Practice Pharmacy Technician in Manchester

We are looking to recruit an experienced, motivated and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our GP practice to work within our pharmacy team at Benchill Medical Centre in Wythenshawe, South Manchester. We are looking for 25-30 hours per week. You will have a key role in supporting the pharmacists, clinicians, administration teams and patients in the delivery of high quality, innovative and safe prescribing practices ensuring the best clinical outcomes for our patients. The expertise and resources within our practices are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all our employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
• Issuing repeat prescriptions.
• Lead on medication synchronisation to support patients and community pharmacy to manage patient medication ordering.
• Build relationships with hospitals and care homes in order to optimise patient therapy, minimise error and allow for a smooth transition between care settings.
• Support the pharmacist and practice team with the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process.
• Participate in the induction, education, and training of new members of practice staff where appropriate.
• Participate in medication audits and support the clinical team on prescribing projects.
• Work autonomously and be capable of prioritising work, escalating when appropriate.

About us

Benchill Medical Centre are proud to be part of the NHS and our mission is to provide safe, efficient healthcare for our patients and their families, and to ensure that everyone working within our practice is happy in their work and feels valued and supported by the team.

Job responsibilities

• Respond to medication queries from patients, GPs, nurses, receptionists, and other healthcare professionals within the post holder’s expertise in a professional manner.
• Support the clinical pharmacist to manage drug shortage queries and drug recalls.
• Liaise with local community pharmacies and hospitals regarding prescription queries, helping to ensure a smooth transition from secondary to primary care.
• Build strong working relationships with local community pharmacies and other care providers to assist patients and provide a high-quality service.
• Understand and apply the protocol for seven or twenty-eight day prescribing when communicating with community pharmacy to arrange compliance aids.
• Undertake medication reconciliation from hospital discharge and secondary care clinic documentation in accordance with practice protocols and update patients medical records accordingly.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of Repeat Dispensing (eRD) when it is appropriate to use and how to manage this type of prescribing.
• 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.
• Work with the clinical pharmacist and prescribing co-ordinators to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures.
• Provide advice to patients and the practice team in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
• Become familiar with the Greater Manchester Medicines Management Group drug traffic light system for prescribing of high risk drugs.
• Develop and implement computer searches to identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines.
• Participate in the induction, education, and training of new members of practice staff where appropriate.
• Have an understanding of the practice’s prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
• Attend practice and other meetings of relevance where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop professional competence and expertise, participate in the appraisal process and agree objectives and a personal development plan.
• Work autonomously and be capable of prioritising work whilst maintaining accurate and timely records.
• Undertake any other duties applicable to the post holder’s grade as agreed with the post holder’s line manager.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Diploma Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Must have completed or be enrolled in, be undertaking or be prepared to start an approved 18-month training pathway.
• Communication: Can communicate sensitive information in an understandable form. Ability to build strong relationships. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Qualities: Pro‑active and self‑motivated, resilient, adaptable, hard working, reliable and resourceful, respectful, personable, patient centred approach.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years post‑qualification experience. Experience of working on own initiative within professional boundaries and within national/local protocols and legislation.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.