About this role
Job summary
Join Our Friendly and Supportive Primary Care Team
We are looking for an enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our experienced, dynamic, and close-knit GP practice team.
Our practice is proud of its positive and supportive culture, where collaboration, mutual respect, and teamwork are at the heart of everything we do. You'll be joining a welcoming group of clinicians and support staff who genuinely enjoy working together and are committed to delivering outstanding patient care.
We believe that looking after our team is just as important as looking after our patients. That's why we actively promote a healthy work-life balance, encourage professional development, and support individuals to grow and thrive in their careers. Whether you're looking to expand your clinical skills, develop specialist interests, or contribute to innovative ways of working, you'll find plenty of opportunities and encouragement here.
If you're passionate about patient care and want to be part of a fun, forward-thinking, and collaborative team, we'd love to hear from you.
The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team, working together to provide safe, effective, evidence-based medicines management. Working closely with PCN colleagues, commuity pharacies, care homes and other external agencies. Clinical supervision provided with an appropriate supervisor.
Main duties of the job
The role will support Clinical Pharmacists to ensure delivery of safe, effective, efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, waste reduction and maximising patient outcomes, including,
Responding to medicines related queries and requests.
Reconciliation of medicines post discharge from hospital, intermediate care and into care homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients, admissions and discharge care coordinator and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need.
Reconciliation of medication following specialist or secondary care contacts and advice.
Reviewing the use of medicines commonly associated with unplanned hospital admissions through audit and patient review.
Working with clinicians and CPs to develop and implement robust systems for shared care prescribing, high risk drug monitoring and drug monitoring for optimisation of LTCs.
Having their own clinic after suitable training and competencies assessment eg BP review.
About us
About Thatcham Medical Practice
Thatcham Medical Practice is a large, friendly GP surgery caring for just under 18,000 patients. Our multidisciplinary team includes 7 GP partners, 3 salaried GPs, 2 regular locum doctors, a dedicated duty team, a large nursing team, pharmacy team, social prescribers, mental health team and care coordinators. We are supported by our amazing administration, reception and secretarial teams, whose contributions are vital to delivering high-quality patient care.
Our mission is to be a supportive, inclusive practice, committed to delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care with kindness, empathy and respect. Together, we aim to build a healthier community.
We pride ourselves on creating a kind, welcoming and supportive place to work, where teamwork, mutual respect and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. The wellbeing of our staff and patients is our top priority, and we recognise that a happy, supported team is essential to providing excellent care.
We value every member of our team and the unique skills they bring. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to make a real difference.
If you share our values and want to be part of a friendly team dedicated to making a positive difference to our patients and community, we would love to hear from you.
Together, we care for our patients, support one another and build a healthier community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Description
Job Title: Pharmacy Technician
Reports to: Lead Clinical Pharmacist
Salary : Dependant on experience
Part-time: 32 hours per week.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Operational
- Reconcile the medications of patients whose care is transferred back to primary care in a timely and effective manner liaising with patients and other providers to ensure patients receive appropriate medication on discharge
- Proactively engage with patients whose care has been transferred to reduce potential readmission including identifying and rectifying unexplained variation
- Proactively engage with pharmacy teams within Kennet PCN and share learning as relevant to the development of services listed below.
- Work with the pharmacy team to develop safe, effective and efficient systems for the repeat prescribing of medication.
- Work with the pharmacy team to develop and implement systems to ensure the effective and continuous supply of medication to high-risk patients
- Work with the pharmacy team to develop and implement systems to ensure safe and effective management of high-risk medication
- Work with the pharmacy team to develop and implement changes to medicines in line with MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local or national guidance
- Provide feedback and seek advice from pharmacist for patients where the post holder has clinical concerns around competence to safely manage their medications
- Manage requests to prescribe medication from specialists in line with Berkshire West formulary and locally agreed guidelines
- Update patient medication records in line with incoming clinical correspondence
- Refer patients to their community pharmacist for support with using their medicines
- To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate clinician in accordance with protocols and personal and professional boundaries.
- Provide support to patients to maximise the benefit from their medication
- Provide telephone support for patients with medication queries
- Provide professional telephone and written advice and support to patients and their carers
- To maintain full and complete records of all patient contacts using appropriate clinical templates and coding
Audit and risk stratification
Participate in audit activities to optimise medicines safety and the use of prescribing resource
Feedback results of clinical audit activities in areas agreed with GP practice and PCN teams
Make recommendations based on the outcomes of audit and shared learning activities
Operational Performance
- Work collaboratively to help develop and promote a positive working culture, including involvement in developing, improving and promoting the pharmacy service
- Ensure adherence to efficient administrative processes within the pharmacy service
Personal Contribution
- Maintain productive relationships encouraging the giving and receiving of regular feedback to create and maintain a culture of constantly seeking to refine and improve the service and learn together
- Engagement with patients, internal and external stakeholders
- Engage with users of the service to understand peoples experience of the service and to measure levels of satisfaction
- Responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- Responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Quality
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Support training and development of administrative staff to support pharmacy service in line with protocols and procedures
Work within risk management and health and safety policies and procedures within GP practices and other providers
Adhere to a robust process for recording learning events, complaints, accidents and significant events
To provide support to assist with the development and management of any changes or new processes and systems that need implementing.
To carry out any other appropriate duties as determined by the organisation.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
As an employee of SDHC you may gain knowledge of a highly confidential nature relating to the private affairs, diagnosis and treatment of patients, information affecting members of the public, matters concerning staff and details of items under consideration by SDHC. Under no circumstances should such information be divulged or passed to any unauthorized person. This includes holding conversations with colleagues concerning patients or staff in situations where the conversation may be overheard. All patient identifiable information must be handled in a way that is compliant with the law and respects patients right to privacy and confidentiality at all times. Breaches of confidence will result in disciplinary action which may involve dismissal.
Equal Opportunities
Our policies and practices are designed to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery. All staff are expected to comply with these policies and practices including but not limited to supporting the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues; acting in a way that recognizes 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 and behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights
Use of new technology
We will make use of computer technology. Staff should expect to use automated information systems in their work in order to improve quality and co-ordination of services, and to enable faster and more accurate communication within and outside of the organisation.
Health and Safety
All staff have a responsibility to perform their duties in such a way that accidents to themselves and to others are avoided, and to cooperate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. Employees will, therefore, refer any matters of concern through their respective teams. Similarly, it is each persons responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring any breaches of security to the attention of their managers. All staff are required to abide by all health and safety matters and keep up to date on Health and Safety Regulations and legislation.
Training and Development
All employees have a responsibility to undertake statutory and mandatory training. In accordance with the Training and Development Policy staff are expected to actively participate in the appraisal system and using this process to develop a Personal Development Plan.
Infection control
The post holder is required to always adhere to current NHS IPC measures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualifications and Experience
- Professional registration with GPhC
- BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
Knowledge and understanding, skills and competencies and attributes
Essential
- Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine
- Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care
- Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s)
- Awareness of funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality
- Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing
- Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law, ethics and current legislation
- Able to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
- Skills and Competencies
- Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems
- Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data
- Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily
- Able to effectively manage allocated resources
- Has a planned and organised approach with an ability to prioritise their own workload to meet strict deadlines
- Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to draw logical solutions to problems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with team members, patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals, whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication
- Influencing and negotiating skills
- An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues
- Attributes
- Works effectively independently and as a member of a team
- Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response
- Self-motivated and proactive
- Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required
- Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
- Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others
- Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
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
Thatcham Medical Practice
Address
Bath Road
Thatcham
Berks
RG18 3HD
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.thatchammedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)