About this role
Job summary
The post holder will work across the practices with each of the practice teams and will be assigned a lead clinical and operational contact for each contract. This post is part of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme for Primary Care Networks funded by NHS England and includes funded access to the Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway pilot for pharmacy technicians.
The ambition is to better utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care to pro-actively help patients stay safe and well and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.
The post holder is a Pharmacy technician, who acts within their professional boundaries, supporting pharmacists in general practice to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines. In this role they will be supervised by a pharmacist who will develop, manage and mentor them.
The Pharmacy technicians core role responsibilities will cover clinical, and technical and administrative categories.
Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, the advert may close early.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and this role involves provision of technical support for the pharmacy service to ensure professional operational standards and excellence in pharmaceutical care and safety are maintained.
The role will support the practices within East Grinstead PCN to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for medicines related clinical correspondence; repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
The post holder will support training and development of administrators to support safe, effective and efficient processes involving medicines with a particular focus on repeat prescribing processes and will also provide support to general practice staff and patients regarding prescription and medication queries. They will also help to develop and improve repeat prescribing & medicines reconciliation processes and systems for safer prescribing.
The post holder will ensure that the service is integrated with community and hospital pharmacy to improve patient outcomes. The pharmacy technicians will work closely with the CCG Medicines Optimisation teams, community pharmacists and hospital pharmacy teams to support an integrated approach to prescribing and medicines optimisation which works towards shared goals.
About us
Alliance for Better Care (ABC) is a GP Federation uniting 77 NHS GP member practices across 98 sites within 24 Primary Care Networks in Sussex and Surrey. We support our Primary Care colleagues - and their patients - to transform how healthcare is delivered in their communities.
We work closely with GP Practices, PCNs, Hospitals, Community Organisations, and the Third Sector. These vital partnerships enable us to deliver a truly integrated approach that offers the support and expertise needed to effectively serve our populations.
Benefits
Generous annual leave allowanceAccess to NHS pensionBespoke training programmeCycle to Work SchemeEmployee Assistance ProgrammeEnhanced maternity payNHS discountsLeadership Development ProgrammeSalary sacrifice schemes technology and electric vehicleOpportunities for secondments
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical:
Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patientsCarry 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 their medicines effectivelyAs determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings, linking with local community pharmaciesSupport the Clinical Pharmacist in Structure Medication Reviews (SMR) i.e. organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMRProvide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalitiesManage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patientsSupport initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locallyTechnical and Administrative:
Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followedSupport medications reconciliation for patients when they are discharged from hospitalImplement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastageProvide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online orderingDevelop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multidisciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental healthSupport practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requestsSupport the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settingsSupport the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced servicesSupport the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirementsPlease see the full job description for further information.
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies Essential
Computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft office packages 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
Desirable
Ability to use the required GP clinical systems
Experience Essential
Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community, or hospital pharmacy
Desirable
Evidence of continued professional development (CPD) Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities, and challenges
Knowledge and Understanding Essential
Relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of Primary Care Networks, General Practice and evidence-based medicine 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) 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
Desirable
Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care 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
Qualifications Essential
Professional registration with GPhC BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
Attributes Essential
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
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 Alliance for Better Care CIC
Address Hurstpierpoint Health Centre
Trinity Road
Hurstpierpoint
Hassocks
West Sussex
BN6 9UQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://allianceforbettercare.org/ (Opens in a new tab)