PCN Pharmacy Technician

Woolpit Health Centre have an exciting opportunity for a hard working, self-motivated and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join their Medicines Management team. The PCN Pharmacy Technician works within the Medicines Management team at Woolpit Health Centre and is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals, working under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines. The PCN Pharmacy Technician will work within the scope of their practice to support safe and effective medicines management by handling medication reconciliation, managing repeat prescriptions, undertaking medication reviews, assisting with audits and contributing to medicines optimisation. They will work closely with Pharmacists, GPs and the extended healthcare team to improve prescribing practices, reduce errors, support patient education and help ease GP workload through efficient management of medicine-related tasks and queries.

Main duties of the job:

• Must have a good level of education, including English and Maths.
• Is a registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), meeting the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a Pharmacy Technician.
• Has at least 2 years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician and experience of supervision/leadership on projects.
• Must have competence in interacting with patients face to face, as well as over the telephone and digitally.
• Must have experience of working in a diverse multi-disciplinary team and be able to liaise with clinical and administrative staff within the practice.
• Is required to have experience of using computer systems, including clinical systems, such as SystmOne, EMIS Web and DXS.
• Is required to have knowledge of law and guidelines around medicines and the Code of Conduct and operate with a high level of confidentiality.
• Must have strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Is enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from, an approved training pathway, for example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP).

The successful candidate will work closely under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines.

About us:

Based in the Suffolk village of Woolpit, we serve a population of over 16,000 patients and aim to provide the type of care that we would expect for ourselves and our own families. We pride ourselves on the high standards of our care and hold the Royal College of General Practitioners Practice Accreditation Award, a quality mark held by only 19 practices in the UK. Our 5 GP partners and 8 non-partner GPs lead a multidisciplinary team of nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and a social prescriber all of whom are based in our purpose-built premises. We are proud to be heavily invested in the development of future healthcare professionals and non-clinical staff.

Benefits:

• Attractive rates of pay with annual pay review (not agenda for change)
• Regular one-to-ones to aid good communication
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Voluntary overtime when available
• Plenty of training opportunities
• Membership of the NHS contributory pension scheme: a defined benefits scheme; life insurance; family benefits including an adult dependents pension and children's pension; ill health benefits; 20% employer contribution.
• Option of NHS discount and Blue Light Card for retail/dining/holidays etc.

Job responsibilities:

Primary Responsibilities Clinical:

• Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.
• Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), medication reviews, medicines reconciliation and medicines optimisation (e.g. BP and LTC). Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.
• Carry out medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new patients, including new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings and linking with local community pharmacists.
• Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.
• Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients.
• Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
• Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits.
• Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services.

Technical and Administrative:

• Work with the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage.
• Support practice reception and pharmacy teams in appropriately triaging medication and prescription requests, to allow GPs and Clinical Pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests.
• Provide leadership for medicines optimisation systems across PCNs, supporting practices with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging and implementing Electronic Prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines.
• Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
• Develop relationships with other pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health.

This job description is not exhaustive and depending on business priorities, the post holder may be required to undertake such other duties from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility of the grade. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder.

Health Clearance:

Health clearance is required for this appointment. Applicants must complete a medical questionnaire, return it to the Occupational Department and, if required, undergo a medical examination before appointment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

A Disclosure and Barring Service check and disclosure will be required before appointment for all posts with access to children or vulnerable adults or where the post holder has access to patient information.

Confidentiality:

Patients entrust with us and 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. In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues and other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults:

Woolpit Health Centre as an employer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm and expects all employees to share this commitment. If the post is one that involves access to children and vulnerable adults during the course of their normal duties, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role. All clinical staff have a responsibility for understanding the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (DH, 2005) to ensure people who are 16 and over are empowered to make decisions for themselves. It is the responsibility of clinical staff to assess capacity within their particular remit of care provision; to identify, act and support those who lack capacity to make specific decisions.

Security:

It is the responsibility of all employees to work within the security policies and procedures of the practice they work at to protect the patients, staff and visitors. This duty applies to the specific work area of the individual and the practice in general.

Data Protection:

This post has a confidential aspect. If you are required to obtain, process and/or use information held on a computer or word processor you should do it in a fair and lawful way. You should hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose and ought to disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed. Breaches of confidence in relation to data will result in disciplinary action which may involve dismissal.

Equality of Opportunity:

Equality of opportunity is an integral part of Woolpit Health Centre's recruitment and selection process and recruiting managers must ensure that they comply fully with Woolpit Health Centre's Equality & Diversity Policy. Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such as training to include participation in an annual individual appraisal. Taking responsibility for and maintaining a record of own professional development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice and will alert other team members to issues of quality and risk. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will apply practice policies, standards and guidance, participate in audit where appropriate, and work within their professional code of conduct (GPhC).

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: GCSE Mathematics and English (grade A-C or 4-9*) or equivalent; Qualified Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC); Completed the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP).
• Experience: 2 years of post-registration experience as a Pharmacy Technician; Experience of project supervision / leadership; Experience of managing own time and workload; Experience of dealing with patients face to face as well as over the telephone and digitally; Experience of working in General Practice / Primary Care; Experience working with EMIS; Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Skills and Attributes: Strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing; Good organisational skills; Ability to work as part of a team; Ability to counsel patients on medication regimens and compliance, including inhaler technique; Basic health observations such as blood pressure, height and weight; Capable of identifying and requesting necessary blood tests for medication monitoring.
• Personal Qualities: Self-motivated, with the initiative to prioritise workload to meet deadlines; 'Can Do' attitude, able to maintain positivity in the face of adversity and when working under pressure; Flexible and cooperative; An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.

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.