About this role
Job summary
Are you a motivated and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician with a passion for supporting the safe and effective use of medicines? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Derwent Valley Medical Practice is recruiting a Pharmacy Technician 25 -30 hours per week, to join our friendly and well established team based in Chaddesden, with additional services provided at our Spondon Village branch, three miles away.
You will work closely with General Practitioners and Practice Pharmacists to support medicines optimisation for our patient population of approximately 11,800 patients. The role includes discharge medicines reconciliation, supporting repeat prescribing systems, patient facing consultations, audit work, and contributing to medicines safety across the practice.
The successful candidate will have excellent organisational and communication skills, be able to manage their workload effectively, and remain calm and professional in a busy primary care environment.
You must be a qualified Pharmacy Technician, ideally GPhC registered. Primary care experience is desirable but not essential. Structured supervision and development through the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway will be provided.
We use TPP SystmOne and are rated Good by CQC.
Salary and hours are negotiable depending on experience.
Main duties of the job
Derwent Valley Medical Practice is seeking a motivated and organised Pharmacy Technician to join our supportive Medicines Management Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in improving medicines safety, optimisation and prescribing processes within a busy and wellestablished GP practice.
Working under the supervision of Practice Pharmacists and General Practitioners, you will support the safe and effective use of medicines across the practice. The role includes medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, supporting repeat prescribing systems, and contributing to medicines optimisation activity that improves patient outcomes and reduces clinical risk.
You will have opportunities for patientfacing work, including medicines support conversations, inhaler technique checks and contributing to medication reviews, alongside audit and quality improvement work. You will also support medicines safety processes, including recall systems, monitoring requirements and MHRA alerts.
The successful candidate will work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team, including clinicians, reception and administrative staff, as well as external partners such as community pharmacy and secondary care.
We offer structured supervision, ongoing professional development and support through the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway, making this an excellent opportunity for technicians looking to develop a career in primary care.
About us
We are a highperforming and wellestablished clinical team serving a patient population of approximately 11,800 patients. Our multidisciplinary workforce includes 5 Partners (4 GP Partners and 1 Managing Partner), 6 Salaried GPs, 2 GP Registrars, 2 Advanced Clinical Practitioners, 3 Practice Nurses, 2 Healthcare Assistants, 3 Pharmacists and 2 Physiotherapists.
We have a strong and longstanding ethos of teaching and training, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate education. The practice is an accredited training environment for GP Registrars and regularly hosts medical students. We are proud of our track record in developing staff and have successfully trained multiple Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Clinical Practitioners and an Independent Prescribing Pharmacist.
Our team is collaborative, forwardthinking and committed to delivering highquality, patientcentred care while supporting professional development at all levels.
Job description Job responsibilities
Working as part of Derwent Valley Medical Practices Medicines Management Team, and under the supervision of the Practice Pharmacists and General Practitioners, the Pharmacy Technician will play a key role in improving patient safety, medicines optimisation and prescribing processes for the practice population.
The post holder is employed by Derwent Valley Medical Practice and will work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to support safe, effective and efficient use of medicines across the practice.
Clinical and PatientFacing Responsibilities
You will:
Support safe transitions of care by completing medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and outpatient correspondence.
Hold patient focused consultations to improve medicines understanding and adherence, including inhaler technique checks and structured medicines support conversations.
Contribute to medication reviews by gathering relevant information, identifying issues and highlighting recommendations for prescribers.
Support care home medicines processes and shared care arrangements in line with local policy and practice guidance.
Assist with antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and medicines safety programmes.
Respond to routine medicines related queries, escalating complex cases appropriately.
Run recall and monitoring systems (for example, DMARD blood test monitoring) to reduce clinical risk.
Manage and action MHRA alerts and medicines safety updates.
Participate in clinical audits and quality improvement projects that improve medicines safety and patient care.
Deliver vaccinations, where appropriately trained and authorised.
Technical and Administrative Responsibilities
You will:
Support and streamline repeat prescribing and medicines workflow systems, releasing GP and pharmacist capacity.
Promote Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and digital prescription ordering to improve patient access and efficiency.
Support initiatives to reduce medicines waste through effective ordering processes.
Assist with Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) processes and medicines governance tasks.
Work alongside reception and administrative teams to support effective triage of prescription requests.
Support the implementation of national and local prescribing guidance.
Contribute to QOF, QIPP and locally commissioned services, where appropriate.
Assist in maintaining CQCready medicines policies, procedures and SOPs.
Develop constructive working relationships with community pharmacy and secondary care colleagues.
Professional Responsibilities
You will:
Practise in line with GPhC standards, practice policies and governance arrangements.
Maintain professional registration and ongoing continuing professional development (CPD).
Participate fully in supervision, training and appraisal.
Identify and escalate concerns promptly to protect patient safety.
Prior experience of working with SystmOne clinical system would be an advantage, but not essential as full training will be given, so a willingness and ability to learn quickly will be key to your success in this role.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes Essential
Proactive and self-motivated. Flexible and adaptable to service needs. Team-focused. Calm under pressure and able to manage competing priorities. Commitment to learning and development.
Desirable
Experience working across multiple sites or organisations.
Experience Essential
Experience working in community or hospital pharmacy. Working within SOPs and governance frameworks.
Desirable
Experience in GP practice or PCN setting. Audit or quality improvement work.
Qualifications Essential
GPhC registered Pharmacy Technician or working towards registration. Level 3 qualification in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent). Evidence of CPD.
Desirable
Completion of CPPE Primary Care modules.
Skills & Competencies Essential
IT literate and able to use clinical systems. Strong organisational and prioritisation skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Attention to detail. Ability to escalate risk appropriately. Understanding of data protection and confidentiality.
Desirable
Experience analysing prescribing data. Influencing and negotiation skills.
Knowledge Essential
Understanding of medicines management and optimisation. Knowledge of pharmacy law and ethics. Awareness of NHS priorities and prescribing policy.
Desirable
Knowledge of QOF, QIPP and ARRS frameworks.
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 Derwent Valley Medical Practice
Address Derwent Valley Medical Practice
20 St. Marks Road
Derby
DE21 6AT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.derwentvalleymedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)