Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

Audit and risk stratification

Participate in audit activities to optimise medicines safety and the use of prescribing resource

Feedback results of clinical audit activities in areas agreed with GP practice and PCN teams

Make recommendations based on the outcomes of audit and shared learning activities

Operational Performance

Work collaboratively to help develop and promote a positive working culture, including involvement in developing, improving, and promoting the pharmacy service

Ensure adherence to efficient administrative processes within the pharmacy service

Personal Contribution

Maintain productive relationships encouraging the giving and receiving of regular feedback to create and maintain a culture of constantly seeking to refine and improve the service and learn together

Engagement with patients, internal and external stakeholders

Engage with users of the service to understand peoples experience of the service and to measure levels of satisfaction

Responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality

Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources

Support training and development of administrative staff to support pharmacy service in line with protocols and procedures

Work within risk management and health and safety policies and procedures within GP practices and other providers

Adhere to a robust process for recording learning events, complaints, accidents, and significant events

To provide support to assist with the development and management of any changes or new processes and systems that need implementing.

To carry out any other appropriate duties as determined by the organisation.

Confidentiality

Under the Data Protection Act 2018 (alongside the EU General Data Protection Regulations) the post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients and staff. The work is of a confidential nature and information gained must not be communicated to other persons except in the recognised course of duty. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information will result in disciplinary action and may lead to your dismissal.

While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the PCNs practices policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with the organisations procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights

Health & Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff, including infection prevention and control.

Infection Prevention and Control

It is the responsibility of all members of staff to provide a high standard of care to patients they are involved with. This includes good infection prevention practice.

All staff have a responsibility to comply with Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, this includes:

Completing mandatory infection prevention training.

Challenging poor infection prevention and control practices.

Ensuring their own compliance with the PCN practices Infection Prevention and Control policy and procedures for example, standard precautions, hand hygiene, prevention & management of inoculation incidents

Safeguarding

To be fully aware of and understand the duties and responsibilities arising from the Childrens Act 2004 and Working Together in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people as this applies to the workers role within the organisation.

To also be fully aware of the principles of safeguarding as they apply to vulnerable adults in relation to the workers role, which will include recognising the types and signs of abuse and neglect and ensuring that the Clinical Director is made aware and kept fully informed of any concerns which the worker may have in relation to safeguarding adults and/or child protection.

Everyone within the organisation has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

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.

Special Working conditions

To be prepared to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends if required.

The post holder may be required to visit patients in their own home.

Flexibility

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment at any time in line with the needs of the organisation.

The post holder may be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the Clinical Director, to meet the needs of the organisation. This could involve travel to other sites within the organisation

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications and Experience
• Professional registration with GPhC
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and Understanding
• Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine
• Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care
• Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
• Awareness of funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality
• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law, ethics and current legislation
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Skills and Competencies
• Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems
• Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data
• Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily
• Able to effectively manage allocated resources
• Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
• Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals, whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
• Influencing and negotiating skills
• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues

Desirable

• PCPEP- Primary care pharmacy education pathway

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).