Pharmacy Technician

Job summary

This is an exciting role withinour Primary Care Network two large GP Practices working collaboratively inNorth Bristol. Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementingclinical pharmacists, ICB pharmacists, community pharmacists and other membersof the PCN multi-disciplinary team.

The post holder will work withour non clinical prescription clerks, our pharmacists and with our wider team.The role will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switchingmedications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribingprocesses in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing andonline ordering, minimising clinical risk and aiming to reduce wastedmedicines.

The role will also includetraining and development of practice based prescribing clerks andadministrators to support improved co-ordination and effective medicines managementwithin general practice, especially with relation to repeat prescribing systemsand processes. The post is likely to include some team leadership of ourprescription clerks as part of our individual practice structures.

Salary of up to £40,159 (Depending on Experience)

Main duties of the job

Undertake patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use

Day to day handling of prescription queries

Medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice clinical computer system including advice given and action taken.

Delivery of training and development to practice based prescribing clerks and administrators to support improve co-ordinator and effective pharmacy administration within General Practice

Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering

Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals

Support practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests.

Support the implementation of prescribing policies and guidance

Support the PCN to deliver on our Quality agenda

Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements

About us

We are two large, very friendly GP Practices based in NORTH BRISTOL

We are Partner owned and led and have open cultures. We are able to offer a competitive package for the right candidate and this is an exciting position, with scope for service and team development

We service around 35,000 patients and work with a number of community pharmacies, some care homes and have a wide range of patients of all ages and backgrounds.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties of the job

Clinical

Undertake patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.

Day to day handling of prescription queries within area of own competence

Medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken

Delivery of training and development to practice based prescribing clerks and administrators to support improved co-ordination and effective pharmacy administration within General Practice.

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

Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.

Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act and GDPR; Caldicott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct

Technical and administrative

Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being and action safety alerts, dissemmiate where needed

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 multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, commissioners, 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 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

General

The postholder will:

Develop a culturethat promotes equality and values diversity. The postholder must be aware ofand committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GPPractice and comply with all the requirements of these policies and activelypromote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.

Ensure theprinciples of openness, transparency and candor are observed and upheld in allworking practices.

The post holderwill have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, theappropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice requiredfor the post and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguardingprotection policies and procedures.

Ensure that anyinfection prevention and control issues are reported to the linemanager/Infection Prevention and Control Lead.

Equality and diversity:

The post-holder will supportthe equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and

colleagues, to include:

Acting in a waythat recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a waythat is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and currentlegislation

Respecting theprivacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in amanner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental andrespects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professionaldevelopment:

The post-holderwill participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN

partof this employment, with such training to include:

o Participation inan annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility formaintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

o Takingresponsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstratingskills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holderwill strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

o Alert other teammembers to issues of quality and risk

o Assess ownperformance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or undersupervision

o Contribute to theeffectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and makingsuggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

o Work effectivelywith individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

o Effectivelymanage own time, workload and resources

Person Specification PCN Pharmacy Technician

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences

Professional registration with GPhC

Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)

Desirable

Evidence of working as a registered pharmacy technician in general practice

Postgraduate qualifications of a relevant nature. FdSc in Medicines Management/Pharmacy Services; BTEC Therapeutics

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

Knowledge of the principles of medicines optimisation

Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology

Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation

Desirable

Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine

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

Skills and Competencies

Essential

Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems (desirable) and Microsoft office packages (essential)

Essential

Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data

Essential

Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily

Essential

Able to effectively manage allocated resources

Essential

Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines

Essential

Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems

Essential

Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication

Essential

An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues

Desirable

Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN

Attributes

Essential

Works effectively indepe Works independently and as a member of a team

Essential

Able to direct and support others

Essential

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

Essential

Self-motivated and proactive

Essential

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

Essential

Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required

Essential

Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders

Essential

Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change

Essential

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

Essential

Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Essential Knowledge of the principles of medicines optimisation Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation

Desirable

Desirable Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing

Qualifications

Essential

Qualifications and Experience Essential BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences Professional registration with GPhC Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)

Desirable

Desirable Evidence of working as a registered pharmacy technician in general practice Postgraduate qualifications of a relevant nature. FdSc in Medicines Management/Pharmacy Services; BTEC Therapeutics

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