Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

The pharmacy technician will support the surgery by working with the clinical team to deliver a programme of medicines optimisation and reconciliation from hospital discharge and other secondary care communications. This will enable safe discharge of patients from hospital to home/ care home, ensuring medication changes are safe and timely managed with patient counselling where appropriate. The post holder will work within their own competency with support from the partners and other staff within the Practice. Clinical Supervision will also be available from a Clinical Pharmacist within the PCN.

The post holder will support the practice team with specific quality improvement projects in relation to medicines for example opioid reduction management.

Key responsibilities:

Undertake medicines reconciliation for patients discharged from hospital to ensure new medicines are recorded accurately on the GP clinical system.

Update GP system of new medicines initiated by secondary care consultants which are to be continued in primary care.

Medication monitoring requirements are fulfilled including safe management of shared care drugs.

Monitoring creatinine clearance for DOACs and checking correct doses, which will include changing appropriate patients to edoxaban.

Alert staff of additional safety checks required for new medications.

Community pharmacy to be informed of changes to medibox prescriptions and repeat dispensing is updated.

Assist with medication queries from GPs and other clinicians or practice staff.

Assist with delivering Quality Improvement Projects aimed at improving medicines management, medicines safety and polypharmacy.

Work with Community Pharmacies supplying care homes to sort out supply issues for the monthly medication cycle and interim prescription requests. Action requests from care staff for prescriptions.

Update dose instructions for all medications where there are out of date titrating instructions, unclear or ambiguous instructions. Ensure where possible medication is linked to the problem.

Assisting with care home medication requests and medication advice

Managing care home monthly orders.

Add medicines that are not supplied by the Practice, such as hospital only drugs as other medication to ensure safer prescribing in primary care.

Ensure the patient understands their new medication and how to take it, are informed of any monitoring needed.

Able to plan and work independently and within the team and manage competing priorities

Able to work with a high degree of motivation

Aims/Goals of the Pharmacy Technician

Reduced GP workload

Reduced medication costs by formulary prescribing cost-effective alternatives

Improved medication outcomes for patients

Improved patient safety and medication optimisation

Improved efficiency of medication changes

Improved formulary prescribing to enable better value/outcomes from medicines

Improved management of shared care drugs

Improved prescribing for care home residents

Key working relationships:

GPs and GP staff

Darlington PCN

Community Pharmacies

Secondary care Pharmacy teams

Secondary care discharge teams

Qualifications:

Pharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Good general education

Specific requirements:

A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring check

Completion of CPPE pharmacy technician pathway or willingness to undertake the pathway or other suitable training

Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council / immediate requirement to register with the GPhC

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians or similar
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

• Completed, enrolled in, be undertaking or be prepared to start an approved 18-month training pathway (e.g. Primary care pharmacy educational pathway (PCPEP) or Association of Pharmacy Technician
• Experience as this is an ARRS funded role.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of ability to work proactively and independently
• Evidence of previous experience

Desirable

• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of SystmOne
• Experience working in a Primary Care setting
• Skills & Qualities

Other

Essential

• Highly motivated
• Flexibility
• Enthusiasm
• Team Player
• Ability to work across boundaries

Desirable

• SystmOne Experience

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Neasham Road Surgery

Address

The Surgery

186 Neasham Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL1 4YL

Employer's website

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