Job summary
Newton and Haydock Primary Care Network has an exciting
opportunity for a Pharmacy Technician to work across GP practices in their
Primary Care Network (PCN). Newton and Haydock PCN is a forward-thinking
PCN compromising of Modality St Helens, Patterdale Lodge
Medical Centre, Vista Road Surgery and Newton Practice in Haydock and
Newton-le-Willows. We recognise the value that pharmacy technicians can bring
to our practices and our patients, and we look forward to growing our PCN
pharmacy team. Our aim is to provide exemplary patient care, finding innovative
solutions in general practice to deliver the best care we can to our patients.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking pharmacy
technician to join our like-minded PCN. The post-holder will provide technical
and administrative support to the Clinical Pharmacists and other members of the
PCN team. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, advising and
supporting colleagues in line with local and national guidance, to promote high
quality, safe and cost-effective care for patients. You will become part of a
group of PCN Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians working under the
supervision of the Lead PCN Clinical Pharmacist.
Primary care experience would be an advantage, however, is
not essential. Flexibility, enthusiasm and good pharmacy knowledge are
essential.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of the role is to maximise safe, cost-effective,
prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post-holder will help
patients get the best from their medicines, use existing protocols to maximise
cost-effective preparations, improve repeat prescribing processes (including
use of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering), minimising clinical
risk and reducing avoidable wasted medicines.
As well, the post-holder will develop and encourage a positive culture
of medicines optimisation principles to assist the PCN in achieving local and
national medicines-related objectives.
Main duties
- To help achieve efficiencies and effectiveness
within the prescribing activities of the PCN member practices.
- To promote high quality cost-effective and
evidence-based use of medicines within the PCN.
- To work within the Pharmacy Team, with clinical
pharmacists to respond to medication-related queries.
- To work within the Pharmacy Team, with clinical
pharmacists to develop and ensure a safe efficient medicines optimisation
programme including repeat prescribing, medication review and medicines
reconciliation services.
This role will involve a mixture of cross-site and
remote working where appropriate. The main focus will be to work
with practices and the PCN pharmacy team to support the safe prescribing of
high-risk medicines, and ensure practices are compliant with CQC standards
where medicines are involved.
About us
Newton
and Haydock Primary Care Network consists of 4 NHS GP practices in
Newton-le-Willows and Haydock, across several sites. The Network enables NHS staff to work across
the practices to help deliver services to 50,000 patients.
The
Practice Sites:
- Haydock Medical Centre, Woodside Road, Haydock
- Newton Medical Centre, 1 Belvedere
Road, Newton-le-Willows
- Newton Community Hospital Practice,
Bradleigh Road, Newton-le-Willows
- Patterdale Lodge, Legh Street and High
Street, Newton-le-Willows
- Vista Road Surgery, Newton-le-Willows
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Clinical
-
To use highly developed knowledge and skills to
provide high standards of patient centred care.
- To provide medication review services to
patients via clinics in practices, and in residential and nursing homes and to
deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and
improve the quality of patient care.
- Provide advice and guidance to patients
regarding medication optimisation and lifestyle e.g. inhaler techniques, smoking
cessation etc.
- To
update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice
clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken to ensure
there is a clear audit trail and changes are clearly accounted for.
- Carry out housekeeping whilst in patients
records e.g. dose optimisation and medication alignment.
- Conduct medication reconciliation following
discharge from hospital, and other transfers of care (e.g. new patients, care
home residents), to ensure that medication changes are safely implemented.
- Liaise with secondary and primary care
colleagues to ensure correct medicines are continued following the transfer of
care and to address discrepancies, supply issues and 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.
- Work with the practice managers, practice
pharmacists and GPs to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards
where medicines are involved.
- Carry out medication switches in line with ICB
agreed specific protocols.
- Where appropriate, help practices implement
changes to medicines that result from MHRA drug alerts and product withdrawal,
within levels of competence and in a timely manner.
- Assist with any medication related QOF work
where needed.
