Medicines Optimisation Assistant

**Job summary**

Are you a Dispenser looking for a career change, with future potential to progress to Pharmacy Technician level?

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Medicines Optimisation Assistant (MOA). This is an innovative role working closely with our wider Medicines Management team of Prescription Clerks, Medicines Management Technicians and Pharmacists across our practices in South Somerset.

**Main duties of the job**

You will use your knowledge of pharmaceuticals to make simple changes to patients medication records as directed by hospital consultants. You will work closely with patients via telephone to streamline repeat prescribing, minimise clinical risk and reduce waste within primary care. You will network with our patients and community pharmacy colleagues to provide a seamless service.

You will be based at our hub at South Petherton Medical Centre and may need to travel to other practices in the area, including Somerton, Ilchester, Crewkerne and Stoke Sub Hamdon.

You will have completed learning equivalent to GPhC accredited NVQ level 2 for pharmacy support staff.

**About us**

Symphony Healthcare Services Ltd. is a growing primary care organisation based in Somerset which aims to improve and develop the best patient-centred care and services in the country, and we are embracing change within general practice by implementing new and innovative models of care. If you are passionate about delivering outstanding healthcare and share our values, join us to support the achievement of our goals.

**Job description**

**Job responsibilities**

**Job Summary**:
To support the SHS medicines management team to improve quality of prescribing for patients and handling of medicines within our practices.

The post-holder will follow strict protocols and use their knowledge of pharmaceuticals to make simple changes to patients medication records, and to improve medication processes within GP practices. They will work closely with both the prescription clerk and medicines management technician teams to help patients to get the best from their medicines by supporting improvements to streamline the repeat prescribing processes, minimising clinical risk and reducing waste.

**Responsibilities**:
Action non-urgent clinic letters within set protocol

Process appliance prescription requests, ensuring adherence to the CCG formulary and appropriate quantities

Synchronise medications so that all prescriptions are /can be re-issued at once

Edit quantities e.g. for holiday requests, or more permanent changes from 28 to 56 days

Set-up electronic repeat dispensing.

Book medication reviews

Liaise with community pharmacies to resolve queries, within own scope of competence

Action straight-forward CCG scorecard switches and safety alerts

Stock control, drug ordering and FP34 management

Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as requested

**Confidentiality**:

- Maintain confidentiality as per the SHS confidentiality policy.
- 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 SHS policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of person 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 SHS Health and Safety policy.

**Equality & Diversity**:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with SHS procedures and policies and 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-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

**Personal/Professional Development**:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice or SHS as part of this employment, such training to include:

- Participation in an annual appraisal.
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

**Quality**:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

- Alert other team members of 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 enhance the teams performance.
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patient needs.
- Effectively manager own time, workload and resources.

**Communication**:
The post-holder should recognise the im