PCN Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The postholder will work alongside the Practice Pharmacist and wider practice team to support the safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines across the practice.

Responsibilities will include:

• Repeat prescribing: Process and manage repeat prescription requests in accordance with practice policies, agreed protocols and prescribing procedures, identifying and escalating discrepancies or concerns.

• Medicines reconciliation: Support medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, transfers of care and other relevant changes to a patient's medication.

• Medicines optimisation: Assist with medication reviews, ensuring patients receive appropriate medicines and identifying opportunities to improve treatment and adherence.

• Prescription queries: Respond to routine medication-related queries within the scope of the role and refer clinical concerns to the Practice Pharmacist or an appropriate prescriber.

• Medicines safety: Support the identification and management of medication-related risks, including high-risk medicines, drug interactions, contraindications and overdue monitoring, escalating concerns appropriately.

• Patient support: Communicate with patients and carers regarding medicines, prescription processes and medication-related issues, providing information within professional competence.

• Prescribing support: Undertake relevant searches, audits and reviews to identify patients requiring medication reviews, monitoring or follow-up.

• Reducing medicines waste: Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary prescribing and medicines waste, supporting the efficient use of NHS resources.

• Liaison and coordination: Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacists, practice staff, community pharmacies, hospital teams and other healthcare professionals to support continuity of care.

• Clinical systems and records: Maintain accurate, timely and confidential patient records, ensuring medication information is updated appropriately on clinical systems.

• Policies and procedures: Work in accordance with practice protocols, prescribing guidance, medicines management policies and relevant professional standards.

• Quality improvement: Contribute to prescribing audits, service reviews and initiatives to improve medicines safety, prescribing quality and patient outcomes.

• Professional development: Maintain GPhC registration, undertake relevant training and continuing professional development, and work within the limits of professional competence.

The postholder will:

• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements at all times.

• Adhere to infection prevention and control, health and safety, safeguarding and other relevant practice policies.

• Communicate professionally and effectively with patients, colleagues and external healthcare providers.

• Recognise the limits of their knowledge and competence and seek advice or escalate concerns when necessary.

• Participate in team meetings, training and service development activities as required.

• Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and level of responsibility.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience working as a Pharmacy Technician in a primary or secondary care setting.
• Knowledge of repeat prescribing and medicines management processes.
• Experience using IT systems to access, record and manage information.

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary Care

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Sound knowledge of medicines management and medicines optimisation.
• Understanding of medication safety, confidentiality and patient information governance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good IT skills and the ability to use clinical systems accurately.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently within agreed protocols and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to recognise issues requiring escalation and work within professional scope of practice.

Desirable

• Experience working within general practice or a Primary Care Network.
• Experience with repeat prescribing systems, medicines reconciliation and medication reviews.
• Knowledge of prescribing audits, clinical searches and medicines safety initiatives.
• Experience liaising with community pharmacies and other healthcare professionals.
• Understanding of NHS primary care services and the role of PCNs.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

• Community Care Hall Green PCN is committed to providing a fair, inclusive and supportive working environment. The postholder is expected to treat patients, colleagues and partner organisations with dignity and respect and to uphold equality, diversity and inclusion principles in all aspects of their work.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Maintains current professional registration and continuing professional development.

Desirable

• General Practice experience

Scope of the Role

Essential

• This job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. Duties may be reviewed and amended in consultation with the postholder to reflect service requirements, professional development and changes in the delivery of primary care services.

Confidentiality & Data Protection

Essential

• The postholder must maintain strict confidentiality regarding patient information, staff records and organisational matters, complying with relevant legislation, professional standards and local policies.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hall Green Health

Address

Northbrook Group Practice

93 Northbrook Road

Shirley

Birmingham

West Midlands

B90 3LX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.hallgreenhealth.co.uk/