Pharmacy Technician in Wingate

Location: Practices within Durham Coast Primary Care Network

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Within band 4-5, depending on experience

We are looking to recruit an additional Pharmacy Technician to join our team at Durham Coast Primary Care Network which is formed of four member practices; East Durham Medical Group, Bevan Medical Group, Southdene Medical Centre and Wingate Medical Centre, together representing a population of over 33,000 patients.

Under the direction of our existing team of Pharmacists, we expect that you will be able to work independently and manage your own workload. You will be self‑motivated, and above all you will be passionate about providing the highest standards of care and treatment to patients in primary care. Due to the developing nature of the role and the needs and priorities of individuals requiring support, a high degree of flexibility is essential.

You will need excellent communication skills, the ability to meet targets and to be able to liaise with patients, primary care staff, community pharmacists and other partners. You will support the improvement of safety and quality of prescribing, optimise the best use of medicines whilst minimising risk and providing safe patient care. In addition to the patient‑facing aspect of your role, you will also be required to contribute towards practice financial and quality performance. You will support the Practice Pharmacists work in delivering medicines optimisation initiatives within GP practices as well as coding and supporting practices with their QOF registers to ensure they are accurate. The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience of influencing others and conducting clinical medication reviews. This is a fantastic opportunity to be mentored and upskilled working closely with practices across our network. It is a requirement of the role to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Society and have a BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences. The successful candidate would preferably have some experience of working as a registered Pharmacy Technician. Primary care experience would be an advantage but is not essential. Teamwork, flexibility, enthusiasm and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively are essential skills.

We are committed to the ongoing development of our team, which includes mandatory and developmental training for all our staff. Team members are encouraged to highlight any training they feel would benefit them in the achievement of their role.

• Support practice clinical pharmacists and practice clinical teams to provide a safe and effective repeat prescribing service.
• Comply with legal and professional requirements and with safe systems of work for re‑authorising repeat prescriptions.
• Co‑ordinate medication review appointments and any changes of medication as advised by the clinical team.
• Liaise with pharmacies on the supply of prescribed drugs, alert clinicians of any supply issues and forward recommendations of alternatives.
• Medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care.
• Handle prescription queries within area of own competence.
• Delivery of training and development to practice administrative staff who process repeat prescription requests to support improved coordination and effective pharmacy administration.
• Use and maintain information reporting systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, prescribing data and patient outcomes.
• Participate in practice meetings, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role and to promote issues relevant to prescribing.
• Liaise with multidisciplinary team, prescribing support team, community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy teams.
• Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential, and appropriately record, transfer and/or coordinate such information in accordance with the GDPR; Caldecott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct.
• Be responsible for the organization and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines.
• Utilize GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits.
• Support the clinical pharmacists and practices with the work required under County Durham ICBs Medicines Management Local Incentive Scheme.
• Support the clinical pharmacists in shared care monitoring and processes.
• In collaboration with practice Clinical Pharmacists and GP Prescribing Leads ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result.
• Undertake training and development, to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice‑based work.
• Escalate problems or issues to line manager that requires additional support or input.
• Carry out other duties which are appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as the priorities of the service change.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GP practices, staff and other healthcare professionals.
• The post holder will develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the practice and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.
• Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld.
• The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguarding protection policies and procedures.

The post holder will be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Society and have a BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences. Recognise the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role in patient care. Demonstrate use of appropriate communication to gain the co‑operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues and other professionals, other NHS/Private organisations, e.g. ICB). Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team. Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleagues when necessary. Actively works towards developing and maintaining effective working relationships across the PCN. Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality. Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships. Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams. Liaises with ICB colleagues and Heads of Medicines Management/Optimisation to benefit from peer support. Liaises with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients.

Have experience and an awareness of common acute and long‑term conditions that are likely to be seen in General Practice. Recognises priorities when problem‑solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate. Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct. Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines.

Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace. Demonstrate understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision. Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service. Review yearly progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others. Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals. Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.

Demonstrate understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and/or the service.