Pharmacy Technician in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a Pharmacy Technician to work within our multi-disciplinary team. The role is to support the management and development of the prescribing systems to ensure safe, effective and quality prescribing within the practice. To support the GPs, Pharmacists and administrative staff to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes. To develop strong working relationships with local community pharmacies in order to assist patients and provide a high-quality service. A key part of the role will be dealing with daily medication requests and queries, and communicating with patients and Community Pharmacies.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice team and promoting good practice in all aspects of prescribing.
• To work closely with the Clinical Pharmacist and GPs for prescribing on individual prescribing projects or audits.
• The role will include remote patient contact, as well as liaison with colleagues in community pharmacy, care homes and secondary care.

About us

Gorton Medical Centre is a progressive, patient-focused GP practice dedicated to delivering high-quality primary care services. We foster a collaborative and supportive team environment and are committed to the ongoing professional development of all staff. Serving a patient population of approximately 10,500 we are a well-established, forward-thinking practice providing care to diverse communities. Our organisation is led by a team of 5 dedicated salaried GPs and supported by a wide-ranging multidisciplinary team that includes a Paramedic, Clinical Pharmacist, Practice Nurse, Physician Associate, Mental Health Practitioner, Physios, Social Prescriber and Healthcare Assistants. This robust clinical workforce is underpinned by a highly skilled and efficient administrative team that ensures the seamless operation of the practice. Together, our multidisciplinary team is committed to providing outstanding care and continually improving health outcomes for the communities we serve.

Job responsibilities

• Dealing with medication queries including acute medication requests, patient medication and prescription queries. This may involve removing unwanted items, checking review dates, ensuring necessary blood tests and monitoring has been carried out, prescription synchronization etc.
• Communicating with patients/carers and members of the healthcare team including doctors, nurses and receptionists.
• Liaising with local community pharmacies and hospitals regarding prescription queries, and helping to ensure optimum therapy and to ensure a smooth transition from secondary to primary care.
• Answer medication drug queries from GPs, nurses, receptionists and other healthcare professionals within the post holder's expertise.
• To support the lead GP for prescribing with clinical administration, projects and audits to improve services and initiatives to enhance safety, quality and cost effectiveness of prescribing (e.g. QOF, Manchester Standards, CCG Medicines Optimisation Team, MHRA updates etc.).
• To work autonomously and be capable of prioritising work whilst maintaining accurate and timely records, escalating when appropriate.
• Liaising with care homes regarding prescription queries and helping to optimise therapy in care home patients. This may include participating in care home patient medication reviews, liaising with MDT meetings in care homes.
• Support development and implementation of computer searches to identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines.
• Support the pharmacist and practice team with the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process by reviewing patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines reaching review dates.
• Monitor practice prescribing against the local GMMMG formularies e.g. RAG list for medicines that should be prescribed by secondary care (red drugs) or Do Not Prescribe (DNP) drugs.
• To attend practice and other meetings of relevance as required.
• Participate in the induction, education and training of new members of practice staff where appropriate.
• As appropriate to the post, to maintain and develop professional competence and expertise and participate in the appraisal process and agree objectives and a personal development plan.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post holder's grade as agreed with the post holder's line manager.

All employees should understand that it is their personal responsibility to comply with all organisational and statutory requirements (e.g. health and safety, equal treatment and diversity, confidentiality and clinical governance).

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Actively undertaking CPD for all areas relevant to their role and for changes in Pharmacy practice and self-development;
• Up to date knowledge of pharmacy operational procedures;
• Good dispensing practice;
• Checking procedures;
• Patient counselling;
• Current NHS legislation;
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics;
• Demonstrate awareness and experience of application of the National agenda for pharmacy within their workplace;
• Demonstrate the context of pharmacy in the NHS;
• Demonstrate awareness and application of Health and Safety at Work Act and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

IT Skills

Skills and Aptitudes

• Well-developed communication, negotiation, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work accurately to deadlines.
• Organisational skills.
• Able to prioritise work to meet deadlines.
• Able to maintain and develop professional relationships.
• Able to identify when advice needs to be sought, recognising personal limitations.
• Computer literate.
• Coaching skills.

Qualifications

• BTEC diploma level 3 in pharmaceutical science or NVQ level 3 Diploma in pharmacy service skills (or equivalent as recognised by GPHC).
• Must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Completion or working towards Medicines Management Certificate.
• A1 assessors award.

Experience

• Have experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
• Experience of working in GP Practice.

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.