Pharmacy Technician - PCN

Job responsibilities

Key Duties and 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 staffing levels:

Primary

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team whilst in a supporting function to the clinical pharmacist and other clinicians and within agreed prescribing standard operating procedures

To support the clinical pharmacist as the PCN point of contact for all medicines related matters

To process repeat medication requests, including the conversion of acute requests to repeat medicines, changing quantities of medicines

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

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 monitor practice adherence to the prescribing policy

To support virtual and remote models of consultation and support including e-consultations, telehealth and telemedicine

To liaise with practices and implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system for use across all practices

To support the clinical pharmacist in improving the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education to improve performance against NICE standards, and clinical and prescribing guidance

To support the clinical pharmacist in producing a prescribing newsletter or bulletin on a quarterly basis

To ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs

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 Clinical Pharmacist.

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

To participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events

To actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional

To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

To attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

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

To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

Secondary

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

Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, CQUIN and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives

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.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Flexible and cooperative
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Able to finish work tasks
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Good personal organisational skills
• Effective time management
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of working autonomously or as part of a team

Desirable

• Experience working in a primary care setting
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP practices, QOF and enhanced services
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners
• Good clinical system IT knowledge, preferably SystmOne

Qualifications

Essential

• GSCE in Maths, English and science or equivalent.
• NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent

Desirable

• NVQ level 3 (or working towards) in pharmacy services or equivalent.

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).