Job summary Are you looking to move into General Practice and develop your clinical skills? We have an exciting new opportunity to recruit a skilled and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician within our PCN. We have established an award-nominated centralised Prescribing Hub staffed by a team of dedicated prescription clerks who deal with routine prescription requests and medicines reconciliation. This role will involve working with this team as well as our GPs, Clinical Pharmacist and our established team of Pharmacy Technicians. You will support the reconciliation of discharge summaries, updating EMIS after receipt of clinical documents and assist with structured medication review planning. You will also deal with medication queries from our patients, nursing homes, carers, hospital and community pharmacies and carry out face-to-face clinics relating to the management of hypertension. Full training will be provided. We are looking for candidates who: Are team players yet able to work independently Has attention to detail Able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily, whilst recognising limitations Has excellent verbal and written communication skills, organisational and prioritisation skills, flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of practices and work pressures Has a good level of competence in the use of IT We would welcome applications from Pharmacy Technicians working in all sectors of pharmacy. Main duties of the job Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists, and other members of the PCN multidisciplinary team. The pharmacy technicians will be asked to support the experienced prescription hub clerks with more complex medication queries and to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective best practices in prescribing and the quality of patient care. The post holder will help patients get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes, including promotion of online ordering, minimising clinical risk, and aiming to reduce wasted medicines. In addition, the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation through the practice teams and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. About us Tyntesfield Medical Group in North Somerset is a 13 Partner General Practice with a patient list size currently of around 33,000 split across four sites: Tower House Medical Centre, Brockway Medical Centre, Backwell Medical Centre and Long Ashton Surgery. We are a friendly and accessible team providing excellent healthcare in our community. We provide a professional, safe, supportive, and efficient working environment for everyone in the practice. We are a forward-thinking organisation with a strong emphasis on teamwork and patient-centred care. Date posted 23 October 2024 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number A0519-24-0015 Job locations Brockway Medical Centre 8 Brockway Nailsea Bristol BS48 1BZ Job description Job responsibilities Undertake patient-facing and patient-supporting roles to ensure effective medicine use through shared decision-making conversations with patients. Carry out medicine optimisation tasks, including effective medicine administration (e.g., checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews, and reconciliation of medicines. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively; Support, as determined by the PCN, medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings and linking with local community pharmacists. Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities. Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients. Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits. Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes, and other primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced service. Work with the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage. Supervise practice reception teams in sorting and streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests. Provide leadership for medicines optimisation systems across PCNs, supporting practices with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging and implementing Electronic Prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines. Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and; Develop relationships with other pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and member of the multi-disciplinary team to support the integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health. Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data. To undertake audits, share the outcomes to facilitate improvement and changes in practice. To review and action medication safety alerts when required. Support the PCN to deliver national requirements, QJPP indicators, NICE implementation, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced service and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiative and support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements. The post holder will: Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of Tyntesfield Medical Group with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post. Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices. Have, or acquire through training provided, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisation's safeguarding protection policies and procedures. Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/infection prevention and control lead. Job description Job responsibilities Undertake patient-facing and patient-supporting roles to ensure effective medicine use through shared decision-making conversations with patients. Carry out medicine optimisation tasks, including effective medicine administration (e.g., checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews, and reconciliation of medicines. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively; Support, as determined by the PCN, medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings and linking with local community pharmacists. Provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities. Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients. Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits. Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes, and other primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced service. Work with the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes, and reducing wastage. Supervise practice reception teams in sorting and streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests. Provide leadership for medicines optimisation systems across PCNs, supporting practices with a range of services to get the best value from medicines by encouraging and implementing Electronic Prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing systems, and timely monitoring and management of high-risk medicines. Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and; Develop relationships with other pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and member of the multi-disciplinary team to support the integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health. Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data. To undertake audits, share the outcomes to facilitate improvement and changes in practice. To review and action medication safety alerts when required. Support the PCN to deliver national requirements, QJPP indicators, NICE implementation, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced service and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiative and support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements. The post holder will: Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of Tyntesfield Medical Group with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post. Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices. Have, or acquire through training provided, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisation's safeguarding protection policies and procedures. Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/infection prevention and control lead. Person Specification Skills & Knowledge Essential Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals whilst recognising people's needs for alternative methods of communication. Influencing and negotiating skills. Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft Office packages. Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines. Able to think analytically, anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead, using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems. Desirable Knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicines. Computer literate with the ability to use the required GP clinical systems, such as EMIS. Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data. Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work. Experience Essential Experience of working in a pharmacy team in any setting in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals whilst recognising people's needs for alternative methods of communication. An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues. Ensure appropriate handling of data and information in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott Principles and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct. 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. Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology. Desirable An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets. Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality. 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 and ethics and current legislation. Qualifications Essential Professional registration with GPhC BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences Personal Attributes Essential Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet stakeholders. Must work within their competencies and have professional indemnity for their role. 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. Excellent timekeeping and prioritisation skills. Desirable Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required. Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change. Car owner and driver. Person Specification Skills & Knowledge Essential Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals whilst recognising people's needs for alternative methods of communication. Influencing and negotiating skills. Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft Office packages. Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines. Able to think analytically, anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead, using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems. Desirable Knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicines. Computer literate with the ability to use the required GP clinical systems, such as EMIS. Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data. Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work. Experience Essential Experience of working in a pharmacy team in any setting in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals whilst recognising people's needs for alternative methods of communication. An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues. Ensure appropriate handling of data and information in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott Principles and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct. 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. Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology. Desirable An appreciation of the NHS agenda and Government targets. Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality. 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 and ethics and current legislation. Qualifications Essential Professional registration with GPhC BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences Personal Attributes Essential Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet stakeholders. Must work within their competencies and have professional indemnity for their role. 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. Excellent timekeeping and prioritisation skills. Desirable Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required. Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change. Car owner and driver. 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). Additional information 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 Tyntesfield Medical Group Address Brockway Medical Centre 8 Brockway Nailsea Bristol BS48 1BZ Employer's website https://www.tyntesfield.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)