Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the West Suffolk
Alliance Medicines Optimisation Team.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated Pharmacy
Technician who would like to join our friendly and innovative team. Prior
experience within this sector of pharmacy is not essential as you will be
provided with close peer support and the training required to help you succeed
in this varied and challenging role.
The successful candidate(s) will work closely with GP
practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across West Suffolk, building
trusted relationships and supporting the implementation of medicines
optimisation initiatives. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and the
ability to work with competing priorities and demands.
Full time hours are available, with no requirement for
weekend, bank holiday or evening working.
We also welcome applications for part-time working. We promote flexible working for all team
members, offering a mix of remote, office, and practice-based environments which
support a healthy work-life balance.
Salary is in accordance with the NHS AfC pay scale, and we offer NHS
pension and benefits.
If you would like to know more about being part of this
collaborative and inclusive team that values individual contributions, or for
any questions you may have, please contact Leanne.Bartholomew@snee.nhs.uk
(Principal Pharmacy Technician) or Donna.Hawes@snee.nhs.uk (Senior Pharmacy Technician).
Main duties of the job
Have knowledge and understanding of the ICB Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) plan and support its implementation at practice level.
Participate in the delivery of one or more CIP projects.
Have knowledge of guidelines and policies developed in response to NICE or NHS England publications and directives such as new/revised clinical guidelines, low priority prescribing, and self-care, and support their implementation at practice level.
Build professional, trusted relationships with practice and PCN teams to ensure effective communication on issues relating to prescribing and population health needs.
Provide practices and PCN teams with timely and accurate bench marking and prescribing performance data, supporting them to manage their prescribing budgets whilst adhering to to local guidelines and the SNEE joint formulary
Analyse practice prescribing data from a variety of sources to identify key areas for improvement in safety, quality, and cost-effective prescribing. The post-holder will require excellent communication and influencing skills to challenge prescribing practice, whilst building ongoing and trusted relationships with practice staff. This may require significant mental effort.
Actively participate in, contribute to, and represent the Medicines Optimisation team at public facing events.
About us
The NHS Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board
(ICB) plans and buys healthcare services for our population. This function is
commonly referred to as commissioning.
To do this, we work within a budget of around
£1.5 billion, which is set by NHS England, and work closely with local
government and the NHS providers in our area. Our performance is judged by how
well our local health and care system as a whole is working, including the
health outcomes of our communities.
The ICB has delegated some authority to the three
health and wellbeing alliances that operate in Suffolk and North-East Essex to
act on its behalf. This is to ensure that the needs of smaller, local areas are
addressed. The ICB remains accountable for all of its functions, including
those it has delegated.
Local residents have a big role to play in the
operation of the ICB. We rely on the experiences and perspectives of our
communities to help shape our decision-making.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support system wide integration, working with wider health and care professionals to ensure that medicines practice in health and care delivery settings are joined up.
To help develop and support the implementation of a wide range of medicine optimisation strategies across West Suffolk and SNEE to:
o improve health outcomes;
o reduce avoidable harm;
o avoid waste.
To improve the health of the population by optimising the use of medicines through:
o promoting the safe, evidence-based, and cost-effective use of medicines;
o providing up to date, unbiased information about medicines, treatments, and care pathways;
o supporting practitioners and patients to make the best use of medicines;
o minimising the harm caused by medicines;
o supporting development of local guidelines and care pathways to optimise the use of medicines;
o supporting other health and care providers to deliver medicines optimisation in a way that is safe, high quality, timely, effective, and equitable.
The post-holder will work within organisational policy and professional/ethical guidelines and without supervision.
The post-holder will support ongoing improvement across all areas of Medicines Optimisation and will facilitate the implementation of change in their areas of responsibility.
The post-holder will act independently, identifying the need for and developing programmes of work aligned to their own portfolio and/or organisational priorities. Their work will be partly self-directed.
The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support system wide integration, working with wider health and care professionals to ensure that medicines practice in health and care delivery settings are joined up.
To help develop and support the implementation of a wide range of medicine optimisation strategies across West Suffolk and SNEE to:
o improve health outcomes;
o reduce avoidable harm;
o avoid waste.
