Job responsibilities
To support practice prescribing and practice clinical teams to ensure delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
Job Responsibilities
- To undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
- To support the achievement of the practice's prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
- To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
- To participate in medication audits.
- To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescription, including assessment of risk and making recommendation for improvement.
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with the practice protocols.
- To advise on sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
Responsibility for administration - Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list.
To undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
To support the achievement of the practices prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
To participate in medication audits.
To support the practice to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets and medicine awareness.
To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
To advise on sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
Patient Services
To communicate effectively with patients ensuring they understand why tests have been requested
To clearly communicate to clinicians that tests have been ordered to allow them to safely and confidential undertake medication reviews and prescription processing
To liaise with community pharmacy staff if any issues arise
To liaise with the PCN Pharmacist located in the Practice with any queries
Responsibility for administration
To provide regular support and feedback to the Practice Manager/clinicians
To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practices clinical computer systems, including advice given and action taken.
To inform clinicians of any changes made or any tests requested
Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate and work closely with the PCN Pharmacist located in the Practice
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
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 follow Practice health and safety and infection control 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 (but will not be limited to):
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
Following procedures and protocols for correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
Following protocols for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Following guidelines for hand hygiene.
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and informing nurse team leaders of anything which could compromise patient safety
Following protocols and procedures to ensure safe disposal of sharps
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business
Undertaking periodic infection control training
Following protocols and procedures with regard to waste management
Following spillage control procedures.
Following decontamination control procedures.
Maintenance of sterile environments
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:
In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days 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 recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise 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.