Pharmacy Technician (PCN Medicines Optimisation Technician)

NHS; York; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Exciting opportunity to support medicines optimisation across the WONE PCN.

Full support and training will be provided including enrolment in the Primary care pharmacy education pathway. Potential opportunity to develop clinically in areas of interest.

Main duties of the job

You will support the Medicines Optimisation Team in delivering a caring, quality service to the patients across the WONE PCN.

As a Medicines Optimisation Technician, you will contribute to medicines optimisation within the practices to achieve safe, efficient prescribing. You will utilise a range of consultation and communication skills to work in partnership with patients and other healthcare professionals to ensure effective medicines optimisation.

You will support, as determined by the PCN, medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for patients, synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings and linking with local community pharmacies. Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities. Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices and other primary care settings.

You will help patients to get the best from their medicines through the repeat prescribing process and by switching medications according to agreed and approved protocols.

About us

We are a leading primary care organisation that delivers high quality care from GP practices in York, Hull and Scarborough. Innovative and committed, we are at the forefront of developments within our field. We are well organised and deliver high quality care with a range of friendly and supportive staff.

Job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken by members of the pharmacy team may include any or all of the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Head of Medicines Optimisation, dependent on current and evolving workload and staffing levels:

• Assist in the delivery of the business Prescribing and Medicines Optimisation Plan and the delivery of patient services across the Primary Care Network as determined by Practice policy and local and national guidance.
• Recognise and work within own competencies using own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
• Assist in the delivery of a robust and safe system for prescribing repeat medications.
• Promotion of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering.
• Adhere to repeat prescribing policy, ensuring necessary clinical reviews and monitoring are conducted at appropriate intervals.
• Undertake medicine reconciliation to ensure all repeat medications are accurate, maintained up-to-date and are synchronised on the clinical system.
• Effectively communicate with pharmacy colleagues in other sectors to promote best care for patients in relation to medicines management.
• Support the team in training student technicians, prescription clerks, and allied healthcare professionals.
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures.
• Discuss medication with patients and counsel patients on the correct use and care of their medicines.
• Identify and report problems in administration of medicines such as medicine interactions and other physical factors that may affect patient compliance.
• Liaise with Clinical Pharmacists, GPs and Independent Non-Medical Prescribers about prescriptions to ensure accuracy and prevent risk.
• Ensure that all errors and near misses are logged in accordance with the company's procedures and undertake any activity necessary to rectify or prevent errors.
• Promote high quality, cost effective and evidence based use of medicines within the practice.
• Assist in the safe and appropriate storage of medicines.
• Participate in education and training for staff, carers and patients on medicines management issues.
• Keep up-to-date with current pharmacy practice, new drugs and their uses for the purpose of continuing professional development.
• Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with data protection principles to ensure patient confidentiality.
• Advise and assist with all the above as required for Haxby Groups other associated businesses.

Person Specification

Physical Requirements

• Able to undertake the requirements of the post.
• Reliable.
• Flexible.
• Excellent attendance record.

Other

• Able to work at the desired times.
• Flexibility of hours for cover.
• Able to travel across multiple locations.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Good communication (written and verbal).
• Work well under pressure.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Trustworthy.
• Ability to work effectively to deadlines.
• Able to work unsupervised.
• Able to use own initiative.
• Be self-motivated.
• Able to listen and empathise.
• Hard working and willing.
• Flexible and adaptable, able to work according to changing need. Enthusiastic.
• Commitment to personal development.

Knowledge/Qualifications/Skills

• Pharmacy Services S/NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• Registered Pharmacy Technician with GPhC.
• An excellent standard of written and verbal English.
• Numerate.
• Good administrative and organisational skills.
• IT literate.
• Understand and observe strict confidentiality.
• Primary care or equivalent clinical experience.
• Experience of SystmOne.
• Experience with office machinery.

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.