Job summary We are seeking an enthusiastic PCN Pharmacy Technician to join our well-established, multi-disciplinary team at Railway Medical Group. In this PCN role, you will work within our team of Pharmacy Technicians, Clinical Pharmacists, and alongside the broader practice staff. Your contributions will be instrumental in implementing our integrated prescribing support model and shaping the ways we provide care to our patients. Interviews for this role will be held on Tuesday 17th December 2024 Main duties of the job Our Pharmacy Technicians play a key role in supporting our Clinical Pharmacists. Primary responsibilities include reconciling hospital discharge summaries, assisting with repeat prescribing processes, and engaging in quality improvement projects. The role also involves co-ordinating with patients, nursing homes, carers, hospitals, and community pharmacies to address medication queries, update medical records, and conduct medication reviews. About us Railway Medical Group is a key healthcare provider in Blyth, Southeast Northumberland, serving over 27,300 patients across a diverse community. Our broad patient base offers rich opportunities for learning and specialising in various areas of medicine. Our team is made up of a diverse range of clinical and non-clinical professionals who work together to provide holistic patient care. We are proud to include Paramedics, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, CPNs, ANPs, Care Navigators, Social Prescribers, Orthopaedic Practitioners, Practice Nurses, HCAs, and GPs, all supported by a dedicated administrative and management team. Together, we are committed to placing patients at the centre of everything we do. What We Offer: A commitment to education and development as a teaching and learning practice A comprehensive Induction Program, offering time in each department to understand our team and workflow A competitive salary A strong focus on promoting and supporting health and wellbeing within the practice A positive workplace culture grounded in core values and supportive behaviours Access to the NHS Pension Scheme Joining Railway Medical Group means becoming part of a team that values growth, collaboration, and compassionate care. Date posted 30 October 2024 Pay scheme Other Salary £27,000 to £34,000 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number A0792-24-0014 Job locations Gatacre Street Blyth Northumberland NE24 1HD Newsham Surgery Newcastle Road Blyth Northumberland NE24 4AW Job description Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Lead Medicines Reconciliation: Oversee medicines reconciliation in line with practice protocols and update patient medical records and prescriptions as needed. Patient Support and Education: Provide clear information to patients regarding medications and prescription changes, co-ordinating with other healthcare professionals for additional support when necessary. Support Quality Targets: Contribute to meeting the practice's Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) prescribing targets and Local Enhanced Services, as applicable. Enhance Repeat Prescribing Systems: Collaborate with practice pharmacists and admin managers to review and improve repeat prescribing protocols and standard operating procedures, aiming to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Staff Training and Development: Deliver training for administrative staff to strengthen coordination and promote effective medicines management. Advise on Prescribing Improvements: Offer guidance to GPs, staff, and patients on prescribing changes, focusing on enhancing prescribing safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Stakeholder Collaboration: Maintain communication with community and hospital pharmacy teams and other pharmacy stakeholders. Conduct Audits and Resource Preparation: Undertake medication and safety audits, and prepare evidence-based materials to support the adoption of cost-effective, rational prescribing. Medication Review Support: Assist Practice-Based Clinical Pharmacists in conducting medication reviews, preparing patient information, promoting medicine awareness, and, when appropriate, conducting community visits. Safe Prescription Handling: Proactively manage prescription handling with a focus on risk assessment and recommendations for improvement. Respond to Medication Queries: Address medication-related questions from patients and staff professionally, referring to the appropriate GP following practice protocols. Medication Sourcing and Management: Provide advice on sourcing and safely managing medications within the practice. Claims Assistance: Support the submission of claims for personally administered drugs as needed. Process Improvement: Help plan and implement new procedures to optimize prescribing quality within the practice. Patient Outreach: Present at patient group meetings and similar events to provide guidance on the correct use of medications. Educational Materials and Awareness Initiatives: Create patient information leaflets and posters, and lead medicine awareness projects throughout the year. Administrative Responsibilities Self-Management: Organise and plan your workload to meet deadlines effectively. Communication and Data Entry: Handle messages, enter and allocate data, process information, and record it following practice protocols. Patient and Staff Interaction: Initiate and respond to requests from patients, team members, and healthcare professionals, maintaining a professional approach. Governance Compliance: Work in alignment with governance systems, especially in managing clinical data and internal processes. Practice Environment: Assist in keeping practice areas tidy and organised, promoting a patient-focused and supportive culture throughout the practice team. Training and development Taking responsibility for own development with relevant evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP). Have completed or work towards completing the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway Stay up to date through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met, demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work. Subject to a performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development. Governance Produce complete and accurate records of patient consultation, in line with best practice, confidentiality, policies and procedures Deliver care according to NHS guidance, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care Take part in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the Practice and its activities. Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required. Work with other clinical teams on improving the quality of healthcare in response to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation Manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events Awareness of statutory safeguarding, notification processes and local guidance for children/vulnerable patients, applying relevant policies and legislation to protect them Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action or alerting senior management team if the practice appears to contravene policy, or if there are concerns over any aspect of patient care. Confidentiality Maintain confidentiality of information, acting within the terms of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott guidance on patient confidentiality at all times. Maintain an awareness of the Freedom of Information Act. 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 Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data Health & safety The post-holder will manage their own and others health & safety and infection control as defined in the Practices Health & Safety Policy, the Practice Health & Safety Manual, and the Practices Infection Control Policy and published procedures. Comply with Practice health and safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping work and general areas clean and tidy, and using appropriate infection control procedures to keep work areas hygienic and safe from contamination. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually) Awareness and compliance with national standards of infection control, hygiene, regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines. Correct personal use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring correct use of PPE by others, advising on appropriate circumstances for use by clinicians, staff and patients. Reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills Equality and diversity The post-holder will support, promote and maintain the Practices Equality & Diversity Policy. