Pharmacy Technician in Plymouth

Sound PCN (Primary Care Network) are seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic, patient-focussed, and independently motivated pharmacy technician to join our existing pharmacy team to provide quality patient care. The successful candidate will work across the 5 GP Practices in the PCN, developing medicines optimisation services. This advert is to replace a leaving staff member therefore we are looking for 22.5 hours a week.

Main duties of the job

• To provide specialist pharmaceutical technical services, professional advice and direct support to Practice GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, HCAs, and Reception/Administrative Staff.
• To liaise with patients, clinical and non-clinical staff, practice, hospital and community pharmacists and patient's carers to improve the pharmaceutical care of patients.
• To develop the role of the Practice Pharmacy Technician to maximise support to all Clinical and Non-clinical practice staff to improve patient care in relation to all aspects of medicines and their impact.
• To provide professional specialist medicines advice to GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Community Pharmacists, Community Nurses, and other health professionals to promote the safe, effective, and high-quality, cost-effective use of medicines in all prescribing decisions for the benefit of the Practice's patients.

About us

Sound Primary Care Network provides proactive and coordinated care across the local population of approximately 42,000 patients. We have a strong focus on health promotion and personalised care, supporting patients to make informed decisions about their health and social care. We are a dynamic, friendly, and supportive PCN with much experience in training GPs and other healthcare professionals. Sound PCN have been early adopters of new models of NHS (National Health Service) care, utilising the diverse skill mix offered by physiotherapists, paramedics, nurse practitioners, social prescribers, pharmacy technicians and care co-ordinators.

Job responsibilities

• To act as a Technical Pharmacy Advisor to Practice Clinicians across Sound Primary Care Network (PCN).
• To advise Practice Management and other non-clinical staff concerning administrative aspects of medicines management as appropriate.
• To optimise medicine management, resolve queries where possible and produce prescriptions for clinical review and signature.
• To work within own competencies as a Pharmacy Technician and ensure that registration and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is kept up to date.
• To address the following areas without the need to consult a GP/Clinical Pharmacist in each case (although clinical support and advice will always be available if required):
• Update regime review dates when conducting level 1 and 2 medication reviews.
• Medicine reconciliation of discharge summaries and other clinical documents.
• Optimisation of repeat medication, cost effective switching, commencing repeat dispensing and synchronisation of medication.
• Ordering of required monitoring i.e., blood tests, blood pressure, height, weight etc. for medicine/condition monitoring.
• Addition/removal of medication for Nursing Home patients under GP/Pharmacist Prescriber guidance.
• Co-ordinate District Nurse Medication and Dressing requests for the practice population.
• Co-ordinate medical device prescription requests, including requests for catheters, nutritional supplements/feeds, and stoma care products.
• Work alongside colleagues or independently to deliver project work relating to medicine optimisation, an example of this may be deprescribing Gabapentanoids or Bisphosphonate reviews.
• When requested by a clinician to be able to have appropriate conversations with patients and initiate medications such as statins, Vitamin D, Folic Acid, iron supplements etc as per PCN protocols.
• To work in conjunction with the nominated Clinicians who support Nursing Homes in the area.
• Provide independent information to patients regarding medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
• Analyse Practice prescription data to produce reports as requested.
• Participate in review and setting of policies relating to medicines management and prescribing.
• Implement initiatives to reduce waste of prescribed medicines.
• Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF, DMOS (Devon Medicines Optimisation Scheme) and other locally commissioned enhanced services.
• Support and influence the Practice Clinical, Management and Administrative Teams to implement procedural and service changes relating to prescribing to ensure best practice is adopted in accordance with local guidelines, legislation, directives, and safety updates e.g., NICE, MRHA etc.

Any successful candidate will be required to enrol and complete a 15-month pathway with the CPPE (Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education) which will require learning and development in their own time in addition to some protected study time during working hours.

Qualifications

• Essential NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or Equivalent.
• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC).
• Desirable Experience using SYSTEM ONE clinical system.
• Desirable Experience working for a primary care network or working in a primary care 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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

For further information please see NHS Careers website.