Pharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

To support the practice with simple medication reviews and medicines reconciliation (e.g. patients recently discharged from hospital)

To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring on to PCN Pharmacists or GPs as needed

To support the PCN Pharmacists in Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR, booking patients in with pharmacists

To link with local community pharmacies about supply issues and alternatives, MDS changes, synchronisation of medicines

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.

To participate in audit e.g shared care medicines and associated monitoring, management of medication recalls and safety alerts

To support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.

To support the practice with QIPP agenda, QOF, IIF, Medicines Optimisation Projects and locally commissioned enhanced services

To support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance.

Confidentiality:

In the course of 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 practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures.This will include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
• Reporting potential risks identified

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 recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice 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.

Personal/professional development:

• The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

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

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Good verbal and written communication
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Able to respond to change and apply new developments without difficulty.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to make effective relationships with others.
• Excellent keyboard and computer skills

Qualities/Attributes

Essential

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Ability to self-motivate, organise and prioritise own workloa

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician
• BTEC/NVQ3 Pharmacy services (or equivalent)
• Evidence of recent CPD e.g. CPPE Primary care learning for all pharmacy professionals resources

Desirable

• Completed the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Experience working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician.
• Experience of working in a GP practice
• Experience of dealing with the public/patients.
• Experience of Systm One

Desirable

• Understanding of working effectively within multidisciplinary groups

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).