PCN Medication Safety Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To support the PCN clinical pharmacy team to answer medicine related queries to patients and their carers, GPs and other healthcare professionals, ensuring a timely response in an appropriate format (verbal/written/electronic). Enquiries may involve the exchange of complex, sensitive and contentious information which must be treated with an appropriate level of discretion and empathy.

Provide advice to healthcare professionals in relation to medicines legislation, local and national policy and monitor adherence to this legislation.

Use a range of communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding, especially where clinical information is being relayed to patients and non-clinical staff.

Support the planning and organising of a broad range of medicines safety related activities which involve and impact upon a range of healthcare professionals and practices including the project management and introduction of innovative services.

Provide specialised clinical and non-clinical advice to prescribers and other healthcare professionals which may influence the outcome of treatments for patients.

To act within their professional boundaries but must judge when it is necessary to refer to a pharmacist for more complex clinical advice.

Technical and Administrative

Present complex prescribing/financial data to the PCN clinical pharmacy team, GPs, practice staff etc. in a format that is varied and tailored to suit the target audience.

Use negotiation skills to influence and facilitate change and be able to challenge the views of others. Be able to challenge prescribers about appropriateness and cost effectiveness of prescribing.

To action MHRA alerts and controlled drugs alerts across Sunderland.

Produce, analyse, and interpret complex prescribing and financial data to:

Set and assess performance of practices against prescribing targets and indicators included in a variety of initiatives for example incentive schemes.

Support the introduction and evaluation of innovative projects for example repeat dispensing.

Plan and manage own time and workload efficiently.

Plan and organise meetings, for example with GPs, nurses and other practice staff as necessary.

Support in the development and implementation of service redesign in relation to medicines safety within Sunderland. This includes reviewing medicine related policies, procedures and guidelines in accordance with the relevant legal and statutory frameworks.

Monitor and audit practice achievement of targets.

Actively support and contribute to the development of key performance indicators for the successful assessment of performance.

Encourage the sharing of best past practice and innovation by creating and maintaining links between colleagues and practices.

Promote safe, evidence-based clinical and cost-effective prescribing in accordance with national and locally agreed standards, for example NICE guidance, local formularies, and clinical guidelines.

Culture

Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GP Federation and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.

Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.

The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguarding protection policies and procedures.

Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control.

Personal/ Professional development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN/GP federation as part of this employment, with such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.

Undertake CPD through self-directed learning, reflection, appraisal and personal development plans necessary to maintain and develop own knowledge, skills and competence.

Education and Training

Support the planning, development and undertaking of training for GP practices and their staff in a variety of aspects relating to medicines optimisation.

Participate in the development and delivery of training events for the clinical pharmacy team and practice staff in relation to:

implementation of medicines related policies and procedures.

introduction and implementation of new/changes to services

Research and Evaluation

The post holder will demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and review literature, applying research evidence base into working place and understand the principles of research governance.

Be aware of the wider issues within the NHS which will impact on the medicines safety agenda.

Contribute to ensuring there are processes in place for spreading and sharing learning and outcomes.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice and Alliance policies and procedures relating to confidentiality, and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy to include:

Identifying the risk involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.

Ensuring that all accidents or dangerous accidents are reported and investigated, and follow up action taken where necessary.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the quality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include:

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

Alert the other team members to issues of quality and risk.

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhanced the teams performance.

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

The employer is Sunderland GP Alliance and the post-holder is expected to comply with the Alliances employment policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
• UK driving licence
• UK work permit (if required)
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care setting
• Medicines reconciliation qualification

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

• Appreciation of General Practice and working alongside General practice staff
• Knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine
• An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets
• 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 and ethics and current legislation

Desirable

• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing

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 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 communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience
• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
• Ability to motivate self and other members of the team
• Drive and determination to promote and support the role of pharmacy staff in General Practice
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences
• Able to influence, motivate and persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations or agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers
• Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
• Produce timely and informative reports
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality

Desirable

• Can plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issue in core areas for long term conditions
• Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information

Attributes

Essential

• Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
• 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
• Ability to recognise own limitations and act upon them appropriately.
• Willingness to learn new skills and to problem solve on a daily basis
• Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills
• Immunisation status
• Commitment to addressing health inequalities and patient empowerment

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sunderland GP Alliance

Address

North East BIC

Wearfield

Sunderland

Tyne and Wear

SR5 2TA

Employer's website

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