Practice Pharmacy Technician Sturminster Newton

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced GPhC Registered Pharmacy Technician to support the Practice in ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing and optimisation of medicines management. In order to be successful in this role you will need to have excellent communication skills and good IT abilities as well as a sound knowledge of medicines management and medicines optimisation gained in either primary or secondary care settings.

Main duties of the job:

• To support the Practice Pharmacist to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
• To support, train and oversee the administrative staff involved in the preparation of repeat prescriptions and to participate in the daily preparation of repeat prescriptions in order to ensure high quality, safe and timely repeat prescribing.
• To support the administration staff with 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.
• To contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols/Standard Operating Procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.
• To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing in order 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 medicines management team at Dorset ICB.
• To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• To support the Practice Based Pharmacist to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness.
• 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.
• To assist in the control of medicines stocks within the practice and to advise on the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs and other medicines, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
• To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the practice to optimise the quality of prescribing.

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

• 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 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 Partners/Managers dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels.

To provide supervision, training and professional leadership to the practice administrative staff.

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 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.

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.

In the course of 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.

The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others' health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures.

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

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.

Qualifications: Essential FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS. Desirable FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS.

Experience: Essential FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS. Desirable FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.