Pharmacy Technician

Job summary

As part of Suffolk Primary Care, which is a group of 7 GP practices across Suffolk, we are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and flexible pharmacy technician, with strong customer service skills, for Derby Road in Ipswich who look after over 19,500 patients.

Derby Road have 2 sites, based in the heart of Ipswich, with close travel links to the beautiful Suffolk countryside and the Suffolk coast.

The vacancy is for a part time role; we can be flexible on the number of hours available for the right candidate. Flexibility is crucial to accommodate training, holidays and occasional sickness.

We have an established team with a strong focus on customer service and communication.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake patient-facing and patient-supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use through shared-decision-making conversations with patients.
• 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 medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients, synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings, and linking with local community pharmacists.
• Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.
• Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaise with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients.
• Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
• 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 efficient medicines optimisation.

About us

Suffolk Primary Care (SPC) is a forward-thinking partnership of GP surgeries across Suffolk. Our collaborative approach enables doctors and staff to share resources, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality healthcare.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Benefits of Working with SPC

NHS Pension Scheme:

• Defined benefits scheme
• Life insurance
• Family benefits, including adult dependents & children's pensions
• Ill health benefits
• 23.7% employer contribution

Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme:

• Low monthly payments, no deposit, no credit check
• Fully comprehensive insurance, servicing, tyres & breakdown cover
• Up to £2,000 annual SPC contribution (subject to conditions)

Flexible Working Arrangements:

GP remote working options to accommodate personal commitments

Additional Benefits:

• Eye care vouchers
• Health service discounts, including a complimentary Blue Light Card for new starters
• Minimum 33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) for full-time employees, with enhancements for long service
• Enhanced maternity & paternity terms
• High street discounts via our online portal
• Salary sacrifice schemes for technology, homewares (Currys, John Lewis, Decathlon), cycling, and gym memberships

At SPC, we invest in our staffs professional growth and well-being, fostering a positive work environment that benefits both our team and the communities we serve.

Job description

Job responsibilities

If you would like to find out more information about this role, please see the attached job specification.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• The successful candidate should be able to work calmly and professionally as part of a team.
• You should have the ability to multi-task.
• A strong command of written and spoken English with an excellent telephone manner is a must.
• Good time management skills and the ability to follow protocols and or instruction and attention to detail are essential.
• We would love to hear from candidates with GP surgery experience although we would also like to hear from those that can show flexibility and a range of transferable skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• be a registered pharmacy technician with the GPhC;
• hold a Diploma Level 3 in pharmacy services, or equivalent;

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).