Pharmacy Technician - North Tandridge PCN

Alliance for Better Care Ltd.

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

North Tandridge Primary Care Network are looking to recruit 2 full-time pharmacy technicians.

The post holders will work across the practices with each of the practice teams and will be assigned a lead clinical and operational contact for each contract.  This post is part of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme for Primary Care Networks funded by NHS England and includes funded access to the Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway pilot for pharmacy technicians.

The ambition is to better utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care to pro-actively help patients stay safe and well and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.

The post holders will be Pharmacy technicians, who act within their professional boundaries, supporting pharmacists in general practice to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines. In this role they will be supervised by a pharmacist who will develop, manage and mentor them.

The Pharmacy technicians’ core role responsibilities will cover clinical, and technical and administrative categories.

This is a fixed term post until 31st March 2024.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and this role involves provision of technical support for the pharmacy service to ensure professional operational standards and excellence in pharmaceutical care and safety are maintained.

The role will support the practices within North Tandridge PCN to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for medicines related clinical correspondence; repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.

About us

Alliance for Better Care CIC (ABC) is the federation of the 44 East Surrey, Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex GP practices, established in 2014, and now comprising twelve Primary Care Networks. ABC provide employment and management support to the North Tandridge Primary Care Network comprising the following practices:

  • Caterham Valley Medical
  • Townhill Medical Practice
  • Warlingham Green Medical Practice
  • Chaldon Road Surgery
  • Whyteleafe Surgery
  • Elizabeth House Medical Practice

Date posted

14 June 2022

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,968.88 to £29,245.17 a year depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0141-22-2695

Job locations

Caterham Valley Medical Practice

Eothen Close

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 6JU


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holders will support training and development of administrators to support safe, effective and efficient processes involving medicines with a particular focus on repeat prescribing processes and will also provide support to general practice staff and patients regarding prescription and medication queries. They will also help to develop and improve repeat prescribing & medicines reconciliation processes and systems for safer prescribing.

The post holders will ensure that the service is integrated with community and hospital pharmacy to improve patient outcomes. The pharmacy technicians will work closely with the CCG Medicines Optimisation teams, community pharmacists and hospital pharmacy teams to support an integrated approach to prescribing and medicines optimisation which works towards shared goals.

The post holders will be supported in terms of professional development through a structured programme of local education. Peer-support is provided from within the PCN, supported by a local pharmacy network.

An enhanced DBS check will be carried out for all successful candidates. The post holders will be expected to travel between named practices, improved access service hubs and meetings across the patch. The post may involve evening and weekend shifts supporting the improved access hubs.

The post holders will also support quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services and contribute to the delivery of the local medicines’ optimisation strategy.

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

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 Structure 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.
  • Support medications reconciliation for patients when they are discharged from hospital.
  • 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 multidisciplinary 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.
  • Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements.

All Pharmacy Technicians must work within their competencies and have professional indemnity.

Please see the full job description for further information.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holders will support training and development of administrators to support safe, effective and efficient processes involving medicines with a particular focus on repeat prescribing processes and will also provide support to general practice staff and patients regarding prescription and medication queries. They will also help to develop and improve repeat prescribing & medicines reconciliation processes and systems for safer prescribing.

The post holders will ensure that the service is integrated with community and hospital pharmacy to improve patient outcomes. The pharmacy technicians will work closely with the CCG Medicines Optimisation teams, community pharmacists and hospital pharmacy teams to support an integrated approach to prescribing and medicines optimisation which works towards shared goals.

The post holders will be supported in terms of professional development through a structured programme of local education. Peer-support is provided from within the PCN, supported by a local pharmacy network.

An enhanced DBS check will be carried out for all successful candidates. The post holders will be expected to travel between named practices, improved access service hubs and meetings across the patch. The post may involve evening and weekend shifts supporting the improved access hubs.

The post holders will also support quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services and contribute to the delivery of the local medicines’ optimisation strategy.

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

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 Structure 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.
  • Support medications reconciliation for patients when they are discharged from hospital.
  • 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 multidisciplinary 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.
  • Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements.

All Pharmacy Technicians must work within their competencies and have professional indemnity.

Please see the full job description for further information.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

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

Desirable

  • Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).
  • Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities, and challenges.

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

  • Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine
  • Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
  • Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
  • Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law, ethics and current legislation

Desirable

  • Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care
  • Awareness of funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional registration with GPhC
  • BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences

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
  • Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
  • 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

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft office packages.
  • 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 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

  • Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

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

Desirable

  • Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).
  • Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities, and challenges.

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

  • Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine
  • Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
  • Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
  • Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law, ethics and current legislation

Desirable

  • Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care
  • Awareness of funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional registration with GPhC
  • BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences

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
  • Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
  • 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

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft office packages.
  • 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 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

  • Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems.

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

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

Alliance for Better Care Ltd.

Address

Caterham Valley Medical Practice

Eothen Close

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 6JU


Employer's website

https://abcltd.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Alliance for Better Care Ltd.

Address

Caterham Valley Medical Practice

Eothen Close

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 6JU


Employer's website

https://abcltd.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

People Services Coordinator

Emily Dennett

emily.dennett@nhs.net

Date posted

14 June 2022

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,968.88 to £29,245.17 a year depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0141-22-2695

Job locations

Caterham Valley Medical Practice

Eothen Close

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 6JU


Supporting documents

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