Job summary
Pharmacy technicians play an
important role complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists & other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Pharmacy technicians differ from clinical pharmacists as they are not able to prescribe or make
clinical decisions, instead working under supervision to ensure effective & efficient use of medicines.
Pharmacy technicians core responsibilities will cover clinical, technical & administrative categories.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed & approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing & online ordering, minimising clinical risk & aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
In addition, the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams & promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the PCN in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation & utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
The post holder will be enrolled on to the 15-month Primary care pharmacy education pathway with the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) if not already completed.
About us
Sutton has a population of approximately 200,000
residents registered to 21 practices and there are currently 4 Primary
Care Networks (PCNs); Carshalton, Cheam & South Sutton, Central Sutton
and Wallington PCN; each serving a population of approximately 50,000
patients. PCNs form a key building block
of the NHS long-term plan. Bringing general practices together to work at scale
has been a policy priority for some years for a range of reasons, including
improving the ability of practices to recruit and retain staff; to manage
financial and estates pressures; to provide a wider range of services to
patients and to more easily integrate with the wider health and care system.
Our Sutton PCNs are forward-looking, friendly and
focused on providing a wide range of excellent healthcare services to patients
in Sutton and the surrounding area.The PCNs see the
benefits of working together as a larger GP partnership and are delighted to be
realising some of those benefits now. Because of our scale, not only are we
more resilient and efficient but we are able to invest in continuous quality
improvement, enhanced care, new services and training and developing our
workforce. We value the diversity of our colleagues and actively champion an
inclusive culture and are committed to helping our colleagues achieve a
work/life balance.
Youll be joining a great team in a great place,
where your commitment will be genuinely valued, your skills respected, and your
ambition rewarded.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key
duties and responsibilities
Clinical
-
Undertake
patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use,
through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
-
Carry
out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration
(e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines
reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in
partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.
-
As
determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation
for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers
between care settings, linking with local community pharmacies
-
Support
the Clinical Pharmacist in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise
necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
-
Provide
expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients,
including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local
health inequalities.
-
Manage
shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex
patients.
-
Support
initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic
prescribing locally.
Technical
and Administrative
-
Support
the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation
processes are being followed.
-
Implement
efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.
-
Provide
training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines,
including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
-
Promotion
of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering
-
Develop
relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the
multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care
including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.
-
Support
practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to
allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex
requests.
-
Support
the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP
practices, care homes and other primary care settings.
-
Support
the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced
services
-
Supporting
quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes
Framework and enhanced services;
-
Support
the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements
Confidentiality
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
implement and lead a full range of promotion and management of their own and
others 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
- Awareness of
national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory /
contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
- Correct use of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Use and monitoring
of the correct use of Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning and infection
control
- Responsibility for
correct hand hygiene of self and others
- Ownership of
infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and
implementation of those protocols within the team
- Active observation
of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control,
cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and
weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
- Identification of
the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way
that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
- Making effective
use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the
training of others across the full range of infection control and patient
processes
- Monitoring practice
facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that
provision of hand-cleansing facilities, wipes etc. are sufficient to ensure a
good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as
appropriate.
- Safe management of
sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal
- 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
- Actively
identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection
hazards immediately when recognised
- Keeping own work
areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues
and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and
assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness
across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector
managers
- Undertaking
periodic infection control training as directed
- Routine management
of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
- Waste management,
including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and
collection
- Spillage control
procedures, management and training
- Decontamination
control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
- Maintenance of
sterile environments
- Correct cleaning of
equipment used for near patient testing, such as blood glucose monitoring
equipment and smokelysers, using the manufacturers instructions as appropriate
- Demonstrate due
regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Personal/Professional
development
The post-holder will
participate in any training programme implemented by the practice/PCN as part
of this employment, with such training to include but not limited to:
- 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
- Adhere to
organisational policies and procedures, including all necessary mandatory
training
Contribution
to the Implementation of Services
The post-holder
will:
- Apply practice
policies, standards and guidance when on site
- Discuss with other
members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own
work
- Participate in
audit where appropriate and asked to do so
Special
working conditions
The post-holder
will:
- be required to
travel independently between work sites/surgeries and to attend meetings etc
hosted by other agencies.
- Probably have
contact with body fluids, i.e. urine etc while in clinical practice.
- Need to be able to
work remotely and access all required information in relation to the work needs
Flexibility
This job description
is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected to adopt a
flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment
at any time in consultation with the post-holder and in line with the needs of
the organisations in which it works.
The post holder may
be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the PCN CDs, Business
Manager, Partners and/or Practice Managers.
