Job summary Primary care is changing; both the way we interact with patients and the local structures. It is an exciting and dynamic time to work within General Practice. In Walsall, networks of local GP practices have formed seven Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to help improve the care offered to the local population and develop new ways of working. One of those opportunities is the role of Primary Care Pharmacy Technician. This role will involve supporting clinical and non-clinical practice staff across the network in relation to aspects of medicines and their impact. The successful candidates will work closely with GPs, Clinical Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Community Nurses and other healthcare professionals to promote safe, effective and high quality, cost effective use of medicines in prescribing decisions. Main duties of the job Please see Job Description and Person Specification for Pharmacy Technician Walsall Primary Care Networks (PCNs) About us OurNet Health Services is a provider of primary care services to NHS patients in Walsall. Established in 2019 with the support of GPs in Walsall, we aim to deliver excellent care to patients when they need it the most. Date posted 09 April 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience salary dependent on experience Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number A0315-25-0005 Job locations OurNet Communication Centre The Old Stables, Elmore Court Elmore Green Road Walsall WS23 2QW Job description Job responsibilities Key Responsibilities Clinical To work with GP practices within the PCN to develop and/or improve repeat medication protocols; Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation, incentive schemes and patient safety audits; To address the following areas without the need to consult a GP/Pharmacist (although clinical support and advice will always be available if required): Addition/removal of medications following receipt of a discharge summary Effecting medication changes as per secondary care and community clinic letters Changing acute medications to repeat where appropriate- e.g. A new medication that a GP/Nurse Practitioner has commenced and there is evidence for the need for the item on a repeat basis and necessary tests/checks have confirmed this. District Nurse Dressing requests. Catheter, supplements/feeds and stoma care requests Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing; Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients; 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 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 Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews, and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use and request their medicines effectively; Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared-decision making conversations with patients; Organisational 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 members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health Governance and Audit Actively participate in clinical governance within the PCNs and the member practices; Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient / family / staff / records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and Practices policies and procedures; Adhere to and participate with practices in infection control policies and procedures; Maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC); Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by PCN Practices or OurNet Health Services; Undertake and/or participate in regular audits to monitor standards and quality. Job description Job responsibilities Key Responsibilities Clinical To work with GP practices within the PCN to develop and/or improve repeat medication protocols; Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings Assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation, incentive schemes and patient safety audits; To address the following areas without the need to consult a GP/Pharmacist (although clinical support and advice will always be available if required): Addition/removal of medications following receipt of a discharge summary Effecting medication changes as per secondary care and community clinic letters Changing acute medications to repeat where appropriate- e.g. A new medication that a GP/Nurse Practitioner has commenced and there is evidence for the need for the item on a repeat basis and necessary tests/checks have confirmed this. District Nurse Dressing requests. Catheter, supplements/feeds and stoma care requests Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing; Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients; 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 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 Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews, and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use and request their medicines effectively; Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared-decision making conversations with patients; Organisational 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 members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration of the pharmacy team across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care, and mental health Governance and Audit Actively participate in clinical governance within the PCNs and the member practices; Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient / family / staff / records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and Practices policies and procedures; Adhere to and participate with practices in infection control policies and procedures; Maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC); Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by PCN Practices or OurNet Health Services; Undertake and/or participate in regular audits to monitor standards and quality. Person Specification Experience Essential Medicines management or dispensing role in the community Desirable Policy / Procedure Development General Practice repeat prescribing systems Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from an approved training pathway (i.e. PCPEP / MOCH / APTUK) Person Specification Experience Essential Medicines management or dispensing role in the community Desirable Policy / Procedure Development General Practice repeat prescribing systems Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from an approved training pathway (i.e. PCPEP / MOCH / APTUK) 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 Walsall Primary Care Network Address OurNet Communication Centre The Old Stables, Elmore Court Elmore Green Road Walsall WS23 2QW Employer's website https://www.ournhs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)