Job summary
Nexus PCN in Exeter are looking for a full-time Pharmacy Technician to join our PCN Pharmacy Team in order to improve care for our
patients. Experience in primary care is preferred but not essential.
The post holder will work in a multi-disciplinary environment where they will have support,
guidance, and mentoring from experienced Clinical Pharmacists.
This role requires the post holder to act
within their own boundaries of professional practice and level of competency to
assist in improving prescribing practice and patient care. This includes reducing
medicines waste, supporting the Direct Enhanced Service PCN prescribing agenda
e.g. carrying out Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), seeing patients for
medication queries, assisting with prescribing related issues, enhancing
prescription processes within the primary care team and delivering high quality
improvement/patient safety interventions via the use of clinical audit.
The post holder will support Nexus PCN with core medicine optimisation
activities whilst ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines across the
network and working within defined protocols and guidance.
PCN pharmacy technicians play an important role
in improving patient outcomes and should be dedicated to excellent standards of
care and be passionate about improving the efficiency of the practice whilst
always working within their own scope of practice and level of competency.
Main duties of the job
The Pharmacy Technicians core
responsibilities will cover clinical, technical and administrative categories,
supporting improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective prescribing and achieve
the best clinical outcomes for patients. The post holder will be involved in
many aspects of medicines management and will be supported and developed in
this role by the GPs, pharmacists and wider practice teams. This role includes
repeat prescribing management, resolving medicine-related queries, ensuring
effective medicines use through shared-decision making, monitoring of practice
prescribing and local and national prescribing policies and supporting the
pharmacy team with Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs). This role is expected
to develop and evolve over time as the successful post holder gains experience.
The post-holder will work to a
professional code of ethics, be especially caring towards our patients, provide
varied support to the team and show flexibility in the role.
About us
Nexus PCN is located in the centre of the vibrant city of Exeter in Devon and has a population of around 42,000. There are 5 surgeries within the PCN, within close proximity of each other, with excellent inter-personal relations, a good support network and a history of collaborative working. The practices are Mount Pleasant Health Centre, The Heavitree Practice, South Lawn Medical Practice, Isca Medical Practice and Hill Barton Surgery. Our population is diverse, with varying levels of socio-economic status, young families, elderly patients and university students all of whom make providing care very interesting.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The focus of the post holders work will depend on the qualifications, skills, and experience of the individual and the needs of the practices within the PCN, both of which may change over time. Potential duties are therefore outlined below:
Clinical
Medicines Support provide advice to patients on their medication and answer any questions, concerns or queries they have about their medicines.
Communicate with patients on safe and optimal use of their medications.
Support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation, linking with local community pharmacies.
Manage shared care protocols with support from the clinical pharmacists.
Support antimicrobial stewardship and assist the practice(s) in following local policies on the reduction of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.
Prescribing support
Medicines information provide support and solutions to the GPs and other practice staff with medication-related questions and queries.
Audit and risk management participate in audit activities to ensure that high-risk patients or medicines are managed appropriately by running searches on the practice computer system and supporting the clinical pharmacists with performing any necessary intervention.
Medicines safety assist the clinical pharmacists with responding to MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, or other local/national guidance and implement changes where necessary.
National, local and formulary recommendations assist practices with following guidance on the use of medicines in accordance with local and national guidelines including supporting GPs on the appropriate use of hospital-only and shared care drugs.
Medicines management
Repeat prescribing ensure patients repeat medications are effectively managed, identify review dates, and ensure that any monitoring requirements are in place.
Hospital discharge review discharge summaries with the support of the Clinical Pharmacists and complete medicines reconciliation, liaising with community pharmacy where necessary to ensure appropriate management of patients medication post-discharge from hospital.
Medicines waste -support efficient ordering and return processes to reduce medicines wastage.
Practice Support
Education and training provide education on therapeutics and medicines optimisation to other members of the Primary Care Network.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensure that your work is complaint with CQC standards and assist the practice with medicine-related compliance.
Public Health support the practice with public health campaigns and provide technical advice necessary.
Support the PCN - to deliver on Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) and other nationally and locally commissioned initiatives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The focus of the post holders work will depend on the qualifications, skills, and experience of the individual and the needs of the practices within the PCN, both of which may change over time. Potential duties are therefore outlined below:
Clinical
Medicines Support provide advice to patients on their medication and answer any questions, concerns or queries they have about their medicines.
Communicate with patients on safe and optimal use of their medications.
Support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation, linking with local community pharmacies.
Manage shared care protocols with support from the clinical pharmacists.
Support antimicrobial stewardship and assist the practice(s) in following local policies on the reduction of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.
Prescribing support
Medicines information provide support and solutions to the GPs and other practice staff with medication-related questions and queries.
Audit and risk management participate in audit activities to ensure that high-risk patients or medicines are managed appropriately by running searches on the practice computer system and supporting the clinical pharmacists with performing any necessary intervention.
Medicines safety assist the clinical pharmacists with responding to MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, or other local/national guidance and implement changes where necessary.
National, local and formulary recommendations assist practices with following guidance on the use of medicines in accordance with local and national guidelines including supporting GPs on the appropriate use of hospital-only and shared care drugs.
Medicines management
Repeat prescribing ensure patients repeat medications are effectively managed, identify review dates, and ensure that any monitoring requirements are in place.
Hospital discharge review discharge summaries with the support of the Clinical Pharmacists and complete medicines reconciliation, liaising with community pharmacy where necessary to ensure appropriate management of patients medication post-discharge from hospital.
Medicines waste -support efficient ordering and return processes to reduce medicines wastage.
Practice Support
Education and training provide education on therapeutics and medicines optimisation to other members of the Primary Care Network.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensure that your work is complaint with CQC standards and assist the practice with medicine-related compliance.
Public Health support the practice with public health campaigns and provide technical advice necessary.
Support the PCN - to deliver on Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) and other nationally and locally commissioned initiatives.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician. Evidence of CPD
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 2 years experience working in an NHS or similar environment.
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered Pharmacy Technician in Primary Care, Community or Hospital Pharmacy.
- Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
Desirable
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
- 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)
Attributes
Essential
- Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
- Self-motivated and proactive
- Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use (or learn if never used) the required GP clinical systems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
Desirable
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
- Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician. Evidence of CPD
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 2 years experience working in an NHS or similar environment.
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered Pharmacy Technician in Primary Care, Community or Hospital Pharmacy.
- Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
Desirable
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
- 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)
Attributes
Essential
- Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
- Self-motivated and proactive
- Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use (or learn if never used) the required GP clinical systems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
Desirable
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
- Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
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).
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
