Pharmacy Technician

NHS; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS GP Federation is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to support effective medicine use, promote quality improvements, and participate in multi-disciplinary teams. The role encompasses a variety of patient-facing responsibilities, focusing on optimising medication management and enhancing patient safety. Applicants should have relevant qualifications and experience, along with a passion for improving healthcare outcomes in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience as a qualified pharmacy technician in primary care or hospital.
• Ability to communicate effectively and manage workload.
• Evidence of continual professional development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medicines optimisation and reviews for patients.
• Support pharmacists with medication-related queries.
• Participate in clinical audits and risk management.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in pharmaceutical sciences

Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council

Tools

Microsoft Office

Clinical systems (e.g., EMIS/SystmOne)

Job description

TheBPC Pharmacy Technician will play an important role complementing clinicalpharmacists, and other members of the Federation wide multi-disciplinary team, workingunder supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines.Thisrole will support the GP practice and patients get the best from theirmedicines, use existing protocols to maximise cost-effective preparations,improve repeat prescribing processes (including use of electronic repeatdispensing and online ordering), minimise clinical risk and reduce medicineswastage. As well, the post-holder will develop and encourage a positive cultureof medicines optimisation principles to assist the PCN in achieving local andnational medicines-related objectives.

Main duties of the job

• MEDICINESOPTIMISATION.
• COMMUNICATION.
• AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
• CLINICAL GOVERNANCE.
• MEDICINES SAFETY.

About us

Berkshire Primary Care is a GP Federation located in Berkshire, with the GP Practices of Bracknell and Ascot as our shareholders. Since our incorporation in 2015 we have grown organically, developing a range of innovative, successful and award-winning services to support local primary care and our patient population.We are now a key provider and partner for the Frimley Integrated Care System and are leading the transformation of the new integrated structures. Through our ethos of people first, innovative solutions and sustainable services we are delivering services at an appropriate scale and are enabling general practice and primary care to flourish.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

TheBPC Pharmacy Technician will play an important role complementing clinicalpharmacists, and other members of the Federation wide multi-disciplinary team, workingunder supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines.

Thisrole will support the GP practice and patients get the best from theirmedicines, use existing protocols to maximise cost-effective preparations,improve repeat prescribing processes, including use of electronic repeatdispensing and online ordering, minimise clinical risk and reduce medicineswastage. As well, the post-holder will develop and encourage a positive cultureof medicines optimisation principles to assist the PCN in achieving local andnational medicines-related objectives.

MEDICINESOPTIMISATION

Conductmedicines optimisation tasks, including searches to support medication reviews,medicines reconciliation from clinic letters and post hospital dischargemedicines reconciliation.

Supportpharmacists by identifying and referring eligible patients for StructuredMedication Reviews (SMRs), including completing any required SMR pre-work.

Supportmedication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients andsynchronise medicines for patient transfers between care settings, linking in withlocal community pharmacies.

Whenneeded, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients toensure they use their medicines effectively (e.g., checking inhaler technique).

Processrepeat medication requests, in line with agreed clinical protocols and withinyour competency referring to General Practitioners (GPs) and clinicalpharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests.

PromoteElectronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering as appropriate topatient and practice needs.

Supportefficient ordering to reduce medicines waste.

Undertakepatient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use,through shared decision-making conversations with patients.

Providespecialist expertise, where competent, to address both public health and socialcare needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information andhelp in tackling local health inequalities.

Takea central role in clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising withspecialist pharmacists for more complex patients.

Supportinitiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibioticprescribing.

Undertake clinical assessments (e.g. bloodpressure, blood glucose, respiratory & heart rate monitoring)

Actively participate in huddles and teammeetings

Take part in multidisciplinary case reviews

Update and maintain accurate patient medicationrecords on the practice.

clinical computer system, including advice givenand action taken

Convert acute medicine requests into repeatmedicines, where appropriate

Assist in the re-issuing of eRD prescriptions,including checking for monitoring requirements and reviews

COMMUNICATION

Provideadvice within professional remit to GPs and practice staff relating to changesto prescribing guidance to support the improvement of prescribing safety,quality, and cost effectiveness.

