Job summary
The post holder will be a Pharmacy Technician registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. They will be required to act within their professional boundaries, supporting and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team within general practice.
The post holder will contribute to improving prescribing practice, patient care and deliver the Directed Enhanced Service PCN prescribing agenda. This includes improving repeat prescribing processes, promoting digitalisation, reducing medicines waste and minimising clinical risk associated with medicines taking.
The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines, operating within clear protocols and guidance. They will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments.
The post holder will work with all sectors of pharmacy across the health system and the wider health economy to improve population health. Demonstrating improvement in patient outcomes and working to reduce health inequalities contributing to improving the efficiency of general practice and delivering a best in class service under the supervision of a team of clinical pharmacists.
Main duties of the job
Please refer to the full job description later in the application process for more information about this role.
About us
We are a high achieving QOF practice looking after 20,000 patients across 3 sites. The practices main site is a large purpose built premises that has recently undergone extensive refurbishment on Milman Road.
We have 5 partners and 6 salaried GPs as well as a fantastic team of allied health professionals which include Pharmacists, a Pharmacy Technician, Paramedics and Nurse Practitioners and a strong established/ experienced treatment room team.
We have an innovative hybrid appointment system looking separate same day and routine care providing high level of efficiency and satisfaction for GPs as well as continuity of care for patients.
We are a dynamic forward thinking fun practice who are at the centre of primary care development in South Reading.
We have a Friendly efficient Admin Support team that work toward helping reducing the administrative burden for our clinical team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
- Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.
- 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
- Support the Clinical Pharmacist in Structure Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
- Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.
- Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.
- Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.
- Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits.
- Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within the practice. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to all appropriate elements of the delivery of the Directed Enhanced Service.
- Work with pharmacy service team to develop safe, effective and efficient systems for the repeat prescribing of medication at scale across multiple GP sites
- Work with pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure the effective and continuous supply of medication to high risk patients
- Manage requests to prescribe medication from specialists in line with Berkshire West formulary and locally agreed guidelines
- Update patient medication records in line with incoming clinical correspondence
- Refer patients to their community pharmacist for support with using their medicines
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate clinician in accordance with protocols and personal and professional boundaries.
- Provide support to patients to maximise the benefit from their medication
- Provide telephone support for patients with medication queries.
Audit and risk stratification
- Participate in audit activities to optimise medicines safety and the use of prescribing resource
- Feedback results of clinical audit activities in areas agreed with the practice
- Make recommendations based on the outcomes of audit and shared learning activities
Operational Performance
- Work collaboratively to help develop and promote a positive working culture, including involvement in developing, improving and promoting the pharmacy service
- Ensure adherence to efficient administrative processes within the pharmacy service
Personal Contribution
- Maintain productive relationships encouraging the giving and receiving of regular feedback to create and maintain a culture of constantly seeking to refine and improve the service and learn together
- Engagement with patients, internal and external stakeholders
- Engage with users of the service to understand people’s experience of the service and to measure levels of satisfaction
- Responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- Responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Quality
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Support training and development of administrative staff to support pharmacy service in line with protocols and procedures
Work within risk management and health and safety policies and procedures within GP practices and other providers
Adhere to a robust process for recording learning events, complaints, accidents and significant events
To provide support to assist with the development and management of any changes or new processes and systems that need implementing.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
- Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.
- 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
- Support the Clinical Pharmacist in Structure Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR
- Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.
- Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.
- Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.
- Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits.
- Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within the practice. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to all appropriate elements of the delivery of the Directed Enhanced Service.
- Work with pharmacy service team to develop safe, effective and efficient systems for the repeat prescribing of medication at scale across multiple GP sites
- Work with pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure the effective and continuous supply of medication to high risk patients
- Manage requests to prescribe medication from specialists in line with Berkshire West formulary and locally agreed guidelines
- Update patient medication records in line with incoming clinical correspondence
- Refer patients to their community pharmacist for support with using their medicines
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate clinician in accordance with protocols and personal and professional boundaries.
- Provide support to patients to maximise the benefit from their medication
- Provide telephone support for patients with medication queries.
Audit and risk stratification
- Participate in audit activities to optimise medicines safety and the use of prescribing resource
- Feedback results of clinical audit activities in areas agreed with the practice
- Make recommendations based on the outcomes of audit and shared learning activities
Operational Performance
- Work collaboratively to help develop and promote a positive working culture, including involvement in developing, improving and promoting the pharmacy service
- Ensure adherence to efficient administrative processes within the pharmacy service
Personal Contribution
- Maintain productive relationships encouraging the giving and receiving of regular feedback to create and maintain a culture of constantly seeking to refine and improve the service and learn together
- Engagement with patients, internal and external stakeholders
- Engage with users of the service to understand people’s experience of the service and to measure levels of satisfaction
- Responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- Responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Quality
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Support training and development of administrative staff to support pharmacy service in line with protocols and procedures
Work within risk management and health and safety policies and procedures within GP practices and other providers
Adhere to a robust process for recording learning events, complaints, accidents and significant events
To provide support to assist with the development and management of any changes or new processes and systems that need implementing.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine. An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets
- Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
- Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality
- 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.
- Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems (desirable) and Microsoft office packages (essential)
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
- 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 their 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
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues.
- Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
- Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response
- 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
- 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
- Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills.
- Professional attitude and assertive approach
- Committed to development
- Conscientious, hardworking and self- motivated to work with minimal supervision
- Creative and tenacious in finding solutions to difficult problems
- Ability to work with information and members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
- Ability to engage and sustain relationships with all professionals, other organisations and service-users
- Approachable and flexible
- Honest and reliable
- Enthusiastic
- Sensitive to patients needs.
- Willingness to undergo further training or development.
- Requires a flexible approach, and a highly motivated post holder. The role may need to be reviewed and developed in the future in line with changing priorities
- Access to and ability to use transport as travel between sites across the PCN and wider locality footprint and beyond will be required for meetings and training
- Willingness to undergo further training and development as the job develops.
Desirable
- Professional registration with GPhC
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine. An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets
- Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
- Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality
- 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.
- Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems (desirable) and Microsoft office packages (essential)
- Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN
- 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 their 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
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals. Whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues.
- Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
- Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response
- 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
- 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
- Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills.
- Professional attitude and assertive approach
- Committed to development
- Conscientious, hardworking and self- motivated to work with minimal supervision
- Creative and tenacious in finding solutions to difficult problems
- Ability to work with information and members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
- Ability to engage and sustain relationships with all professionals, other organisations and service-users
- Approachable and flexible
- Honest and reliable
- Enthusiastic
- Sensitive to patients needs.
- Willingness to undergo further training or development.
- Requires a flexible approach, and a highly motivated post holder. The role may need to be reviewed and developed in the future in line with changing priorities
- Access to and ability to use transport as travel between sites across the PCN and wider locality footprint and beyond will be required for meetings and training
- Willingness to undergo further training and development as the job develops.
Desirable
- Professional registration with GPhC
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges.
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
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
