North Devon Coastal Primary Care Network

PCN Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 06 November 2025

Job summary

The purpose of the role is to support the PCN Clinical Pharmacists to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient health outcomes from their medication.

Main duties of the job

The role will require the post holder to work across the 3 PCN practices although you are likely to be physically based across 2 practices (with the potential occasional need to travel to other locations within the PCN).

The purpose of the role is to support the PCN Clinical Pharmacists to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient health outcomes from their medication.

The role will also include training and development of practice based prescribing teams and administrators to support improved co-ordination and effective pharmacy administration within general practice, especially with relation to repeat prescribing systems.

This post is 37.5 hours per week, but we are open to discussing job shares or slightly reduced hours for the right candidates.

See Job Description for details of the role.

The Pharmacy Technician will work as part of the PCN Clinical Pharmacy Team as well as integrated practice teams and liaise on a daily basis with the clinical and administration team to manage medication-related clinical issues as per the duties and responsibilities of the post holder.

About us

North Devon Coastal PCN are dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centred healthcare across our beautiful coastal region. Our network covers around 47000 patients from three GP practices - Caen Medical Centre, Combe Coastal Practice (including Woolacombe and Combe Martin) and South Molton Medical Centre. Our aim is to work collaboratively to bring together healthcare professionals, and support teams, to improve the health and wellbeing of our local community.

Nestled in one of the UKs most picturesque areas, our PCN not only provides essential health services but also thrives on collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to improving care for everyone. We believe in making healthcare accessible, personalised, and responsive, ensuring that every patient feels valued and supported.

As part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team, we are committed to bringing quality, inclusivity and innovation into healthcare, enhancing communication, and streamlining services to meet the needs of our patients more effectively. From supporting local vaccination programmes to implementing health initiatives, our teams work tirelessly to ensure that our community receives the best possible care

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£30,000 to £36,000 a year WTE - dependent on qualifications and experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

A4856-25-0003

Job locations

Caen Medical Centre

Caen Street

Braunton

Devon

EX33 1LR


Combe Coastal Practice

St. Brannocks Road

Ilfracombe

Devon

EX34 8EG


South Molton Medical Centre

East Street

South Molton

Devon

EX36 3BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

  • Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
  • To undertake medicines reconciliation for patients newly registered to the practice or those recently discharged from hospital, in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
  • 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.
  • To support the achievement of the PCNs prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
  • Working with the Clinical Pharmacist (s) and Prescription Teams to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
  • To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness. This will link with the current medicine optimisation agenda from the Devon integrated care board (ICB).
  • Support the Clinical Pharmacist(s) in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
  • In line the CQC requirements, to support the Clinical Pharmacist with ensuring safe systems are place with the practice for appropriate patient monitoring for high-risk medication and response to MHRA patient safety alerts.
  • To participate in medication audits, including antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.
  • 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 the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
  • To vaccinate patients under a patient specific direction, as required.
  • Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines.

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

  • Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list:
  • Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
  • Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.
  • Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering.
  • Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.
  • Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF, IIF and locally commissioned enhanced services.
  • Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements.
  • To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
  • To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with the medicines management team at the Devon ICB.
  • To present at patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines.
  • To produce patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects throughout the year.
  • To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the PCN to optimise the quality of prescribing.
  • Duties will vary from time to time under the direction of the PCN Clinical Directors dependent on current and evolving PCN workload and staffing levels.

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

  • Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
  • To undertake medicines reconciliation for patients newly registered to the practice or those recently discharged from hospital, in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
  • 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.
  • To support the achievement of the PCNs prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
  • Working with the Clinical Pharmacist (s) and Prescription Teams to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
  • To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness. This will link with the current medicine optimisation agenda from the Devon integrated care board (ICB).
  • Support the Clinical Pharmacist(s) in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
  • In line the CQC requirements, to support the Clinical Pharmacist with ensuring safe systems are place with the practice for appropriate patient monitoring for high-risk medication and response to MHRA patient safety alerts.
  • To participate in medication audits, including antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.
  • 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 the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
  • To vaccinate patients under a patient specific direction, as required.
  • Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines.

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

  • Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list:
  • Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
  • Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.
  • Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering.
  • Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.
  • Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF, IIF and locally commissioned enhanced services.
  • Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements.
  • To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
  • To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with the medicines management team at the Devon ICB.
  • To present at patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines.
  • To produce patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects throughout the year.
  • To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the PCN to optimise the quality of prescribing.
  • Duties will vary from time to time under the direction of the PCN Clinical Directors dependent on current and evolving PCN workload and staffing levels.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician
  • BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Medicines reconciliation Certificate or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy

Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within comparable role in General Practice
  • Experience of prescribing/clinical systems such as SystmOne, EMIS
  • Previous experience working within a patient facing role
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician
  • BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Medicines reconciliation Certificate or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy

Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within comparable role in General Practice
  • Experience of prescribing/clinical systems such as SystmOne, EMIS
  • Previous experience working within a patient facing role

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.

Employer details

Employer name

North Devon Coastal Primary Care Network

Address

Caen Medical Centre

Caen Street

Braunton

Devon

EX33 1LR


Employer's website

https://www.northerndevoncoastal.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North Devon Coastal Primary Care Network

Address

Caen Medical Centre

Caen Street

Braunton

Devon

EX33 1LR


Employer's website

https://www.northerndevoncoastal.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

PCN Care Co-ordinator

Danielle Meeks

danielle.meeks@nhs.net

01271818030

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£30,000 to £36,000 a year WTE - dependent on qualifications and experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

A4856-25-0003

Job locations

Caen Medical Centre

Caen Street

Braunton

Devon

EX33 1LR


Combe Coastal Practice

St. Brannocks Road

Ilfracombe

Devon

EX34 8EG


South Molton Medical Centre

East Street

South Molton

Devon

EX36 3BZ


Supporting documents

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