Assistpatients and GP staff with responses to medication queries.

Counselpatients on how to use newly started medications, and provide advice regardingany medication changes, to optimise safety and improve compliance.

AUDIT ANDRISK MANAGEMENT

Undertakeclinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the PCN team, and feedbackresults to clinical pharmacist team, and other clinicians in the practices.

Supportimplementation of local and national guidelines and formulary recommendations.

Supportand encourage reduction in prescribing of medicines available over the counter,and of low value, and low priority treatments.

Supportthe PCN to deliver on Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP)agendas, Quality Outcome Frameworks (QOF) and Locally Commissioned enhanced Services(LCS).

Workwith general practice teams to ensure that practices are compliant with CQCstandards and assist with medicine-related compliance.

Undertakeaudits to identify patients that may be appropriate to switch medications tomore cost effective/ greener alternative brands.

CLINICALGOVERNANCE

Respondto Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alerts, set up searches toidentify affected patients on the practice clinical systems and action themaccording to practice protocol.

Monitorpractice prescribing against the local formulary and report back results to theclinical pharmacist team and action as required.

Supportin the reporting of medicines related incidents, and when required, contributeto investigations and root cause analysis.

MEDICINESSAFETY

Identifypatients that are overdue required monitoring and refer to the appropriateclinicians.

Reconcilemedicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into carehomes, including identifying and appropriately rectifying unexplained changes andworking with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive themedicines they need post discharge.

Ensureshared care protocols are in place where relevant and ensure the continuationof safe practice within primary care setting is maintained.

Workwith the pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure theeffective and continuous supply of medication to high-risk patients.

Understand how patient alerts (e.g. visuallyimpaired, hard of hearing) are generated and patient allergy information isaccurate and correctly documented, and that the information is shared with thewider multidisciplinary team

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Requirement(E)essential / (D)desirable
• Qualifications and Professional Registration
• BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences E
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy TechnicianE
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)E
• Willing to undertake and complete an approved Primary Care Pharmacy Education PathwayE
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical SocietyD
• Membership of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)D
• Recognised qualification in the use of computer software e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel Access, ECDL D
• Personal Qualities
• Works well within a team E
• Capable of working with tact and diplomacy E
• Approachable, adaptable, supportive, self-motivated E
• Experience and job-related knowledge
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community, or hospital pharmacyE
• Experience of prioritising work and meeting deadlines E
• Able to communicate effectively and professionally both face to face and on the telephone with people at all levelsE
• Demonstrated high standard of written and verbal communication skillsE
• Evidence of the application of innovative practice and the application of evidence-based interventionsE
• Clear, concise record keeping/ report writing skillsE
• Ability to undertake audit activitiesE
• Ability to analyse and interpret prescribing dataD
• Knowledge and understanding of the NHS and the challenges facing Primary Care.E
• High attention to detail, able to work accurately and identify errorsE
• Able to deal with patients in a professional and compassionate mannerE
• Demonstrates understanding of Information Governance, Patient Confidentiality and Data Protection requirementsE
• Able to anticipate barriers and issues and take action to mitigate risksD
• Previous experience of working in a primary care settingD
• Skills
• High level of competence in Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as a minimum)E
• Experience of the use of clinical systems e.g. EMIS/SystmOneD
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)E
• Highly organised and able to work on own initiative, in line with agreed parameters / proceduresE
• Ability to undertake research/quality improvement methodologyD
• Time management and prioritisation skillsE
• Analytical and problem-solving skillsE
• Able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessaryE
• Other Requirements
• Proven record of good timekeeping and attendanceE
• Self-motivated and directedE
• Able to show understanding of issues relating to
• equal opportunities
• SEE ABOVE

Experience

• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community, or hospital pharmacy

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.

Depending on experienceUp to £35,000 depending on experience