PRACTICE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN HIGHTOWN SURGERY JOB DESCRIPTION Post Title: PCN Practice Pharmacy Technician Working HoursFull time Reports to: Clinical Pharmacists clinically, Practice Manager Administratively JOB SUMMARY To support the practice Clinical Pharmacists and the primary care team to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes. Job responsibilities To support the Clinical Pharmacists in medicines reconciliation and optimisation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records and prescriptions accordingly, including using the Docman document workflow system to check recent patient documents. To support the Clinical Pharmacists and reception staff in dealing with medication queries and in providing patient information leaflets, and improving medicine awareness among patients. To support the achievement of the practices targets for the ICB. Prescribing Quality Scheme (PQS), including liaising with the medicines management team and participating in practice prescribing audits. Working with the Clinical Pharmacists to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems. To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing in order to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness. To prepare evidence based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing. To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement. To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate. To assist in the submission of claims for personally administered drugs as required. Responsibility for administration Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all of the items in the following list: Taking messages and passing on information as appropriate. Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures. Initiating contact with and responding to requests from patients, other team members and associated healthcare professionals and providers. Helping to keep all practice areas tidy and free from obstructions and clutter. Helping to maintain a positive, patient focused culture. Helping to maintain a positive, supportive culture across the whole of the practice team. Any other duties commensurate with this position. Duties will vary from time to time under the direction of the Partners and the Practice Manager, depending on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels, with discussion with the post-holder and other colleagues. Patient services To deal with medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner, working within ones own capabilities and referring to the appropriate GP or Clinical Pharmacist in accordance with practice protocols when necessary. To present at patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines. To help produce patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects throughout the year as necessary. To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the practice to optimise the quality of prescribing. Communication The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members. Communicate effectively with patients and carers. Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Confidentiality In the course of seeking treatment, 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 practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health & safety The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to): Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines. Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory/contractual/professional requirements, and good practice guidelines. Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Use and monitoring of the correct use of Standard operating Procedures for cleaning and infection control. Responsible for correct hand hygiene of self and others. Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols within the team. Active observation of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses or training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes. Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc. are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate. Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal. Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial/corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management. Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised. Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards/risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually). Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards. Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection. Spillage control procedures, management and training. Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance. Maintenance of sterile environments. Correct cleaning of equipment used for near patient testing such as blood glucose monitoring equipment, using manufacturers instructions as appropriate. Equality and diversity The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Vulnerable Adults, Children & Young People All members of staff have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people in all relevant areas of their work. This will include timely attendance at relevant training events and compliance with practice, local, and national policy.