- Answer queries around medication from patients,
secondary care professionals, community pharmacists and other healthcare
professionals.
Technical and administrative
-
Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to
ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed.
- To promote cost effective, safe, evidence-based
prescribing in accordance with local formulary, medication optimisation
strategy and national guidance.
- Develop relationships with other pharmacy
professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration
across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy,
secondary care and mental health.
- To attend and participate in practice clinical
meetings and other multi-disciplinary meetings where necessary.
- To attend local medicines management meetings of
relevance.
Contribute to public health campaigns e.g. COVID
vaccination programmes.
- Undertake specific project work and audits under
the supervision of PCN Lead pharmacist or other clinical pharmacists.
- To help plan, develop and support the
introduction of new working processes within the PCN, to optimise the quality
of prescribing.
- Support with the development of procedures and
protocols.
- Help to maintain a positive, supportive culture
across the whole of the PCN team.
- To maintain registration as a pharmacy
technician and comply with GPhC pharmacy standards.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Clinical
-
To use highly developed knowledge and skills to
provide high standards of patient centred care.
- To provide medication review services to
patients via clinics in practices, and in residential and nursing homes and to
deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and
improve the quality of patient care.
- Provide advice and guidance to patients
regarding medication optimisation and lifestyle e.g. inhaler techniques, smoking
cessation etc.
- To
update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice
clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken to ensure
there is a clear audit trail and changes are clearly accounted for.
- Carry out housekeeping whilst in patients
records e.g. dose optimisation and medication alignment.
- Conduct medication reconciliation following
discharge from hospital, and other transfers of care (e.g. new patients, care
home residents), to ensure that medication changes are safely implemented.
- Liaise with secondary and primary care
colleagues to ensure correct medicines are continued following the transfer of
care and to address discrepancies, supply issues and 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.
- Work with the practice managers, practice
pharmacists and GPs to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards
where medicines are involved.
- Carry out medication switches in line with ICB
agreed specific protocols.
- Where appropriate, help practices implement
changes to medicines that result from MHRA drug alerts and product withdrawal,
within levels of competence and in a timely manner.
- Assist with any medication related QOF work
where needed.
- Answer queries around medication from patients,
secondary care professionals, community pharmacists and other healthcare
professionals.
Technical and administrative
-
Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to
ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed.
- To promote cost effective, safe, evidence-based
prescribing in accordance with local formulary, medication optimisation
strategy and national guidance.
- Develop relationships with other pharmacy
professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration
across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy,
secondary care and mental health.
- To attend and participate in practice clinical
meetings and other multi-disciplinary meetings where necessary.
- To attend local medicines management meetings of
relevance.
Contribute to public health campaigns e.g. COVID
vaccination programmes.
- Undertake specific project work and audits under
the supervision of PCN Lead pharmacist or other clinical pharmacists.
- To help plan, develop and support the
introduction of new working processes within the PCN, to optimise the quality
of prescribing.
- Support with the development of procedures and
protocols.
- Help to maintain a positive, supportive culture
across the whole of the PCN team.
- To maintain registration as a pharmacy
technician and comply with GPhC pharmacy standards.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmacy services
- Accredited Checking Technician
- Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Completed/intention to enrol onto the CPPE Primary Care Pathway
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- Good all-round pharmacy knowledge, including law and ethics, current legislation and practical skills
- Knowledge of the principles of medicines optimisation
- Please refer to supporting document attached to this application for full person specification
Desirable
- Experience of working within primary care
- Knowledge of GP systems (e.g. EMIS Web)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmacy services
- Accredited Checking Technician
- Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Completed/intention to enrol onto the CPPE Primary Care Pathway
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- Good all-round pharmacy knowledge, including law and ethics, current legislation and practical skills
- Knowledge of the principles of medicines optimisation
- Please refer to supporting document attached to this application for full person specification
Desirable
- Experience of working within primary care
- Knowledge of GP systems (e.g. EMIS Web)
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).
