Clinical Pharmacy Technician: Medicines Optimisation & Care

Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is an innovative programme aimed at transforming care delivery to achieve person-centred, coordinated services across Practices. Aligned with national policy, including the Five Year Forward View and GP Forward View, this model enhances the role of pharmacy in primary care. It focuses on proactive patient support to promote safety, reduce hospital admissions, and alleviate pressures on general practice, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery within the community.

Pharmacy technicians are vital members of the PCN multidisciplinary team, working under supervision to support the safe, effective, and efficient use of medicines. Unlike clinical pharmacists, they do not prescribe or make clinical decisions but play a key role in improving prescribing practices and patient care. The role involves supporting medication switches in line with approved protocols, enhancing repeat prescribing systems, promoting online ordering and repeat dispensing, and reducing medicine waste. The post holder will also encourage a better understanding of medicines optimisation among practice teams, support NICE guideline implementation, and contribute to national medicines optimisation initiatives and PCN targets.

Main duties of the job

• Clinical Pharmacy Technicians support Clinical Pharmacists and Clinicians by following agreed prescribing protocols. Their duties include processing repeat prescriptions, converting acute to repeat items, managing medication reviews, and reconciling medicines post-discharge.
• They assist with structured medication reviews, shared care protocols, and audits. Technicians engage in patient consultations, resolve prescribing queries, maintain team communication, and support medicines-related projects, acting as a key point of contact under pharmacist supervision.
• Pharmacy technicians maintain accurate medication records and support pharmacists in analysing prescribing trends per NICE and local guidance. They aid medicines optimisation, reduce waste, promote EPS and eRD, and train staff in safe medicine handling.
• The role involves attending local meetings, supporting reception teams, and fostering collaboration across care settings. Technicians also help implement national prescribing policies and contribute to QIPP, QOF, and CQC compliance through policy development and review.

About us

K&W Healthcare's primary objective is to support GP Practices and services across the Brent localities of Kingsbury, Willesden and Wembley. Our aim is to develop quality primary care for patients within Brent and strive for continuous improvement in the delivery of primary healthcare services across our GP practices. K&W Healthcare is a GP-led organisation made up of 27 GP practices serving a registered population of over 220,000 patients. We are committed to improving the care provided to patients, reducing health inequalities and raising the quality and standards of GP practices.

Job responsibilities

Job Specific Responsibilities - Clinical

• Work with the Clinical Pharmacists and Clinicians in accordance with agreed practice prescribing standard operating procedures.
• Process repeat medication requests, including the conversion of acute requests to repeat medicines, changing quantities of medicines.
• Processing prescriptions in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency.
• As determined by the PCN, support medication reviews/monitoring and medicines reconciliation post discharge (or other transfer of care) and synchronizing medicines for patients especially if transferring between care settings, linking with local community pharmacies.
• Undertake patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
• Support the Clinicians and Clinical Pharmacists in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR.
• Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.
• To develop and maintain medicines related communication to all Practice staff.
• To assist with the development and review of medicine audits.
• Provide a contact for patients and colleagues with medication queries.
• Support with project work/prescribing initiatives/clinical audits under the support of the Pharmacist.
• Liaise with Clinicians and staff to resolve prescribing queries.

Technical and Administrative

• To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice clinical computer system, including advice given and action taken.
• To assist the Pharmacist with data analysis of prescribing behaviour in line with NICE guidance and local clinical commissioning directives.
• To adhere to strict confidentiality policies at all times.
• Attend local meetings seeking to improve access to medicines or repeat prescribing processes.
• Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimization processes are being followed.
• Implement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.
• Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
• Support promotion and maintenance of Electronic Repeat Dispensing and online ordering.
• Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.
• Support the development of practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex patients.
• Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.
• Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, Quality and Outcomes Framework and locally commissioned enhanced services.
• Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for Care Quality Commission requirements.

Person Specification

• Previous experience working in a pharmacy or healthcare setting.
• 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.