Team
working
- Assist in the
supervision of other staff or learners where appropriate.
- Work with the PCN
member practice teams to ensure delivery of services and programmes.
- Actively engage in
the performance cycle to identify training and support requirements.
Equality
and diversity
The post-holder will
support the equality, diversity and rights of all those around them and to
include:
- Acting in a way
that recognises 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, other staff 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.
Quality
& governance
The post-holder will
strive to maintain quality within the PCNs and practices 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
- Work effectively
with individuals in other organisations
- Effectively manage
own time, workload and resources
- Follow all
available policies and procedures
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key
duties and responsibilities
Clinical
-
Undertake
patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use,
through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
-
Carry
out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration
(e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines
reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in
partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.
-
As
determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation
for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers
between care settings, linking with local community pharmacies
-
Support
the Clinical Pharmacist in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise
necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
-
Provide
expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients,
including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local
health inequalities.
-
Manage
shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex
patients.
-
Support
initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic
prescribing locally.
Technical
and Administrative
-
Support
the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation
processes are being followed.
-
Implement
efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.
-
Provide
training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines,
including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
-
Promotion
of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering
-
Develop
relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the
multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care
including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.
-
Support
practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to
allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex
requests.
-
Support
the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP
practices, care homes and other primary care settings.
-
Support
the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced
services
-
Supporting
quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes
Framework and enhanced services;
-
Support
the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements
Confidentiality
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
implement and lead a full range of promotion and management of their own and
others 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
- Awareness of
national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory /
contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
- Correct use of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Use and monitoring
of the correct use of Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning and infection
control
- Responsibility for
correct hand hygiene of self and others
- Ownership of
infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and
implementation of those protocols within the team
- Active observation
of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control,
cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and
weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
- Identification of
the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way
that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
- Making effective
use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the
training of others across the full range of infection control and patient
processes
- Monitoring practice
facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that
provision of hand-cleansing facilities, wipes etc. are sufficient to ensure a
good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as
appropriate.
- Safe management of
sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal
- 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
- Actively
identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection
hazards immediately when recognised
- Keeping own work
areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues
and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and
assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness
across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector
managers
- Undertaking
periodic infection control training as directed
- Routine management
of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
- Waste management,
including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and
collection
- Spillage control
procedures, management and training
- Decontamination
control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
- Maintenance of
sterile environments
- Correct cleaning of
equipment used for near patient testing, such as blood glucose monitoring
equipment and smokelysers, using the manufacturers instructions as appropriate
- Demonstrate due
regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Personal/Professional
development
The post-holder will
participate in any training programme implemented by the practice/PCN as part
of this employment, with such training to include but not limited to:
- 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
- Adhere to
organisational policies and procedures, including all necessary mandatory
training
Contribution
to the Implementation of Services
The post-holder
will:
- Apply practice
policies, standards and guidance when on site
- Discuss with other
members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own
work
- Participate in
audit where appropriate and asked to do so
Special
working conditions
The post-holder
will:
- be required to
travel independently between work sites/surgeries and to attend meetings etc
hosted by other agencies.
- Probably have
contact with body fluids, i.e. urine etc while in clinical practice.
- Need to be able to
work remotely and access all required information in relation to the work needs
Flexibility
This job description
is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected to adopt a
flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment
at any time in consultation with the post-holder and in line with the needs of
the organisations in which it works.
The post holder may
be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the PCN CDs, Business
Manager, Partners and/or Practice Managers.
Team
working
- Assist in the
supervision of other staff or learners where appropriate.
- Work with the PCN
member practice teams to ensure delivery of services and programmes.
- Actively engage in
the performance cycle to identify training and support requirements.
Equality
and diversity
The post-holder will
support the equality, diversity and rights of all those around them and to
include:
- Acting in a way
that recognises 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, other staff 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.
Quality
& governance
The post-holder will
strive to maintain quality within the PCNs and practices 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
- Work effectively
with individuals in other organisations
- Effectively manage
own time, workload and resources
- Follow all
available policies and procedures
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft Office package
- Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data
- Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily able to effectively manage allocated resources
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
- Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
Desirable
- Ability to use EMIS
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
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
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments, if required
- Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders
- 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
- Is working under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration with GPhC
- Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to be registered as a Pharmacy Technician
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
Desirable
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft Office package
- Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data
- Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily able to effectively manage allocated resources
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
- Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
Desirable
- Ability to use EMIS
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
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
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments, if required
- Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders
- 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
- Is working under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration with GPhC
- Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to be registered as a Pharmacy Technician
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
Desirable
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
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
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).
