Pharmacy Technician

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and progressive clinical team at Hetton Group Practice.

The successful candidate will be a registered Pharmacy Technician who has completed, is currently undertaking, or is willing to undertake the appropriate primary care pharmacy training pathway. Working alongside our Clinical Pharmacist, GPs, nurses and wider multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in supporting the safe, effective and efficient use of medicines across the practice population.

This is an evolving role with excellent opportunities for personal and professional development within a supportive environment that values innovation, collaboration and high-quality patient care.

Main duties of the job

The Pharmacy Technician is an integral member of the general practice team and will work within their professional competencies to:

• Work under the supervision of the Clinical Pharmacist to support the safe and effective use of medicines.
• Process and manage prescription requests in line with practice policies and procedures.
• Undertake medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and transfer of care.
• Support medication reviews and medicines optimisation initiatives.
• Respond to medication-related queries from patients, carers, clinicians and community pharmacies.
• Assist with the management of repeat prescribing systems.
• Carry out prescribing and medication safety audits.
• Support quality improvement projects and medicines-related enhanced services.
• Ensure accurate coding and maintenance of clinical records.
• Identify opportunities to improve prescribing quality, reduce waste and enhance patient safety.
• Support public health initiatives, screening programmes and vaccination services.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain professional standards and comply with all relevant governance, confidentiality and safeguarding requirements.

About us

Hetton Group Practice is a friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking semi-rural training practice serving a growing patient population of approximately 12,000 patients from a spacious purpose-built premises.

Our multidisciplinary team consists of:

• 6 GP Partners
• 3 Salaried GPs
• A full nursing team including:
• 2 Practice Nurses
• 1 Student Nursing Associate
• 2 Healthcare Assistants
• A dedicated and experienced administration and reception team supporting the delivery of high-quality patient care

We are an established training practice for both GP Registrars and Medical Students, offering a supportive learning environment and excellent opportunities for professional development. We actively encourage staff to develop specialist interests, undertake further training, and progress within their careers.

We are proud members of the Coalfields Primary Care Network (PCN) and work closely with neighbouring practices to deliver services and improve healthcare outcomes for patients across the Coalfields area.

The practice also has representation on the Sunderland Local Medical Committee (LMC), ensuring we remain engaged with wider primary care developments and initiatives.

As a practice, we are committed to delivering high-quality patient care, embracing innovation, supporting our workforce, and continually improving the services we provide to our patients and local community.

Job responsibilities

The Pharmacy Technician will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary primary care team, supporting the safe, accurate and effective use of medicines within the practice population.

Working within their professional competencies and under the clinical supervision of the Clinical Pharmacist and GPs, the post holder will support medicines optimisation, prescription management, medication safety and quality improvement initiatives. The role will contribute to improving patient outcomes, reducing medication-related risks and enhancing the efficiency of prescribing processes across the practice.

The post holder will work collaboratively with clinicians, patients, carers, community pharmacies, care homes and other healthcare providers to support the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Key responsibilities will include:

Medicines Management and Optimisation

• Support the safe, efficient and cost-effective use of medicines within the practice.
• Undertake medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and transfers of care.
• Support medication reviews in line with practice protocols and within individual competency.
• Process medication requests and prescription queries.
• Support the monitoring of high-risk medications in accordance with practice policies and national guidance.
• Assist clinicians with medication-related queries and prescribing decisions where appropriate.
• Identify patients requiring medication reviews and recall where necessary.
• Support the implementation of local and national prescribing guidance.

Assist with the management and monitoring of repeat prescribing systems.

Process prescription requests accurately and within agreed timeframes.

Investigate and resolve prescribing queries from patients, pharmacies and healthcare professionals.

Liaise with community pharmacies regarding prescription issues and medication supply concerns.

Help reduce prescribing waste through patient education and medicines optimisation initiatives.

Participate in medication safety audits and quality improvement projects.

Monitor prescribing systems to identify and minimise medication errors.

Support the implementation of patient safety alerts and national guidance.

Ensure prescribing processes comply with current legislation, governance requirements and best practice standards.

Assist in reviewing prescribing data and identifying opportunities for service improvement.

Maintain accurate and comprehensive patient records.

Ensure medication records are updated appropriately following clinical reviews and hospital correspondence.

Support accurate clinical coding relating to medication and prescribing activity.

Use practice clinical systems efficiently to support patient care and practice performance.

Respond appropriately to medication-related enquiries from patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Provide advice and information within the scope of the Pharmacy Technician role.

Signpost patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional where required.

Support public health initiatives including vaccination and screening programmes.

Work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Develop effective working relationships with external organisations including community pharmacies, hospitals and care homes.

Attend and contribute to practice meetings and training sessions.

Participate in service development and continuous improvement initiatives.

The post holder will:

• Work within professional competence and scope of practice at all times.
• Comply with all relevant professional standards, policies and procedures.
• Adhere to information governance, confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
• Maintain mandatory training requirements.
• Participate in appraisal and personal development reviews.
• Undertake continuing professional development to maintain and enhance knowledge and skills.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience working under appropriate clinical supervision to support the safe and effective use of medicines.
• Experience working in a pharmacy setting.
• Understanding of medicines optimisation and prescribing processes.
• Knowledge of healthcare provision within General Practice, including QOF and Enhanced Services.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Previous experience working within General Practice or Primary Care.
• Experience using EMIS Web or similar clinical systems.
• Experience undertaking medicines reconciliation and medication reviews.
• Experience supporting prescribing audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience liaising with community pharmacies, care homes, and secondary care providers.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Meets the qualification and training requirements for Pharmacy Technician registration.
• Completed, undertaking, or willing to undertake an approved Primary Care Pharmacy training pathway (e.g. PCPEP).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Completion of the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP).
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) qualification.
• Additional medicines optimisation or primary care-related qualifications.