Practice Pharmacy Technician (ARRS) in Watford

Bridgewater PCN is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our team. The successful candidate will be part of a large dynamic team working in a 36,000 patient GP practice based over 4 sites.

Main duties of the job

• Reporting to the Lead Clinical Pharmacist and Senior Pharmacy Technician, you will play a key role in supporting medicines optimisation, medication safety, repeat prescribing systems and patient care within the practice multidisciplinary team.
• Working closely with GPs, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, Physicians Associates and administrative colleagues, you will help ensure the safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines across our patient population.
• This is an in-person role, you will be based with your colleagues in our Pharmacy Office.
• The main duties of this role will involve dealing with the prescribing queries arriving from patients to support the GPs and Practice Pharmacists.
• The Pharmacy Technician will need to be committed to improving health and putting patients first.
• Key qualities are the ability to build effective relationships with patients, GPs, nurses, community pharmacists, hospital and practice staff, and to work flexibly and effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrable general pharmaceutical skills and knowledge in core areas, including Long Term Conditions, together with a good understanding of general practice are essential.

About us

We are a forward-thinking, high-achieving, partner-led GP group practice, with patient care at the heart of everything we do. As a training practice with a long history of undergraduate and postgraduate education, we offer a supportive environment where you can develop your skills and contribute to excellent patient care.

You will work alongside our Clinical Pharmacists and wider practice team to support the safe and effective use of medicines.

Job responsibilities

• To assist with repeat prescribing of ongoing medications.
• To undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records / prescribing accordingly.
• To support the achievement of the practices prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets, under the supervision of the Lead Clinical Pharmacist and Lead GP for Medicine Management.
• To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
• To participate in medication audits.
• To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with the local medicines management team.
• To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• To support the Pharmacists to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.
• To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
• To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
• To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
• To assist in the submission of claims for personally administered drugs as required.
• Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines.
• To deal with medication related queries from reception staff and patients.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Taking messages and passing on information as appropriate.
• Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
• Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare professionals and providers.
• Helping to keep all practice areas tidy and free from obstructions and clutter.
• Helping to maintain a positive, patient focussed culture.
• Helping to maintain a positive, supportive culture across the whole of the practice team.
• Any other duties commensurate with this position.

Duties will vary from time to time under the direction of the Partners / Practice Manager dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels.

Patient services

• To provide medication review services to patients via clinics in the practice, and where required on domiciliary visits and in residential and nursing homes, and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care.
• To present at patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines.
• To produce patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects throughout the year.
• Assist Partners with the appropriate monitoring and management of their prescribing budgets.
• To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the medicine management team and all other relevant health professionals in the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the practice to optimise the quality of prescribing.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised.
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role.
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually).
• Reporting potential risks identified.

Confidentiality

While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician.
• Essential: BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Science or recognised equivalent.
• Essential: Completion of CPPE in Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway.

Experience

• Essential: Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience as a Pharmacy Technician.
• Desirable: Experience within General Practice or Primary Care Networks.
• Desirable: Experience using SystmOne clinical system.

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.

Employer details

Employer name: Bridgewater Surgeries

Address: Bridgewater House, 7 Printers Avenue, Watford, Herts, WD18 7QR, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.bridgewatersurgeries.nhs.uk/