Pharmacy Technician

Job summary

The role complements the existing clinical pharmacist team, as well as working alongside community pharmacies and other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team to provide a comprehensive support to patients within the community, contributing to the effective and efficient use of medication. The role works alongside practice staff to ensure the best outcome for patients

Rochdale Health Alliance is a family-friendly organisation who makes the health and wellbeing of its staff a priority. We have regular training sessions and support staff to reach their full potential.

Main duties of the job

Work alongside all GP practice staff as an integrated part of the practice teams, undertaking numerous medicines related activities.

Contribute to the successful management of medicines and build capacity in the workforce at the right levels.

Help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols.

Contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing processes/protocols/SOPs in General Practice, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems. This includes the promotion of electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) and online ordering.

Contribute to minimising clinical risks and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.

Be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and promoting good practice. Assist the PCN in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.

About us

Rochdale Health Alliance is a GP federation, formed in 2016 delivering primary care services to the borough of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR). Core business activities include supporting member practices with a range of core activities. As well as providing in hours, extended hours and weekend clinical services, the organisation supports primary care nursing in our networks together with the homeless and transient communities.

The organisation also manages GP practices across HMR and Bolton

Our bespoke primary care academy provides CPD accredited training to the primary care workforce as well as hosting a variety of student placements and summer school opportunities for aspiring medical students

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities underpinning the role

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), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation.

Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.

As determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings, linking with local community pharmacies.

Support the Clinical Pharmacist in Structure Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR.

Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.

Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.

Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.

Technical and Administrative

Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed.

Implement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.

Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering.

Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.

Support practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests.

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.

Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services. Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements (This includes reviewing/development of SOPs, recording of MHRA alerts and significant events).

Person specification

Personal Attributes, Values and Behaviours

Essential

• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and organisational values
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
• Proficient in MS office packages

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE standard grade 4 & above including Maths and English (or equivalent)
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Professional registration with GPhC
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community, or hospital pharmacy

Desirable

• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
• An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing