About this role
Job summary
We are pleased to invite applications for the Pharmacy Technician role within our friendly, forward-thinking practice, where staff wellbeing, development and clinical excellence are central to our ethos.
The role is a maternity leave cover for approximately nine months and will be offered on a part time basis. Working hours are flexible and will be discussed and agreed at interview.
Our clinical team is comprised of four Partners, three salaried GPs and a skilled multidisciplinary workforce comprising Paramedic Practitioners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Practice Nurses.
As a Pharmacy Technician, you will be a key member of our Medicines Management Team, contributing directly to high quality, patient centred care. Working both independently and as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will uphold the highest professional standards while ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines across the practice.
In this role, you will operate within your professional boundaries and under the guidance of the Lead Clinical Pharmacist to facilitate the accurate, timely and secure supply of prescribed medication to our patients.
You will provide essential technical support and administrative assistance to clinicians, helping to streamline medicines related processes across the practice. The postholder will also act as a knowledgeable point of contact for medication queries from patients, supporting safe prescribing and enhancing the patient experience.
Main duties of the job
With appropriate training, undertake patient facing reviews, support medication reviews, complete medicines optimisation tasks and conduct medicines reconciliation to ensure safe, effective use of medicinesMaintain a key role in shared care protocols and liaise with specialist pharmacists for complex casesSupport initiatives to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and assist with optimisation schemes, incentive programmes and patient safety auditsContribute to national prescribing policy implementation by undertaking audits, supporting quality improvement activity and contributing to QOF and enhanced servicesMaintain a clean, tidy and effective working areaWork with the MDT team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including ordering, returns and reducing wastageSupport systems that improve value from medicines, including electronic prescriptions, safe repeat prescribing processes and monitoring of high risk medicinesSupport safe, legal and secure handling of medicines, including EPSBuild effective relationships with pharmacy colleagues across the PCN and wider health and social care systemSupport delivery of QOF, incentive schemes and other quality or cost effectiveness initiativesDuties may vary to meet service needs, and additional tasks may be required depending on workload and staffing.
About us
Readesmoor is the largest GP surgery in Congleton, with a patient population of around 14,500. Congleton itself is a market town with a population of around 30,000. Readesmoor is part of the Congleton and Holmes Chapel (CHOC) PCN, which is made up of 4 practices.
The PCN covers a population of around 47,000 across this area of Cheshire East. The PCN collaborate to provide services to patients, including coordinating vaccinations, extended access services and funding for additional primary care services and staff, such as Advanced Practitioners, Mental Health Practitioners and First Contact Physiotherapists.
Job description Job responsibilities
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
All staff within the organisation have a duty to uphold and actively promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. A positive approach to ED&I ensures an environment where every individual patients, families, colleagues and visitors can achieve their full potential. This commitment is essential for three key reasons: it enhances operational effectiveness, it reflects our moral and ethical responsibilities, and it is a legal requirement under UK equality legislation.
Patients and their families have the right to fair treatment and to be fully involved in decisions about their care. They should always be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. No patient will be discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients also share responsibility for maintaining a respectful environment by treating staff and fellow patients with courtesy and consideration.
Staff have the right to fair treatment throughout recruitment, induction, training and career progression. They should expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued, equality of opportunity is promoted, and discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated. Staff must treat colleagues and patients with dignity and respect at all times and uphold the principles of ED&I in their daily practice.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire
The organisation is committed to supporting and promoting staff health, wellbeing and safety. All staff must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others, and must cooperate with management to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
The postholder is responsible for assessing and managing risk within their area of work. This includes ensuring that appropriate safety measures are in place, monitoring work environments for hazards, and ensuring compliance with health, safety and security legislation, policies and procedures.
All personnel must comply with the following legislation:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Environment Act 1995
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999
Any additional statutory requirements relevant to their role
Staff must report hazards, unsafe practices, accidents or near misses promptly and support a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Confidentiality
The organisation is committed to maintaining an exceptional standard of confidentiality. Patients entrust us with sensitive information relating to their health, personal circumstances and care. This information is provided in confidence, and patients have the right to expect that their privacy will be protected at all times.
