Pharmacy Technician

Sussex Primary Care; Crowborough; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Primary Care in Crowborough is seeking a motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our primary care team, working closely with the Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist, GPs and wider practice. The role focuses on medicines management, optimisation and governance within a busy GP setting.

We welcome candidates with GP practice experience or strong core skills and a desire to develop further within primary care.

Qualifications

• GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician is required.
• Experience in medicines management and/or repeat prescribing is preferred.
• Good communication with patients and healthcare professionals.
• Ability to work independently within scope and escalate appropriately.
• Strong IT skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines across the practice.
• Perform medicines reconciliation after hospital discharge and update records.
• Support repeat prescribing processes and monitoring.
• Respond to prescription and medication queries from patients and clinicians.
• Assist with medicines monitoring and identifying monitoring requirements.
• Contribute to medicines governance and prescribing audits.

Skills

GPhC-registered Tech

Medicines management

General practice experience

Communication skills

IT skills / SystmOne

Tools

SystmOne

Job description

We are looking for a motivated and proactive GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician to join our primary care team.

This is a varied role within a busy GP practice supporting approximately 8,000 patients. You will work closely with our Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist, GPs, Advanced Clinical Practitioners and wider practice team to support safe, effective and cost-efficient medicines management.

Ideally, we are looking for someone with experience in general practice who is confident working across a broad range of medicines management and medicines optimisation activities. However, we would also welcome applications from Pharmacy Technicians with strong core skills who are keen to develop further within primary care.

The role offers the opportunity to work with increasing autonomy and take ownership of areas such as shared care, medication monitoring, medicines optimisation, prescribing audits, cost-saving initiatives and wider prescribing governance.

For candidates who are newer to primary care, we would support development into these wider areas over time. We are looking for someone with the right attitude, a willingness to learn and an interest in developing a broad and valued Pharmacy Technician role within general practice.

Salary: £17.61 per hour, Full Time (Part time considered)

Job Responsibilities

The Pharmacy Technician will support the safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines across the practice, working closely with the Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist, GPs and wider multidisciplinary team.

The role will include:

• Medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and clinical correspondence.
• Updating medication records accurately following discharge letters and specialist correspondence.
• Supporting safe and efficient repeat prescribing processes.
• Responding to prescription and medication-related queries from patients, pharmacies and clinicians.
• Supporting medication monitoring and identifying patients who require blood tests or other ongoing monitoring.
• Supporting Shared Care Agreements, including identifying missing or expired agreements and outstanding monitoring requirements.
• Liaising with patients, community pharmacies and other healthcare professionals regarding medication issues.
• Supporting medicines shortages and identifying suitable alternatives where appropriate.
• Undertaking medicines optimisation searches and identifying patients who may benefit from medication review or prescribing changes.
• Supporting ICB medicines optimisation initiatives and local prescribing priorities.
• Supporting cost-effective prescribing and medication-switch projects.
• Supporting QOF, LCS and other prescribing-related work.
• Undertaking prescribing audits, searches and quality improvement work.
• Supporting patient follow-up and counselling in relation to medication changes and safe use of medicines.
• Identifying prescribing safety issues and escalating appropriately.
• Contributing to medicines governance and medication safety within the practice.
• Supporting the Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist, GPs and wider clinical team by managing appropriate medicines-related work within the Pharmacy Technician scope of practice.
• Taking increasing ownership of medicines optimisation and prescribing projects according to experience, competence and training.

Person Specification

• Good medicines knowledge and attention to detail
• Experience of medicines reconciliation and/or repeat prescribing processes
• Good communication skills with patients and healthcare professionals
• Ability to work independently within scope and escalate appropriately
• Good organisational and IT skills
• Commitment to ongoing CPD
• Interest in developing within primary care pharmacy
• Previous general practice or primary care experience
• CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway completed or underway
• Experience of SystmOne
• Experience of Shared Care Agreements
• Experience of medication monitoring
• Experience of medicines optimisation projects
• Experience of prescribing audits and searches
• Experience of QOF, LCS or ICB prescribing work
• Experience of cost-effective prescribing and medication switches
• Experience of working autonomously and taking ownership of projects

Pre-employment requirements

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK prior to appointment.

This post is also subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at the appropriate level for the role. Sussex Primary Careis committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and successful applicants may be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

• Appointment will also be subject to satisfactory references, confirmation of relevant qualifications and professional registration, including current GPhC registration.