To improve the health of the population by optimising the use of medicines through:
o promoting the safe, evidence-based, and cost-effective use of medicines;
o providing up to date, unbiased information about medicines, treatments, and care pathways;
o supporting practitioners and patients to make the best use of medicines;
o minimising the harm caused by medicines;
o supporting development of local guidelines and care pathways to optimise the use of medicines;
o supporting other health and care providers to deliver medicines optimisation in a way that is safe, high quality, timely, effective, and equitable.
The post-holder will work within organisational policy and professional/ethical guidelines and without supervision.
The post-holder will support ongoing improvement across all areas of Medicines Optimisation and will facilitate the implementation of change in their areas of responsibility.
The post-holder will act independently, identifying the need for and developing programmes of work aligned to their own portfolio and/or organisational priorities. Their work will be partly self-directed.
The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Able to use Visual Display Unit equipment for prolonged periods of time and on most working days.
- Able to work in a variety of environments, to include own home, office, and GP practices.
- Able to travel routinely and independently across West Suffolk.
- Able to travel independently across Suffolk and North East Essex (and occasionally further afield) as required.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in health or social care.
- Experience of delivering contentious information and/or challenging inappropriate behaviour.
- Experience in using sources of prescribing data such as Open Prescribing and PrescQIPP.
Desirable
- Experience of training/presenting to groups of people.
Skills
Essential
- Able to use a keyboard to enter prescribing or financial data with a high degree of accuracy.
- Able to document clinical information accurately, using nationally approved coding.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft: Outlook, Word, Excel, Power BI
- Proficient in the use of: SystmOne , Emis Web
- Able to interpret and explain financial and prescribing data.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time when accuracy is paramount.
- Able to disseminate information accurately and work collaboratively with key stakeholders.
- Able to overcome barriers in order to have difficult conversations.
Desirable
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft PowerPoint
- Good presentation and training skills.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional knowledge acquired through NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development to degree level.
Desirable
- Member of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK).
- Certificate in Medicines Management for Pharmacy Technicians (CMMPT)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS structure and commissioning arrangements.
- Knowledge and understanding of the role of an ICB Medicines Optimisation team.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Network Contract DES.
- Knowledge of CQC and inspection process.
- Knowledge of GP funding mechanisms as they relate to prescribing costs, including Dispensing Doctors.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence.
- Able to present information to a variety of people from professional and non-professional backgrounds.
- Good interpersonal skills.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Able to use Visual Display Unit equipment for prolonged periods of time and on most working days.
- Able to work in a variety of environments, to include own home, office, and GP practices.
- Able to travel routinely and independently across West Suffolk.
- Able to travel independently across Suffolk and North East Essex (and occasionally further afield) as required.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in health or social care.
- Experience of delivering contentious information and/or challenging inappropriate behaviour.
- Experience in using sources of prescribing data such as Open Prescribing and PrescQIPP.
Desirable
- Experience of training/presenting to groups of people.
Skills
Essential
- Able to use a keyboard to enter prescribing or financial data with a high degree of accuracy.
- Able to document clinical information accurately, using nationally approved coding.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft: Outlook, Word, Excel, Power BI
- Proficient in the use of: SystmOne , Emis Web
- Able to interpret and explain financial and prescribing data.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time when accuracy is paramount.
- Able to disseminate information accurately and work collaboratively with key stakeholders.
- Able to overcome barriers in order to have difficult conversations.
Desirable
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft PowerPoint
- Good presentation and training skills.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional knowledge acquired through NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
- Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development to degree level.
Desirable
- Member of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK).
- Certificate in Medicines Management for Pharmacy Technicians (CMMPT)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS structure and commissioning arrangements.
- Knowledge and understanding of the role of an ICB Medicines Optimisation team.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Network Contract DES.
- Knowledge of CQC and inspection process.
- Knowledge of GP funding mechanisms as they relate to prescribing costs, including Dispensing Doctors.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence.
- Able to present information to a variety of people from professional and non-professional backgrounds.
- Good interpersonal skills.
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).