All staff must ensure that patient information is handled securely, stored appropriately, and shared only when necessary and lawful. Breaches of confidentiality undermine patient trust and may result in disciplinary action, legal consequences or regulatory intervention.
Quality and Continuous Improvement
To maintain and enhance the quality of our services, all staff must consider not only what they do but how they do it. Continuous improvement requires regular reflection, evaluation and refinement of processes.
Staff are responsible for identifying opportunities to improve quality, sharing good practice, and collaborating with colleagues to enhance patient care. The organisation promotes a culture where every member of staff is encouraged to contribute ideas, highlight concerns, and participate in improvement initiatives.
National strategies and policies should be interpreted and applied locally in a way that aligns with the values and culture of general practice. Staff must contribute to investigations, root cause analyses, serious incident reviews and multidisciplinary case discussions to support learning and service improvement.
Induction
A comprehensive induction programme will be provided to all new staff. Management will support the postholder throughout this process to ensure they understand organisational expectations, policies, procedures and systems.
Learning and Development
Training and development are essential to ensure staff possess the skills, knowledge, attitudes and competencies required for their role. All staff must complete mandatory training as directed and take responsibility for identifying and addressing their own learning needs.
The postholder will support the development of others through mentorship, sharing learning, and disseminating information gained from courses, conferences or professional updates. Staff also have a role in educating patients, carers and colleagues in a supportive learning environment.
Collaborative Working
All staff must recognise the importance of collaborative working and understand their role within the wider multidisciplinary team. Effective teamwork requires clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to delivering high quality patient care.
Staff must prioritise their workload, manage their time effectively, and support colleagues when needed. The postholder should explore new ways of working, contribute to defining team values and direction, and participate in discussions that shape care delivery.
Delegation must be clear, appropriate and based on competence. Plans and measurable outcomes should be agreed to ensure safe and effective practice.
Managing Information
Staff must use technology and software effectively to support care planning, monitoring, communication and reporting. Accurate SNOMED coding is essential to ensure reliable data retrieval for audits, monitoring and clinical governance.
Information must be recorded promptly, accurately and securely, in line with organisational policies and legal requirements.
Service Delivery
Staff will receive detailed information on policies and procedures during induction. The postholder must adhere to all practice policies, regional directives and protocols, ensuring consistent and safe service delivery.
Security
Security is the responsibility of all staff. Personnel must remain vigilant and report suspicious activity immediately. Door codes must never be shared, and restricted areas must remain secure. Passwords must be protected and not disclosed under any circumstances.
Professional Conduct, Uniforms and Appearance
Staff must dress appropriately for their role and comply with the organisations Uniforms, Dress and Appearance Policy. Professional conduct must align with organisational expectations, demonstrating respect, integrity and accountability at all times.
Leave
All staff are entitled to annual leave. Line managers must ensure staff take at least their minimum entitlement and encourage full use of leave to support wellbeing. Public holiday entitlement is calculated on a pro rata basis according to hours worked.
Person Specification
Other requirements Essential
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check Occupational Health clearance Meet the requirements and produce evidence for GPhC revalidation Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role
Qualifications Essential
Confirmation of registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a Pharmacy Technician. Training requirements are currently in transition and further information is available at GPhC Enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from, an approved training pathway. For example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP) or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH)
Clinical Knowledge and Skills Essential
Ability to communicate information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure Ability to record accurate clinical notes Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
Desirable
Good clinical system IT knowledge Broad knowledge of clinical governance Problem solving and analytical skills
Experience Essential
Is working under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines
Desirable
Experience of working in a primary care setting Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP practices, QOF and enhanced services An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners
Personal Qualities Essential
Effective time management (planning and organising) Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/ procedures and codes of conduct Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals Ability to work as a team member and autonomously Good interpersonal skills Good organisational skills Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations Commitment to ongoing professional development Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures Clear, polite telephone manner
Desirable
Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required Effectively utilise resources
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 Readesmoor Medical Group Practice
Address 29/31 West Street
Congleton
Cheshire
CW12 1JP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.readesmoor.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)