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. Other delegated duties This job description is not intended to be exhaustive - it may be changed after consultation with the post holder. The employee shares with the employer the responsibility for review and modification of duties. Job description Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Lead Medicines Reconciliation: Oversee medicines reconciliation in line with practice protocols and update patient medical records and prescriptions as needed. Patient Support and Education: Provide clear information to patients regarding medications and prescription changes, co-ordinating with other healthcare professionals for additional support when necessary. Support Quality Targets: Contribute to meeting the practice's Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) prescribing targets and Local Enhanced Services, as applicable. Enhance Repeat Prescribing Systems: Collaborate with practice pharmacists and admin managers to review and improve repeat prescribing protocols and standard operating procedures, aiming to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Staff Training and Development: Deliver training for administrative staff to strengthen coordination and promote effective medicines management. Advise on Prescribing Improvements: Offer guidance to GPs, staff, and patients on prescribing changes, focusing on enhancing prescribing safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Stakeholder Collaboration: Maintain communication with community and hospital pharmacy teams and other pharmacy stakeholders. Conduct Audits and Resource Preparation: Undertake medication and safety audits, and prepare evidence-based materials to support the adoption of cost-effective, rational prescribing. Medication Review Support: Assist Practice-Based Clinical Pharmacists in conducting medication reviews, preparing patient information, promoting medicine awareness, and, when appropriate, conducting community visits. Safe Prescription Handling: Proactively manage prescription handling with a focus on risk assessment and recommendations for improvement. Respond to Medication Queries: Address medication-related questions from patients and staff professionally, referring to the appropriate GP following practice protocols. Medication Sourcing and Management: Provide advice on sourcing and safely managing medications within the practice. Claims Assistance: Support the submission of claims for personally administered drugs as needed. Process Improvement: Help plan and implement new procedures to optimize prescribing quality within the practice. Patient Outreach: Present at patient group meetings and similar events to provide guidance on the correct use of medications. Educational Materials and Awareness Initiatives: Create patient information leaflets and posters, and lead medicine awareness projects throughout the year. Administrative Responsibilities Self-Management: Organise and plan your workload to meet deadlines effectively. Communication and Data Entry: Handle messages, enter and allocate data, process information, and record it following practice protocols. Patient and Staff Interaction: Initiate and respond to requests from patients, team members, and healthcare professionals, maintaining a professional approach. Governance Compliance: Work in alignment with governance systems, especially in managing clinical data and internal processes. Practice Environment: Assist in keeping practice areas tidy and organised, promoting a patient-focused and supportive culture throughout the practice team. Training and development Taking responsibility for own development with relevant evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP). Have completed or work towards completing the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway Stay up to date through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met, demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work. Subject to a performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development. Governance Produce complete and accurate records of patient consultation, in line with best practice, confidentiality, policies and procedures Deliver care according to NHS guidance, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care Take part in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the Practice and its activities. Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required. Work with other clinical teams on improving the quality of healthcare in response to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation Manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events Awareness of statutory safeguarding, notification processes and local guidance for children/vulnerable patients, applying relevant policies and legislation to protect them Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action or alerting senior management team if the practice appears to contravene policy, or if there are concerns over any aspect of patient care. Confidentiality Maintain confidentiality of information, acting within the terms of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott guidance on patient confidentiality at all times. Maintain an awareness of the Freedom of Information Act. 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 Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data Health & safety The post-holder will manage their own and others health & safety and infection control as defined in the Practices Health & Safety Policy, the Practice Health & Safety Manual, and the Practices Infection Control Policy and published procedures. Comply with Practice health and safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping work and general areas clean and tidy, and using appropriate infection control procedures to keep work areas hygienic and safe from contamination. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually) Awareness and compliance with national standards of infection control, hygiene, regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines. Correct personal use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring correct use of PPE by others, advising on appropriate circumstances for use by clinicians, staff and patients. Reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills Equality and diversity The post-holder will support, promote and maintain the Practices Equality & Diversity Policy. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. Other delegated duties This job description is not intended to be exhaustive - it may be changed after consultation with the post holder. The employee shares with the employer the responsibility for review and modification of duties. Person Specification Qualifications Essential BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalenet in pharmaceutical sciences Professional registration with GPhC Completed/willing to complete the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway Evidence of continued professional development Experience Essential Experience of working as a qualified, registered Pharmacy Technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy. Knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and Primary Care Prescribing. Computer literate and ability to use Microsoft Office and GP Clinical Systems. Desirable Working with EMIS Person Specification Qualifications Essential BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalenet in pharmaceutical sciences Professional registration with GPhC Completed/willing to complete the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway Evidence of continued professional development Experience Essential Experience of working as a qualified, registered Pharmacy Technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy. Knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and Primary Care Prescribing. Computer literate and ability to use Microsoft Office and GP Clinical Systems. Desirable Working with EMIS 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 Railway Medical Group Address Gatacre Street Blyth Northumberland NE24 1HD Employer's website http://railwaymedicalgroup.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)