Job summary
We are looking to recruit two skilled and enthusiastic
pharmacy technicians into exciting new positions in our two GP practices in
Ealing, West London. Your role will be working in the pharmacy team with our pharmacist
and maintaining the day to day running of medicines management tasks in the
surgery and to ensure safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed
medication.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for two GPhC registered pharmacy technicians to provide support to our GPs, Clinical Pharmacists, other
clinical staff and reception teams, coordinating discharge summaries and
medication reviews, playing a central role in repeat prescribing processes,
liaising with our patients, nursing homes, carers, hospital and community
pharmacies, responding to medication queries and updating medical records.
About us
We are a team of doctors and primary health care professionals practicing in Florence Road and Bramley Road, Ealing. We are contracted to provide services for you by Ealing Primary Care Trust. We are a non-limited partnership.
The Practice Team consists of trained medical staff General Practitioners (GPs), Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants and an Administration Team who manage the day-to-day operation of the practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responding to prescription requests from patients, nursing/care home staff, pharmacy staff and GPs, processing them within 48 hours for routine prescriptions and same day for urgent prescriptions. This can include re-routing prescriptions to out of hours pharmacies for same day delivery.
- Process monthly prescriptions for nursing/care homes, checking for changes and adherence/over-ordering issues.
- Identify blood tests, recalls, and reviews using established protocols and forward these to the appropriate clinician.
- Use practice and CCG templates to record near-patient monitoring for high-risk drugs.
- Review hospital discharge notifications and outpatient hospital letters and reconcile medication against current repeats, flagging up and correcting discrepancies.
- Support and respond to medicines-related queries from medical and nursing colleagues and from patients and relatives both face to face, via phone or via email. Queries can include issues with interactions or ADRs, availability of stock, swallowing difficulties, cost-effectiveness, urgent requests, or extra supplies.
- Use knowledge of GP computer prescribing systems and community pharmacy dispensing systems to advise on solving problems related to prescribing/dispensing and other areas to develop the skills of practice and pharmacy staff.
- Support practice prescribing budgets by ongoing monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing, and enhancing cost-effective prescribing. This includes staying aware of the latest QIPP and other cost targets.
- Help review medication with the pharmacist and make recommendations for prescribing changes to improve outcome and ensure prescribing of the most cost-effective product.
- Support the review of care home procedures, making recommendations for potential improvements.
- Synchronisation of medications, reviewing patient suitability for monitored dosage systems, and setting up electronic repeat dispensing.
- Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, protocols, guidelines, SOPs, and procedures.
- Promote safe use of medication, reporting of medicines-related incidents and pro-actively preventing safeguarding incidents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responding to prescription requests from patients, nursing/care home staff, pharmacy staff and GPs, processing them within 48 hours for routine prescriptions and same day for urgent prescriptions. This can include re-routing prescriptions to out of hours pharmacies for same day delivery.
- Process monthly prescriptions for nursing/care homes, checking for changes and adherence/over-ordering issues.
- Identify blood tests, recalls, and reviews using established protocols and forward these to the appropriate clinician.
- Use practice and CCG templates to record near-patient monitoring for high-risk drugs.
- Review hospital discharge notifications and outpatient hospital letters and reconcile medication against current repeats, flagging up and correcting discrepancies.
- Support and respond to medicines-related queries from medical and nursing colleagues and from patients and relatives both face to face, via phone or via email. Queries can include issues with interactions or ADRs, availability of stock, swallowing difficulties, cost-effectiveness, urgent requests, or extra supplies.
- Use knowledge of GP computer prescribing systems and community pharmacy dispensing systems to advise on solving problems related to prescribing/dispensing and other areas to develop the skills of practice and pharmacy staff.
- Support practice prescribing budgets by ongoing monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing, and enhancing cost-effective prescribing. This includes staying aware of the latest QIPP and other cost targets.
- Help review medication with the pharmacist and make recommendations for prescribing changes to improve outcome and ensure prescribing of the most cost-effective product.
- Support the review of care home procedures, making recommendations for potential improvements.
- Synchronisation of medications, reviewing patient suitability for monitored dosage systems, and setting up electronic repeat dispensing.
- Observe the principles of clinical governance when developing policies, protocols, guidelines, SOPs, and procedures.
- Promote safe use of medication, reporting of medicines-related incidents and pro-actively preventing safeguarding incidents.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Pharmacy Technician (NVQ3/BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent)
- GPhC registration
- Up to date CPD record
Desirable
- Medicines management qualification
- BTEC Level 4 Professional Diploma in Pharmacy Clinical Services
Experience
Essential
- Proven ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Desirable
- Two years post qualification experience
- Experience with SystmOne
- General practice experience
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing
- and strategies for improvement of prescribing
- Understanding of QOF and QIPP
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Excellent numeracy and literacy skills
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office packages
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information in situations where there may be barriers to understanding
- Good planning and time management skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritise workload and deliver safe and accurate work within set deadlines
- Personal awareness of limitations
Memberships
Desirable
- Member of APTUK
- Member of PCPA
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Pharmacy Technician (NVQ3/BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent)
- GPhC registration
- Up to date CPD record
Desirable
- Medicines management qualification
- BTEC Level 4 Professional Diploma in Pharmacy Clinical Services
Experience
Essential
- Proven ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Desirable
- Two years post qualification experience
- Experience with SystmOne
- General practice experience
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing
- and strategies for improvement of prescribing
- Understanding of QOF and QIPP
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Excellent numeracy and literacy skills
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office packages
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information in situations where there may be barriers to understanding
- Good planning and time management skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritise workload and deliver safe and accurate work within set deadlines
- Personal awareness of limitations
Memberships
Desirable
- Member of APTUK
- Member of PCPA
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).