Job summary
Working within our pharmacy team, you
will work proactively on initiatives to support medicines optimisation,
medicine safety and improving health equality.
Main duties of the job
The role will include supporting the management of long-term conditions, as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary team. You will be fully supported to work towards leading patient facing clinics including hypertension clinics. This will be achieved via structured personal development plan, including clinical supervision, regular teaching sessions and shadowing.
You will work as part of a large pharmacy team including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medicines management support staff, to enhance patient care and help bridge the gap between primary and secondary care.
You will be required to work across sites within North Shields.
About us
This Pharmacy Technician position will be working across the GP practices within the North Shields area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a first point of contact for the practice and community pharmacies on medicines management issues. To resolve issues, or to escalate them to the prescribing support pharmacist facilitating positive working relationships between primary health care teams and community pharmacists.
- To communicate medicines management issues for individual patients to the primary healthcare team and provide verbal and written information to patients and/or carers to ensure they are fully informed of any prescribing changes.
- To work collaboratively with the Clinical Pharmacists on clinical audit. To provide data for clinical review, support preparation of written reports of audit outcomes and attend appropriate primary health care team meetings to discuss the information.
- To provide support to senior pharmacy colleagues on clinical and/or operational tasks
- To assist in the planning, development, implementation and monitoring of new practices.
- To support patients providing verbal and written information to patients and/or carers to ensure they are fully informed of any prescribing changes.
- To undertake a clinical role under the supervision of Clinical Pharmacist in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures.
- To use expertise and experience to assess the medication requirements of patients with respect to use of their own medication (assess if fit for use), take medication histories and maximise medicine compliance/concordance by assessing the needs of the patient.
- To participate in the writing and implementation of policies and procedures within the medicines management team and more broadly as required
- To provide feedback on procedures and policies and discuss with an appropriate person any changes felt that would benefit the medicines management process.
- To support junior pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and any other relevant members of the pharmacy team.
- To ensure any errors are recorded by the appropriate member of staff, in accordance with practice procedures.
- To provide training and support to colleagues as required.
- To use EMIS/SystemOne computer system to input data for patients discharged from hospital, medication review work, or medications changed by other health care services.
- Ensuring medication incidents are reported through appropriate sources, to support investigations as necessary and to support the implementation of any changes in practice which may result.
- To ensure awareness and application of local standards, policies and procedures.
- To work within the guidelines of Standard Operating Procedures under the supervision of the practice Manager or nominated deputy.
- The main tasks will include:
- Detailed medication reviews linked where appropriate to long term condition review
- Discussion of medication and medication reviews directly with patients
- Checking medications for interactions and contraindications
- Considering, and in partnership with GPs undertaking, de-prescribing activities and medication rationalisation
- Advising and supporting colleagues in relation to detailed prescribing or medication issues
- Medication reconciliation after hospital or care home discharge
- Undertake simple SMRs
- Ensure shared care agreements are within local guidance and in line with the latest formulary
- Undertake relevant searches to identify any patients who require specialised monitoring and check reviews are all up to date.
- To interpret prescriptions for drug problems such as drug dosage, form and administration. Consider legality, clarity and risk associated with prescribed medicines and prescriptions and make basic interventions to ensure medicines are safe for patients and be able to refer as appropriate to pharmacist
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a first point of contact for the practice and community pharmacies on medicines management issues. To resolve issues, or to escalate them to the prescribing support pharmacist facilitating positive working relationships between primary health care teams and community pharmacists.
- To communicate medicines management issues for individual patients to the primary healthcare team and provide verbal and written information to patients and/or carers to ensure they are fully informed of any prescribing changes.
- To work collaboratively with the Clinical Pharmacists on clinical audit. To provide data for clinical review, support preparation of written reports of audit outcomes and attend appropriate primary health care team meetings to discuss the information.
- To provide support to senior pharmacy colleagues on clinical and/or operational tasks
- To assist in the planning, development, implementation and monitoring of new practices.
- To support patients providing verbal and written information to patients and/or carers to ensure they are fully informed of any prescribing changes.
- To undertake a clinical role under the supervision of Clinical Pharmacist in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures.
- To use expertise and experience to assess the medication requirements of patients with respect to use of their own medication (assess if fit for use), take medication histories and maximise medicine compliance/concordance by assessing the needs of the patient.
- To participate in the writing and implementation of policies and procedures within the medicines management team and more broadly as required
- To provide feedback on procedures and policies and discuss with an appropriate person any changes felt that would benefit the medicines management process.
- To support junior pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacists and any other relevant members of the pharmacy team.
- To ensure any errors are recorded by the appropriate member of staff, in accordance with practice procedures.
- To provide training and support to colleagues as required.
- To use EMIS/SystemOne computer system to input data for patients discharged from hospital, medication review work, or medications changed by other health care services.
- Ensuring medication incidents are reported through appropriate sources, to support investigations as necessary and to support the implementation of any changes in practice which may result.
- To ensure awareness and application of local standards, policies and procedures.
- To work within the guidelines of Standard Operating Procedures under the supervision of the practice Manager or nominated deputy.
- The main tasks will include:
- Detailed medication reviews linked where appropriate to long term condition review
- Discussion of medication and medication reviews directly with patients
- Checking medications for interactions and contraindications
- Considering, and in partnership with GPs undertaking, de-prescribing activities and medication rationalisation
- Advising and supporting colleagues in relation to detailed prescribing or medication issues
- Medication reconciliation after hospital or care home discharge
- Undertake simple SMRs
- Ensure shared care agreements are within local guidance and in line with the latest formulary
- Undertake relevant searches to identify any patients who require specialised monitoring and check reviews are all up to date.
- To interpret prescriptions for drug problems such as drug dosage, form and administration. Consider legality, clarity and risk associated with prescribed medicines and prescriptions and make basic interventions to ensure medicines are safe for patients and be able to refer as appropriate to pharmacist
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC in pharmaceutical science or NVQ Level 3 supported by appropriate underpinning knowledge e.g. BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences, NPA or equivalent qualification, plus specialist training and experience equivalent to degree level (or equivalent level of knowledge and / or experience)
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of working with EMIS clinical system
- Previous relevant experience working in either a hospital, community or primary care pharmacy setting.
- Previous experience of managing/supervising staff
- Knowledge of the operation of pharmacy services
- Audit experience
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
- Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow policy and procedure
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite, positive, well organised and optimistic
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated
- Initiative and judgement (knowing when to ask for help)
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BTEC in pharmaceutical science or NVQ Level 3 supported by appropriate underpinning knowledge e.g. BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences, NPA or equivalent qualification, plus specialist training and experience equivalent to degree level (or equivalent level of knowledge and / or experience)
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of working with EMIS clinical system
- Previous relevant experience working in either a hospital, community or primary care pharmacy setting.
- Previous experience of managing/supervising staff
- Knowledge of the operation of pharmacy services
- Audit experience
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
- Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow policy and procedure
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite, positive, well organised and optimistic
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated
- Initiative and judgement (knowing when to ask for help)
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
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).