Pharmacy Technician

Our Pharmacy Technician will support the clinical team by ensuring the safe and efficient management of medicines, including repeat prescription processes, audits, and reconciliation of medications following hospital discharge. You'll be instrumental in streamlining workflows and supporting patients in managing their medications safely and effectively.

Main duties of the job

• Support medicines reconciliation and liaise with community pharmacies.
• Assist in prescription audits, medication safety processes, and stock management.
• Provide patient education and support around medication use.
• Collaborate with the pharmacy and clinical teams to streamline medicines management systems.

Job responsibilities

• Medication Management Support: Collaborate with Clinical Pharmacists and clinicians to adhere to agreed practice prescribing and standard operating procedures. Assist in managing shared care protocols and support Clinical Pharmacists with complex patient cases.
• Medication Reviews and Reconciliation: Support medication reviews/monitoring and medicines reconciliation post-discharge or other transfers of care, particularly focusing on synchronizing medicines for patients transferring between care settings.
• Patient Interaction: Undertake patient support roles to ensure effective medicines use through shared decision making conversations. Provide a contact point for patients and colleagues with medication related queries, enhancing patient support and care continuity.
• Record Management: Maintain accurate patient medication records on the practices clinical computer system, recording advice given and actions taken. Assist the Pharmacist with data analysis related to prescribing behaviour to align with NICE guidance and local clinical commissioning directives.
• System Utilisation and Training: Implement and support the use of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD), and online ordering systems to streamline processes and reduce medication wastage. Provide training and support on the legal, safe, and secure handling of medicines.
• Operational Efficiency: Develop efficient ordering and return processes to minimize medication wastage. Support the promotion and maintenance of eRD and the optimization of repeat prescribing processes.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: Foster relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration across health and social care sectors including primary care, community pharmacy, and secondary care. Assist in developing and reviewing medicines audits and practice reception team protocols for general prescription requests to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to focus on clinically complex patients.
• Policy and Compliance: Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes, and other primary care settings. Assist in reviewing and developing practice policies to meet CQC requirements and support our PCN in delivering on the QIPP agenda, QOF, and locally commissioned enhanced services.
• Professional Standards: Work within competencies and maintain professional indemnity for the role. Promote a culture that values equality and diversity, complying with relevant policies and actively promoting related issues.
• Safety and Safeguarding: Acquire appropriate levels of safeguarding knowledge and practice required for the post, complying with the organisations safeguarding policies. Report any infection prevention and control issues to the line manager as required.

Person Specification

• Experience Essential: Proven experience as a Pharmacy Technician within a primary care setting, demonstrating familiarity with clinical pharmacy operations and medication management protocols. Experience in medication reconciliation, prescription handling, and supporting clinical audits and reviews.
• Other Skills Essential: Proficiency in using clinical computer systems, including Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and Electronic Health Records (EHR). Skilled in managing, ordering, and dispensing medications in accordance with standard operating procedures and legal requirements.
• Clinical Competencies: Strong understanding of medication management systems, drug interactions, and contraindications. Ability to support clinical pharmacists in conducting Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) and medication synchronisation across care settings.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills, capable of effectively handling queries from patients and collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Ability to provide training and support to practice staff on the safe and effective use of medicines and related systems.
• Qualifications Essential: Vocational qualification in Pharmacy Technology, NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences, or equivalent is essential. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or equivalent regulatory body as a Pharmacy Technician (if available).

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.