Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician in delivering health services:

• Support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients
• Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing
• Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits
• 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
• Work with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage
• 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
• 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
• Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service
• 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
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
• Handle prescription queries and requests directly
• Be an integral part of the general practice team
• Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
• 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
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements
• 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
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
• 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
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)
• 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

Qualifications

Essential

• Confirmation of registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a Pharmacy Technician. Training requirements are currently in transition and further information is available at GPhC
• 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)

Experience

Essential

• Is working under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care setting
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP practices, QOF and enhanced services
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children

Desirable

• Good clinical system IT knowledge
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Problem solving and analytical skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/ procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good organisational skills
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Effectively utilise resources

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).