Pharmacy Technician (Primary Care)

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 followed.Review 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 culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The postholder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GP Practice 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 candor 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 Lead. Equality and 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 practice 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 PCNpart of this employment, with such training to include: o Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development o 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: o Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk o Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision o 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 o Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs o Effectively manage 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. e.g. 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