation/processing in accordance with procedure

Responsibilities underpinning the Role

To play a role in the delivery of high-quality primary health care services.

Provide support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their outcomes, as a key member of the PCN Multi-disciplinary Team.

Working under supervision of the core network member practices taking referrals.

To make and maintain contact with local health and wellbeing service providers and build a network and knowledge of referral routes to and from service providers, keeping a Directory of Services updated.

Refer people and/or introduce them to appropriate organisations in Lincolnshire and nationally (where appropriate) e.g. voluntary, statutory (local authority) and local NHS organisations.

To present the PCN in cross organisation meetings when agreed e.g. locality/ICB meetings.

Collate feedback/analysis data on behalf of the PCN to report to the board and ICBNHSE as required.

Maintaining a positive, supportive and patient focused culture across the wider team.

Any other duties commensurate with this position.

As this is a new and evolving role, this is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with their line manager.

The content of this job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Key working relationships

Local care homes

EHCH Multi-Disciplinary Team

GP Practices within the PCN

Practice Leaders (Partners and Practice Managers)

PCN Social Prescribers

PCN Clinical Pharmacists

PCN Clinical Directors and Business Manager

Clinical Commissioning Group (ICB) and NHSE

Community Health Teams both physical and mental health

Local Authority

CONFIDENTIALITY

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the PCN as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the PCN may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the employing practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with PCN and the member practices procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, with such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of their own personal and/or professional development

Participation in the PCN mandatory training programme

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance, demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

QUALITY

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performance and take accountability for their own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

COMMUNICATION

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Communicate effectively with other team members

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent with underpinning knowledge.
  • Current registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Evidence of commitment to continued professional development (on interview)
  • The successful candidate will be required to enrol on the CPPE primary care pathway which will be fully funded.

Desirable

  • Post-qualification Medicines Optimisation Training.

Experience

Essential

  • A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience within Primary or Secondary care
  • Understanding of prescribing and medicines management
  • Up to date clinical pharmacy therapeutic knowledge and practical knowledge of medicines optimisation principles and evidence-based medicine.
  • Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics, medicines optimisation including legislation and policy
  • Understanding of the NHS agenda and the issues affecting primary care
  • Experience of change management and putting ideas into practice.
  • Experience dealing with difficult situations
  • Experience of completing clinical audits

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a pharmacy technician in hospital or primary care
  • Experience of working within a GP practice or a primary care organisation medicines optimisation team.
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
  • Experience of analysing prescribing data.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent with underpinning knowledge.
  • Current registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Evidence of commitment to continued professional development (on interview)
  • The successful candidate will be required to enrol on the CPPE primary care pathway which will be fully funded.

Desirable

  • Post-qualification Medicines Optimisation Training.

Experience

Essential

  • A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience within Primary or Secondary care
  • Understanding of prescribing and medicines management
  • Up to date clinical pharmacy therapeutic knowledge and practical knowledge of medicines optimisation principles and evidence-based medicine.
  • Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics, medicines optimisation including legislation and policy
  • Understanding of the NHS agenda and the issues affecting primary care
  • Experience of change management and putting ideas into practice.
  • Experience dealing with difficult situations
  • Experience of completing clinical audits

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a pharmacy technician in hospital or primary care
  • Experience of working within a GP practice or a primary care organisation medicines optimisation team.
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
  • Experience of analysing prescribing data.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

First Coastal PCN

Address

Marisco Medical Practice

Stanley Avenue

MABLETHORPE

Lincolnshire

LN12 1DP


Employer's website

https://www.mariscomedicalpractice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

First Coastal PCN

Address

Marisco Medical Practice

Stanley Avenue

MABLETHORPE

Lincolnshire

LN12 1DP


Employer's website

https://www.mariscomedicalpractice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

PCN Manager

Rachael Crown

rachael.crown@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

27 September 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£26,530 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

A3598-24-0001

Job locations

Marisco Medical Practice

Stanley Avenue

MABLETHORPE

Lincolnshire

LN12 1DP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

First Coastal PCN's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)