PCN Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the PCN pharmacy technician. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and competencies:

-To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team whilst in a supporting function to the Clinical Pharmacist(s) and other clinicians and within agreed procedures.

-To support the Clinical Pharmacist(s) as the PCN point of contact for some medicines related matters.

-To process repeat medication requests and triage acute medication requests between clinical technicians, pharmacists and GPs.

-To address the following areas with support from clinical pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and GPs: Support with medication reviews within your competency and amend review dates following medication and long-term condition reviews. Facilitate and document correct addition & removal of medications following receipt of a discharge summaries, secondary care, and community clinic letters. Tidying repeat medication lists including synchronising durations and removing medications not ordered within a defined period. Addition/Removal of Medication for Nursing Home patients under GP/Pharmacist Prescriber instruction.

-To issue repeat prescriptions in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency

-To work in conjunction with the nominated Clinicians who support Nursing Homes in the area

-Provide information to patients within own competency regarding medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate.

-Participate in review and setting of policies relating to medicines management and prescribing.

-Implement initiatives to reduce waste of prescribed medicines

-To encourage cost-effective prescribing throughout the PCN

-To undertake medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

-To update and maintain accurate and timely patient medication records on each practice clinical system, including advice given and action taken

-To liaise with secondary and primary care colleagues to ensure correct medicines are continued following the transfer of care.

-To apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines

-To identify and be proactive in your training needs and development and as agreed with the PCN Management Team

-To support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements on behalf of the PCN

-To actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional

-To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

-To contribute to public health campaigns (e.g. flu clinics) through advice or direct care

-To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area always

-Work in partnership with GP practices and the ICB /ICS

-As instructed by the ICB Medicines Safety Officer, ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result.

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the pharmacy technician may be requested to:

-Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives within competency.

-Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• -Experience of working as a qualified Pharmacy Technician either in a community, secondary care or primary care setting.
• Experience of communicating with other healthcare professionals and the public.
• -Experience of prioritising workload
• -Experience of using own initiative
• - Good computer literacy

Desirable

• -Policy / procedure development General Practice repeat prescribing systems
• -Experience working in a primary care setting / PCN
• -Good clinical system IT
• -Use of EMIS Web Clinical System

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

• -An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets
• -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 and ethics and current legislation

Desirable

• -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 GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality

Attributes

Essential

• -Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
• -Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response
• -Self-motivated and proactive
• -Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
• -Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required
• -Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites
• -Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
• -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
• -Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• -GCSE in Maths, English and science or equivalent.
• -NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services or equivalent.
• -Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• -Evidence of Continued Professional Development

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Northgate Practice

Address

Anchor Meadow Health Centre

Westfield Drive

Aldridge Walsall

West Midlands

WS9 8AJ

Employer's website

https://www.northgatepractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)