An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Pharmacy Technician to join our established Pharmacy Team in the Wokingham North Primary Care Network.
You will be primarily based at Wargrave Surgery, although you may be occasionally asked to work flexibly across our two other Practices, Woodley Centre Surgery and Parkside Surgery. You will work alongside our committed and supportive team of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians and be part of a local Pharmacy Network.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a motivated and forward-thinking Technician. You will provide specialist medicines management advice to GPs and other health professionals to promote the safe, cost-effective, and high-quality use of medicines in all prescribing decisions. You will be a first point of contact for patients with medication queries. The role also focuses on improving the repeat-prescribing process and relieving clinical workload pressures.
Clinical supervision and mentorship will be provided. We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic and adaptable to change, with excellent clinical skills and a good level of competence in the use of I.T. Candidates should exhibit good organisational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of healthcare professionals, patients, families, and carers.
About us
Wokingham North PCN comprises 3 GP surgeries with a total population of 38,000 patients and we aspire to be a progressive and innovative team, working collaboratively to share best practice and to deliver excellent clinical pharmacy services to our patients.
Job responsibilities
1. Reconcile the medications of patients whose care is transferred back to primary care in a timely and effective manner liaising with patients and other providers to ensure patients receive appropriate medication on discharge.
2. Proactively engage with patients whose care has been transferred to reduce potential readmission including identifying and rectifying unexplained variation.
3. Work with the pharmacy service team to develop safe, effective and efficient systems for the repeat prescribing of medication at scale across multiple GP sites.
4. Work with the pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure the effective and continuous supply of medication to high-risk patients.
5. Work with the pharmacy service team to develop and implement systems to ensure safe and effective management of high-risk medication.
6. Work with the pharmacy service team to develop and implement changes to medicines in line with MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local or national guidance.
7. Provide feedback and seek advice from pharmacists for patients where the post holder has clinical concerns around competence to safely manage their medications.
8. Manage requests to prescribe medication from specialists in line with Berkshire West formulary and locally agreed guidelines.
9. Update patient medication records in line with incoming clinical correspondence.
10. Refer patients to their community pharmacist for support with using their medicines.
11. Provide advice to GPs, staff, and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality, and cost effectiveness.
12. Respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate clinician in accordance with protocols and personal and professional boundaries.
13. Provide support to patients to maximise the benefit from their medication.
14. Provide telephone support for patients with medication queries.
15. Provide professional telephone and written advice and support to patients and their carers.
16. Maintain full and complete records of all patient contacts using appropriate clinical templates and coding.
Audit and risk stratification
1. Participate in audit activities to optimise medicines safety and the use of prescribing resources.
2. Feedback results of clinical audit activities in areas agreed with GP practice and PCN teams.
3. Make recommendations based on the outcomes of audit and shared learning activities.
Operational Performance
1. Work collaboratively to help develop and promote a positive working culture, including involvement in developing, improving, and promoting the pharmacy service.
2. Ensure adherence to efficient administrative processes within the pharmacy service.
Personal Contribution
1. Maintain productive relationships encouraging the giving and receiving of regular feedback to create and maintain a culture of constantly seeking to refine and improve the service and learn together.
2. Engage with users of the service to understand people's experience of the service and to measure levels of satisfaction.
3. Responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
4. Responsibility for own development, learning, and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Quality
1. Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.
2. Support training and development of administrative staff to support pharmacy service in line with protocols and procedures.
3. Work within risk management and health and safety policies and procedures within GP practices and other providers.
4. Adhere to a robust process for recording learning events, complaints, accidents, and significant events.
5. Provide support to assist with the development and management of any changes or new processes and systems that need implementing.
6. Carry out any other appropriate duties as determined by the organisation.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
You may gain knowledge of a highly confidential nature relating to the private affairs, diagnosis, and treatment of patients, information affecting members of the public, matters concerning staff, and details of items. Under no circumstances should such information be divulged or passed to any unauthorized person. This includes holding conversations with colleagues concerning patients or staff in situations where the conversation may be overheard. All patient identifiable information must be handled in a way that is compliant with the law and respects patients' right to privacy and confidentiality at all times. Breaches of confidence will result in disciplinary action which may involve dismissal.
Use of new technology
We will make use of computer technology. Staff should expect to use automated information systems in their work in order to improve quality and co-ordination of services, and to enable faster and more accurate communication within and outside of the organisation.
Health and Safety
All staff have a responsibility to perform their duties in such a way that accidents to themselves and to others are avoided, and to cooperate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. Employees will, therefore, refer any matters of concern through their respective teams. Similarly, it is each person's responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring any breaches of security to the attention of their managers. All staff are required to abide by all health and safety matters and keep up to date on Health and Safety Regulations and legislation.
Training and Development
All employees have a responsibility to undertake statutory and mandatory training. In accordance with the Training and Development Policy, staff are expected to actively participate in the appraisal system and using this process to develop a Personal Development Plan.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Professional registration with GPhC
* BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
* Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
* Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities, and challenges
* Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice, and evidence-based medicine
* Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care
* Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
* Awareness of funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality
* Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
* An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing, and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
* Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law, ethics, and current legislation
* Able to maintain confidentiality
* Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
* Evidence of continued professional development
Experience
* Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems
* Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data
* Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily
* Able to effectively manage allocated resources
* Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals, whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
* An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
* Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
* Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response
* Self-motivated and proactive
* Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
* Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required
* Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders
* Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
* Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others
* Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills
* Ability to work under pressure
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.
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