Pharmacy Technician for Portsmouth North PCN

The Drayton Surgery; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Portsmouth is seeking an experienced Pharmacy Technician to join their team. This role involves processing prescriptions, supporting clinical staff and patients, and ensuring safe medication use. Candidates must have an NVQ Level 3 Diploma and at least 2 years of relevant experience. The position plays a vital role in maintaining efficient practices in a dynamic healthcare environment, focusing on enhancing patient care and adhering to clinical governance standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience in pharmacy.
• Experience dealing with a range of clinical conditions.

Responsibilities

• Process prescriptions for nursing/care homes with adherence checks.
• Support PCN goals for financial targets and efficiency.
• Carry out medicines optimisation tasks to support safe medication use.
• Respond to medication-related queries from clinicians and patients.

Skills

Driving ability

Education

NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills

Level 3 QCF Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science

Job description

Pharmacy Technician for Portsmouth North PCN

We are looking to recruit a skilled, experienced and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our PCN in the north of Portsmouth, Hampshire.

You will work with our PCN pharmacists and practice staff across three of our PCN sites to ensure safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medication.

Main duties of the job

To provide support to our GPs, Clinical Pharmacists, other clinical staff and reception teams, coordinating discharge summaries and medication reviews, playing a central role in repeat prescribing processes, liaising with our patients, nursing homes, carers, hospital and community pharmacies, responding to medication queries and updating medical records.

About us

Portsmouth North PCN is made up of The Drayton Surgery, Highclere and Kirklands Surgery, with a combined population of circa 33,000 patients.

We have a range of key staff members already working to enhance the health of our patient population including 4 Clinical Pharmacists, 3 Pharmacy Technicians, 3 Social Prescribing Link Workers and 3 Care Coordinators.

Management is provided by the Clinical Director, Lead Pharmacist and PCN Operations Manager.

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The pharmacy technician will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

• Process monthly prescriptions for nursing/care homes, checking for changes and adherence/over-ordering issues.
• Support PCN & practices to achieve financial targets.
• Use practice and Ardens templates to monitor high risk drugs.
• Identify blood tests, recalls and reviews using established protocols and forward these to the appropriate clinician.
• 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 initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing
• Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
• Pharmacy technicians will provide leadership for medicines management systems across PCNs, supporting practices with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging and implementing Electronic Prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines
• Participate in CQC related work. Including conducting medication related audits, arranging patient appointments and gathering information all in preparation for CQC inspections and reviews
• Support the pharmacist's in handling acute medication requests within competency and escalating any that are out of scope.
• Support and respond to medicine related queries from clinicians, patients and relatives both face to face, via phone or via email. Queries can include issues with interactions or ADRs, availability of stock, swallowing difficulties, cost-effectiveness, urgent requests or extra supplies.
• Review hospital discharge notifications and outpatient hospital letters and reconcile medication against current repeats, flagging up and correcting discrepancies.
• Promote safe use of medication, reporting of medicine related incidents and pro-actively preventing safeguarding incidents.
• Use knowledge of GP computer prescribing systems and community pharmacy dispensing systems to advise on solving problems related to prescribing/dispensing and other areas to develop the skills of practice and pharmacy staff.
• Support the review of care home procedures, making recommendations for potential improvements.
• Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, protocols, guidelines, SOPs and procedures.
• Support practice prescribing budgets by on-going monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing and enhancing cost-effective prescribing. This includes staying aware of latest QIPP and other cost targets.
• Help review medication with the pharmacists and make recommendations for prescribing changes to improve outcome and ensure prescribing of the most cost-effective product

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) plus Level 3 QCF Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science or GPhC accredited equivalent prior to July 2011
• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions

Skill

• Able to drive and hold a clean driving license

Experience

• Completed CPPE pathway or close to finishing.
• PCN, General Practice or Secondary Care experience.

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.