Pharmacy Technician (Delta PCN) in Hemel Hempstead

We reserve the right to close this job early should a suitable candidate be found. Please do not delay in applying for the role if you are interested. Successful applicants will be invited to interview within two weeks of the closing date. Previous applicants need not apply; no agencies. Please note that remote working is not an option - this role requires the successful applicant to be on site.

Background: Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is part of an exciting programme of transformation to develop a new model of care which addresses our ambition to deliver a person-centred coordinated care. The Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice model is supported by the direction of national policy including the Five Year Forward View and GP Forward View where there is a need to better utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care to proactively help patients stay safe and well and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.

JOB SUMMARY

To support the Practice Based Clinical Pharmacist to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols.
• Support the achievement of QoF targets.
• Work with appropriate persons within the GP surgery to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / SOPs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
• Provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
• Participate in medication audits.
• Assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and liaise with the medicines management team at the ICB.
• Prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• Provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and undertake community visits.
• Take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
• Respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
• Advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines.
• Assist in the submission of claims for personally administered drugs.

About us

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are supported by Dacorum Healthcare Providers Limited (DHPL), who are developing new and exciting additional roles under the 2020 scheme, to support GPs and clinical teams at enhancing patient services in the local community. There is a wide socio-economic and demographic served within this area which will provide an interesting and varied case mix. The role will contribute to improving quality of patient care across the network of practices.

DHPL has previously been awarded the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) Certificate of Achievement in recognition of exceptional contribution to the Primary Care workforce under the category of Supported Retention and Recruitment of Staff. As such, you will be joining an enthusiastic team of clinicians and administrators and will be well supported with ongoing professional development (training support, CPD and peer support).

Job responsibilities

• Undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and update patients' medical records / prescribing accordingly.
• Support the achievement of the practices prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
• Work with appropriate persons within the GP surgery to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols, Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
• Provide advice to GPs, staff, and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
• Participate in medication audits.
• Assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and liaise with the medicines management team at the ICB.
• Prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• Support the Practice Based Clinical Pharmacist to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and undertake community visits as appropriate.
• Take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
• Respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
• Advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
• Assist in the submission of claims for personally administered drugs as required.

Responsibility for administration

Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list:

• 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 maintain a positive, patient-focused 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 stakeholders dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels.

Patient services

To provide medication review services to patients via clinics in the practice, 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 stakeholders 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 people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ3 Pharmacy services (or equivalent).
• Registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Understanding of prescribing and Medicines Management issues.
• Understanding of working effectively within multidisciplinary groups.
• Dealing with the public/patients. NHS Primary Care (Desirable).
• EMIS clinical system. (Desirable).
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office software. (Desirable).

Experience

• Good verbal and written communication.
• Motivated and enthusiastic.
• Able to respond to change and apply new developments without difficulty.
• Demonstrates resilience and an ability to cope under pressure commensurate with the responsibilities of the post.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to make effective relationships with others.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Advanced numeracy skills.
• Excellent keyboard and computer skills.
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team.
• Pleasant and articulate.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to work in a changing environment.
• Able to use own initiative.
• Ability to self-motivate, organise and prioritise own workload.

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.

£31,049 a year plus 5% Fringe Allowance (capped at £2,198pa) paid monthly.