Pharmacy Technician

Posting date:	10 June 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	31 July 2025
Location:	Bracknell, RG12 8TQ
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	B0321-25-0004

Summary

JOB SUMMARY The BPC Pharmacy Technician will play an important role complementing clinical pharmacists, and other members of the Federation wide multi-disciplinary team, working under supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines. This role will support the GP practice and patients get the best from their medicines, use existing protocols to maximise cost-effective preparations, improve repeat prescribing processes, including use of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimise clinical risk and reduce medicines wastage. As well, the post-holder will develop and encourage a positive culture of medicines optimisation principles to assist the PCN in achieving local and national medicines-related objectives. MEDICINES OPTIMISATION Conduct medicines optimisation tasks, including searches to support medication reviews, medicines reconciliation from clinic letters and post hospital discharge medicines reconciliation. Support pharmacists by identifying and referring eligible patients for Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), including completing any required SMR pre-work. Support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronise medicines for patient transfers between care settings, linking in with local community pharmacies. When needed, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively (e.g., checking inhaler technique). Process repeat medication requests, in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency referring to General Practitioners (GPs) and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests. Promote Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering as appropriate to patient and practice needs. Support efficient ordering to reduce medicines waste. Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients. Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information and help in tackling local health inequalities. Take a central role in clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients. Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Undertake clinical assessments (e.g. blood pressure, blood glucose, respiratory & heart rate monitoring) Actively participate in huddles and team meetings Take part in multidisciplinary case reviews Update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice. clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken Convert acute medicine requests into repeat medicines, where appropriate Assist in the re-issuing of eRD prescriptions, including checking for monitoring requirements and reviews COMMUNICATION Provide advice within professional remit to GPs and practice staff relating to changes to prescribing guidance to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality, and cost effectiveness. Assist patients and GP staff with responses to medication queries. Counsel patients on how to use newly started medications, and provide advice regarding any medication changes, to optimise safety and improve compliance. AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the PCN team, and feedback results to clinical pharmacist team, and other clinicians in the practices. Support implementation of local and national guidelines and formulary recommendations. Support and encourage reduction in prescribing of medicines available over the counter, and of low value, and low priority treatments. Support the PCN to deliver on Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) agendas, Quality Outcome Frameworks (QOF) and Locally Commissioned enhanced Services (LCS). Work with general practice teams to ensure that practices are compliant with CQC standards and assist with medicine-related compliance. Undertake audits to identify patients that may be appropriate to switch medications to more cost effective/ greener alternative brands. CLINICAL GOVERNANCE Respond to Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alerts, set up searches to identify affected patients on the practice clinical systems and action them according to practice protocol. Monitor practice prescribing against the local formulary and report back results to the clinical pharmacist team and action as required. Support in the reporting of medicines related incidents, and when required, contribute to investigations and root cause analysis. MEDICINES SAFETY Identify patients that are overdue required monitoring and refer to the appropriate clinicians. Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, including identifying and appropriately rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge. Ensure shared care protocols are in place where relevant and ensure the continuation of safe practice within primary care setting is maintained. Work with the pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure the effective and continuous supply of medication to high-risk patients. Understand how patient alerts (e.g. visually impaired, hard of hearing) are generated and patient allergy information is accurate and correctly documented, and that the information is shared with the wider multidisciplinary team