Job summary Interview date for this role will be 26/11/24 The Pharmacy Hub pharmacy technician will support the Darlington PCN Pharmacy Hub by working with the pharmacy team and GP practices to deliver a programme of medicines optimisation and reconciliation from hospital discharge and other secondary care communications. This will enable safe discharge of patients from hospital to home/ care home, ensuring medication changes are safe and timely managed with patient counselling where appropriate. The post holder will work within their own competency with support from a senior technician and pharmacist. The post holder will support the pharmacy team with specific quality improvement projects in relation to medicines for example opioid reduction management. Main duties of the job Aims/Goals of the Pharmacy Hub Reduced GP workload Reduced medication costs by formulary prescribing cost-effective alternatives Improved medication outcomes for patients Improved patient safety and medication optimisation Improved efficiency of medication changes Improved formulary prescribing to enable better value/outcomes from medicines Improved management of shared care drugs Improved prescribing for care home residents About us Primary Healthcare Darlington was established in 2014 as the local GP federation consisting of 11 GP Practices covering an ever-increasing population of 108,000 registered patients in Darlington, County Durham. We have close links with Darlington Borough Council and local NHS Foundation Trusts and have the full support and backing of Tees Valley CCG. We also work closely with and provide support to the Darlington Primary Care Network. Working from newly refurbished dedicated premises close to Darlington Memorial Hospital we provide NHS, Public Health and Private Medical Services. We are an award-winning company who places the wellbeing of our staff at the heart of everything we do. We have a wellbeing lead who offers staff access to multiple wellbeing resources, and as a company we offer staff access to free counselling services, protected time to develop professionally, access to high-quality training and development, free tea and coffee and chilled, filtered water and much more. We also offer staff an opportunity to volunteer for 4 days annually in the local community. In the past year staff have supported Groundwork, Age UK and many more community projects. We are on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful and historic sites in the region and actively encourage staff to participate in nature as often as possible Date posted 25 October 2024 Pay scheme Other Salary £27,500 to £30,500 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number U0016-24-0010 Job locations Forsyth House 20 Woodland Road Darlington County Durham DL3 7PL Job description Job responsibilities Undertake medicines reconciliation for patients discharged from hospital to ensure new medicines are recorded accurately on the GP clinical system. Update GP systems of new medicines initiated by secondary care consultants which are to be continued in primary care. Medication monitoring requirements are fulfilled including safe management of shared care drugs. Monitoring creatinine clearance for DOACs and checking correct doses, which will include changing appropriate patients to edoxaban. Alert pharmacist of additional safety checks required for new medications. Community pharmacy informed of changes to medibox prescriptions and repeat dispensing is updated. Assist with medication queries from GPs and other clinicians or practice staff. To work with the PCN to deliver Quality Improvement Projects aimed at improving medicines management, medicines safety and polypharmacy. Work with Community Pharmacies supplying care homes to sort out supply issues for the monthly medication cycle and interim prescription requests. Action requests from care staff for prescriptions. Update dose instructions for all medications where there are out of date titrating instructions, unclear or ambiguous instructions. Ensure where possible medication is linked to the problem. Assisting with care home medication requests and medication advice Managing care home monthly orders. Add medicines that are not supplied by the Practice, such as hospital only drugs as other medication to ensure safer prescribing in primary care. Ensure the patient understands their new medication and how to take it, are informed of any monitoring needed. Able to plan and work independently and within the team and manage competing priorities Able to work with a high degree of motivation Aims/Goals of the Pharmacy Hub Reduced GP workload Reduced medication costs by formulary prescribing cost-effective alternatives Improved medication outcomes for patients Improved patient safety and medication optimisation Improved efficiency of medication changes Improved formulary prescribing to enable better value/outcomes from medicines Improved management of shared care drugs Improved prescribing for care home residents Key working relationships: GPs and GP staff Darlington PCN Pharmacist and technicians within the pharmacy hub team The Enhanced Health in Care Home team Community Pharmacies Secondary care Pharmacy teams Secondary care discharge teams Qualifications: Pharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Good general education Specific requirements : A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring check Completion of CPPE pharmacy technician pathway or willingness to undertake the pathway or other suitable training Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council / immediate requirement to register with the GPhC Professional development Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities. Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, information governance, and health and safety. Confidentiality: Patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the company policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Equality and Diversity The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Health and Safety Responsibility It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all current health and safety legislation and the Company Health & Safety Policy and to attend any training requirements both statutory and mandatory in line with the Companys legal responsibility to comply with the Health & Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1974. Special Working Conditions The post holder will need a suitable working space within their own home with the ability to attend the office for meetings and training. Option to work from the office base to reduce social mental health issues and maintain team working relations. Miscellaneous Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner. Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility. General This job description is intended as a guide to the principle duties and responsibilities for the post and should not be considered an exhaustive list. It is subject to change in line with future development of our services. Job description Job responsibilities Undertake medicines reconciliation for patients discharged from hospital to ensure new medicines are recorded accurately on the GP clinical system. Update GP systems of new medicines initiated by secondary care consultants which are to be continued in primary care. Medication monitoring requirements are fulfilled including safe management of shared care drugs. Monitoring creatinine clearance for DOACs and checking correct doses, which will include changing appropriate patients to edoxaban. Alert pharmacist of additional safety checks required for new medications. Community pharmacy informed of changes to medibox prescriptions and repeat dispensing is updated. Assist with medication queries from GPs and other clinicians or practice staff. To work with the PCN to deliver Quality Improvement Projects aimed at improving medicines management, medicines safety and polypharmacy. Work with Community Pharmacies supplying care homes to sort out supply issues for the monthly medication cycle and interim prescription requests. Action requests from care staff for prescriptions. Update dose instructions for all medications where there are out of date titrating instructions, unclear or ambiguous instructions. Ensure where possible medication is linked to the problem. Assisting with care home medication requests and medication advice Managing care home monthly orders. Add medicines that are not supplied by the Practice, such as hospital only drugs as other medication to ensure safer prescribing in primary care. Ensure the patient understands their new medication and how to take it, are informed of any monitoring needed. Able to plan and work independently and within the team and manage competing priorities Able to work with a high degree of motivation Aims/Goals of the Pharmacy Hub Reduced GP workload Reduced medication costs by formulary prescribing cost-effective alternatives Improved medication outcomes for patients Improved patient safety and medication optimisation Improved efficiency of medication changes Improved formulary prescribing to enable better value/outcomes from medicines Improved management of shared care drugs Improved prescribing for care home residents Key working relationships: GPs and GP staff Darlington PCN Pharmacist and technicians within the pharmacy hub team The Enhanced Health in Care Home team Community Pharmacies Secondary care Pharmacy teams Secondary care discharge teams Qualifications: Pharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Good general education Specific requirements : A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring check Completion of CPPE pharmacy technician pathway or willingness to undertake the pathway or other suitable training Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council / immediate requirement to register with the GPhC Professional development Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities. Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, information governance, and health and safety. Confidentiality: Patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the company policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Equality and Diversity The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Health and Safety Responsibility It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all current health and safety legislation and the Company Health & Safety Policy and to attend any training requirements both statutory and mandatory in line with the Companys legal responsibility to comply with the Health & Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1974. Special Working Conditions The post holder will need a suitable working space within their own home with the ability to attend the office for meetings and training. Option to work from the office base to reduce social mental health issues and maintain team working relations. Miscellaneous Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner. Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility. General This job description is intended as a guide to the principle duties and responsibilities for the post and should not be considered an exhaustive list. It is subject to change in line with future development of our services. Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of communicating confidently with staff and colleagues of all levels Communication and relationship building Experience in health and social care Experience of developing relationships with a wide variety of people Working and delivering outcomes with determined timeframes Desirable Experience of working with people with complex needs and various communication challenges Qualifications Essential Education / QualificationsPharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician Completion of CPPE pharmacy technician pathway or willingness to undertake or similar Desirable Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician qualification Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of communicating confidently with staff and colleagues of all levels Communication and relationship building Experience in health and social care Experience of developing relationships with a wide variety of people Working and delivering outcomes with determined timeframes Desirable Experience of working with people with complex needs and various communication challenges Qualifications Essential Education / QualificationsPharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacy Technician Completion of CPPE pharmacy technician pathway or willingness to undertake or similar Desirable Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician qualification 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. Employer details Employer name Primary Healthcare Darlington Address Forsyth House 20 Woodland Road Darlington County Durham DL3 7PL Employer's website https://primaryhealthcaredarlington.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)