Pharmacy Technician

NHS; Stourbridge; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job description

The Pharmacy Technician will support the Primary Care Network to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of the role is to promote and support improvements to maximise safe and best practice in prescribing, help to develop processes and systems for safer prescribing, reduce medicines waste and improve the quality of patient care.

You will undertake patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, carry out medicines optimisation tasks, clinical audit and medicines reconciliation to support our clinical pharmacists and the wider primary care team. The role will assist in delivery of our integrated work plan and incentive schemes.

If you are a motivated and enthusiastic pharmacy technician looking for a new challenge in primary care this could be an exciting opportunity for you.

About us

Kingswinford & Wordsley Primary Care Network is a network of 5 practices with a list size of over 50,000 patients. This role exists to support the delivery of the Kingswinford & Wordsley Primary Care Network agenda. The post will form an integral part of the PCN leadership team working alongside the Practice Managers and the Clinical Director and the PCN Partners.

Job responsibilities

1. To undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
2. To support the achievement of the practices prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
3. Working with the Practices to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
4. To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
5. To participate in medication audits.
6. To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with the medicines management team at the ICB.
7. To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
8. To support the Practices to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.
9. To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
10. To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
11. To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
12. Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines.
13. To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post in order to provide a quality service.

Responsibility for administration

Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list:

1. Taking messages and passing on information as appropriate.
2. Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
3. Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare professionals and providers.
4. Helping to maintain a positive, supportive culture across the whole of the practice team.
5. Any other duties commensurate with this position.

Duties will vary from time to time under the direction of the Clinical Directors/PCN Pharmacists dependent on current and evolving practice workload and PCN Contract Requirements.

Patient services

To provide medication review services to patients in the practice, domiciliary visits and in residential and nursing homes, and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care.

To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the medicine management team and all other relevant health professionals in the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.

To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the practice to optimise the quality of prescribing.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

1. Communicate effectively with other team members.
2. Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
3. Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Key Relationships

Internal: Clinical Director, Practice Managers, Lead Pharmacist, PCN Manager, PCN colleagues across Dudley, Primary Care Network GPs, nurses and other practice staff.

Community nurses and other healthcare professionals (e.g. OT, ICT, CPN, nursing home staff etc.). Community and hospital pharmacy teams. Community pharmacists, PCN community pharmacy leads Other primary care health professionals.

Person Specification

Experience

• Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work.
• Proficient in the use of IT e.g. MS Office Outlook, Excel working with spreadsheets and databases.
• Experience of prescribing/clinical systems such as EMIS.
• Recent previous experience within comparable role in General Practice.
• Previous experience working within a patient facing role.
• Awareness of Medicines Management agenda.

Qualifications

• BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualifications in pharmacy (Meeting the qualification requirements for a Pharmacy Technician as specified by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• GCSE (A* - C Grade) or equivalent.
• Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
• CPPE Qualified.
• Medicines reconciliation Certificate or equivalent.

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.

Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working.