About this role
Job summary
Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BBCS ICB) has an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic pharmacy technician to join the Prescribing Support Team.
The post holder will be working within allocated GP practices to support the implementation of the medicines optimisation strategy to promote high quality, evidence based, safe and cost-effective prescribing. Highly regarded by the organisation and GP practices, you will be an integral member of the team supporting the delivery of Medicines Optimisation initiatives that improve care and tackle health inequalities. The post offers an excellent opportunity for a candidate to further develop their insight into primary care and broaden their experience within different healthcare settings.
Although there is an expectation that the successful candidate will be able to travel across the BBCS ICB geography where required, the current posts will support the three locality teams across the Birmingham and Solihull places. Preference for alignment of locality will be discussed during the recruitment process.
The core operational hours between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday; team members will work their agreed hours during this time. The ICB promotes flexible and agile (practice locations or office base) working as a commitment to equality and making staff feel valued.
Main duties of the job
The Prescribing Support Team is a large, dynamic, and innovative team, providing expert pharmaceutical advice to GPs and other primary care clinicians.
Work closely with colleagues in the medicines management team to deliver the vision of the ICB to ensure strategic alignment with health and care priorities and equity across the footprint with the aims of minimising harm and maximising benefit for patients, from medicines prescribed or supplied, alongside achieving cost effective care for people living in the BBCS footprint.
Your responsibilities will include auditing repeat medication systems, participating in clinical audits, promoting cost effective product usage and reviewing areas where there is potential for reducing medicines waste. Participate in, and where appropriate lead, medicines management projects and improvement initiatives. You will develop and maintain key relationships with allocated GP practices and be on hand to provide specialist technical support, medicines related information and training within agreed parameters to practice staff and ICB colleagues.
As a member of the team, patients will be at the heart of everything you do - you will be joining a team dedicated to delivering high quality care and tackling health inequalities.
About us
Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) brings together the NHS, local councils and voluntary sector partners to support 2.7 million people. Our vision is to make the area the healthiest place to live and work by improving life chances and reducing inequalities.
As an employee, you will demonstrate our system values, champion inclusion and help address health inequalities so everyone can thrive. In return, the ICB offers a supportive, ambitious and inclusive workplace, with opportunities to develop and work with partners to deliver meaningful change.
The ICB is committed to a workforce that reflects the population of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone who meets the role criteria, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
The ICB is a registered Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and will shortlist suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Employees formally notified that they are at risk of redundancy within the organisation will receive priority consideration for this vacancy if they meet the roles essential requirements. This supports redeployment and helps minimise compulsory redundancies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.
The postholder will provide support to the Prescribing Support Team, including:
- Project management, monitoring, and progress-chasing
- Being the key point of contact for identified groups, including organisation of meetings, issuing papers and compiling minutes
- Day to day business and administrative support
- Ad-hoc project work where requested.
- Ensuring maximum effectiveness of the team by planning and managing diaries, providing personal assistance and continual support
In carrying out your role, at least one of the agreed strategic anchors should be at the core of everything you do:
- Commissioning for Value and Outcomes
- Accelerating Neighbourhood Health at Pace
- Making the Best Use of Digital Solutions in our Pathways
- Financial Discipline / 2% Productivity
- Advancing Health Equity
- Integrated Partnership
You will be accountable for:
- Promote high quality, evidence based, cost effective prescribing by registered primary care clinicians working within GP practices.
- To provide specialist prescribing support and advice within agreed parameters to practice staff (including GPs, nurses) and other ICB/Cluster staff as appropriate.
- To utilise, analyse and interpret complex data (including prescribing data) and informatics systems to assist the prescribing support team members to formulate locally delivered action plans.
- Work across the ICB/Cluster on projects and initiatives as required and promote awareness of medicines optimisation issues.
- This role requires mobile working between GP practices and the ICB/Cluster offices to deliver services. The post holder may be required to work at any establishment at any time throughout the duration of their contract. The role may also require working alone.
- There is a need for self-motivation and initiative in addition to good team working skills.
- The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.
- The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written language and proof-reading skills
- Ability to produce error-free documents with a keen eye for detail.
- Ability to compose a wide range of written communications, including analysing and summarising information, for a wide range of audiences.
- High level skills for communicating complex information with a broad range of stakeholders.
- Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden and unexpected demands.
- Excellent time management skills with the ability to reprioritise.
- Able to function and remain focused in high pressure situations.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team to achieve collective goals.
- Ability to motivate and encourage others.
- Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with clinicians on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information.
- Ability to negotiate effectively on difficult and controversial issues including actions required to achieve best practice and implement change.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with standard keyboard skills.
- Ability to occasionally work in distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Ability to occasionally work in unpleasant conditions e.g. sometimes witnessing verbal aggression.
- Understanding of financial aspects of medicines in primary care
- Ability to analyse complex facts, data and situations and develop a range of options.
- Ability to take decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
- Ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
Desirable
- Involvement in the education of others
- Presentation skills
- Understanding of financial aspects of medicines in primary care
- Have understanding of prescribing data
Mobility
Essential
- Flexible approach to work
- Ability to travel across the geographic area of ICB/cluster as required.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- A demonstrable understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion with evidence of personal impact in these areas
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships in terms of day-to-day working in practices.
Experience
Essential
- Relevant post registration experience as a pharmacy technician
- Broad medicines management knowledge
- Knowledge of legislation and clinical governance issues related to medicines and prescribing.
- Experience of working to & developing Standard Operating Procedures/ work protocols
- Medicines Information/Internet resource knowledge
- Experience of managing or maintaining information systems
- Knowledge of project principles and techniques
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, where adjustment to project tasks and other priorities occurs regularly.
- Experience of dealing with confidential and sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy
- Experience of achieving objectives by working with others
Desirable
- Broad knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices which require expertise within a specialism, or specialist knowledge across a range of areas underpinned by theoretical knowledge or experience.
- Demonstrable experience in a business/project support or manager role
- Knowledge of pharmacy practice in primary care
- Experience of working with GP clinical systems
- Project management experience or qualification
Autonomy
Essential
- Ability to work to own initiative and maintain a high level of organisation.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Caring and considerate, with a genuine passion for improving the lives of our communities.
- Respectful and able to listen to/take on board feedback from others.
- Open and honest, ensuring that you are approachable in conducting your role.
- Understanding of individual differences
- Trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality.
- Good time keeping
- Ability to maintain calm under pressure.
- Professional and efficient manner
- Adaptability, flexibility, and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals, and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.
- Effective organiser, influencer, and networker
- Completer/Finisher
- Holding yourself and others to account for delivering better outcomes
Qualifications
Essential
- Holds a recognised General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredited qualification or a GPhC approved apprenticeship for Pharmacy Technician.
- (Recognised qualifications can be found on the GPhC website: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/approved-providers-education-and-training/approved-courses-pharmacy-technician)
- Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council [of Great Britain] as a pharmacy technician.
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in Management Studies or equivalent
- Experience of project principles techniques and tools
- Further qualifications beyond MTO3 or NVQ3 level or complementary to these qualifications significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
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
Black Country Integrated Care Board
Address
Black Country Integrated Care Board
Wolverhampton Civic Centre
St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)