Vacancy: Pharmacy Technician

 

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Job Description

  • Job Title: Pharmacy Technician 
  • Reports to: Clinical Pharmacist / Practice Manager
  • Hours: 22.5 hours per week 
  • Salary: £14.78 per hour
 

Gillingham Medical Practice

Gillingham Medical Practice is a friendly practice that serves 13,000 patients from Gillingham and the surrounding villages.  It is part of The Vale Primary Care Network working with the Blackmore Vale Partnership to deliver an enhanced level of patient care.  

Gillingham Medical Practice has two surgeries based at The Barn and at Peacemarsh.

The Pharmacy Technician role is funded by NHS England via the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) - Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme for Primary Care Networks and employed by Gillingham Medical Practice. Find out more on the NHS England website

The Pharmacy Technician position is a new role and will join our existing friendly pharmacy team consisting of a Clinical Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Technician.

 

Job Summary

The Pharmacy Technician will work with clinicians to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care.  The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical risk, and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.

Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing Clinical Pharmacists, Community Pharmacists, and other members of a multi-disciplinary team.  Pharmacy Technicians are different to Clinical Pharmacists as they are not able to prescribe or make clinical decisions, instead working under supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines.

There will be a requirement to participate in the national CPPE: Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education scheme for pharmacy technicians in general practice.

 

Summary of Duties 

To support the Clinical Pharmacist at the Practice, as follows:  

  • To carry out medicines’ reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients’ medical records and prescriptions.
  • To carry out medication switches, dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation to ensure safe and cost-effective prescribing.
  • To initiate repeat prescribing for appropriate patients.
  • 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 and QOF quality improvement projects.
  • To respond to medication queries from patients, staff and care homes in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols
  • To support care homes in maintaining effective medicines and management and reduce waste.
  • To carry out domiciliary visits where required to support patients use of medication.
  • To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines, as appropriate.
  • To action drug alerts.
  • To act as a link between practice and local community and hospital pharmacy services.

To support practice teams, as follows:

  • Liaise with patients and pharmacies regarding prescription queries and requests.
  • Work with the practice medicines and management teams, clinicians, and other practice staff to resolve all medicines related queries.
  • Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post, as required.
 

Summary of Skills

  • To have a good working of knowledge of Microsoft software packages.
  • To be able to use databases for monitoring and analytical purposes.
  • NVQ Level 3 with BTech in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent.
  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Practical experience of working as a Pharmacy Technician in primary care, community, or secondary care.
  • Practical experience of computerised systems.Experience of prescriptions processes and systems.
 

Training

  • To participate in the national CPPE (Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education) training scheme for pharmacy technicians in General Practice.
  • Specialist training will be provided on the use of System One (S1), Ardens templates. 
  • To undertake mandatory health and safety training either via e.learning or in person, whichever is applicable.
  • To undertake training as required for the position and level of responsibility.
 

Notes

  • For further skills and attributes for this job role, please refer to the Person Specification.
  • This document may be amended following consultation with the post holder, to facilitate the development of the role, the practice, and the individual. 
  • All personnel should be prepared to accept additional, or surrender existing duties, at short notice to enable the efficient running of the practice. 
  • Hours of work to be agreed with the Clinical Pharmacist and Practice Manager.
 

Person Specification

Personal Qualities & Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing and work patiently with individuals.
  • Ability to maintain good working relationships and to work in collaboration with colleagues.
  • Ability to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with patients, their families, carers, and others within the community.
  • Ability to follow procedures, work to deadlines whilst maintain an attention to detail
  • Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals and, if necessary, necessitate escalation/onward referral. 
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of local healthcare provision (GP surgery and Primary Care Networks) and a passion for working in primary healthcare

Education, Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 with BTech in Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council 
  • IT and keyboard skills
  • Good communication skills, written and oral
  • A commitment to professional and personal development

Desirable

  • CPPE Training (Centre for Pharmaceutical Postgraduate Education

Experience

Essential

  • Practical experience of working as a Pharmacy Technician in primary care, community, or secondary care setting
  • Practical experience of computerised systems
  • Experience of prescriptions processes and systems

Desirable

  • Experience of working with or in General Practice
  • Vulnerable adults’ awareness 
  • Experience of care of the elderly
  • Knowledge of the personalised care approach

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of using Microsoft Word, for reports, emails, and the internet to create simple plans and reports 
  • Excellent telephone skills, especially when dealing with patients who have a hearing impediment
  • Excellent patient facing skills, remaining calm under pressure and in situations where there is potential conflict
  • Good influencing and negotiating skills, particularly with patients when medications are under review

Desirable

  • Knowledge of general practice clinical systems, such as, EMIS and SystmOne

Other

Essential

  • Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions
  • Holds a Full UK driving licence.
  • Undertakes mandatory Health and Safety training
  • Carries out duties in accordance with Equality and Diversity policies.
  • Undertakes any other training that is a prerequisite for the job role.
  • Can work across two sites: either The Barn Surgery or Peacemarsh Surgery, as required 

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