Pharmacy Technician - Llansamlet SurgeryNHS

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and supportive Practice team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in medicines optimisation, patient care and service improvement within a forward-thinking General Practice. The successful candidate will work closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive safe, effective and high-quality pharmaceutical care.

This is ideally a full time position, across 5 days, but consideration will be given to excellent candidates who may be looking for less hours and flexibility.

Main duties of the job

As a Pharmacy Technician, you will be a key member of the Practice team, working closely with GPs, nurses, pharmacists and administrative staff to support the safe, effective and efficient use of medicines.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting medicines optimisation and promoting safe, cost-effective prescribing.
• Processing medication requests and undertaking medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and outpatient appointments.
• Conducting repeat prescription reviews and assisting with medication monitoring programmes.
• Acting as a point of contact for medicine-related queries from patients, clinicians, care homes and community pharmacies.
• Assisting with prescribing audits, quality improvement projects and medicines management initiatives.
• Supporting the Practice in achieving Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework (QAIF) and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) objectives.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce medicines waste and minimise prescribing risks.
• Maintaining accurate patient records and contributing to the continuous development of medicines optimisation processes within the Practice.
• Promoting best practice in line with local and national prescribing guidance, including NICE recommendations and NHS Wales medicines optimisation initiatives.
• Supporting patient understanding of their medicines to help improve health outcomes and adherence to treatment.

Job description

Llansamlet Surgery

Job Description - Pharmacy Technician

Job Title

Pharmacy Technician

Reports To

Practice Manager

Accountable To

GP Partners

Job Summary

The Pharmacy Technician will work as part of the multidisciplinary Practice team to support the safe, effective and efficient use of medicines for the Practice population. The post holder will play a key role in medicines optimisation, repeat prescribing, medication safety and patient care.

The Pharmacy Technician will work closely with GPs, nurses, reception and administrative staff, community pharmacies, care homes and secondary care providers to ensure patients receive high-quality pharmaceutical care.

The role will support the Practice in achieving local and national quality standards, including Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework (QAIF), Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), NHS Wales medicines optimisation initiatives and NICE guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Medicines Reconciliation

• Undertake medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, outpatient appointments and other transfers of care.
• Review correspondence from secondary care and action medication-related changes appropriately.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies in medication records.
• Ensure patient records are updated accurately and promptly.

Repeat Prescribing

• Process repeat prescription requests in accordance with Practice policies and procedures.
• Identify medication requests requiring clinical review and refer appropriately.
• Support the efficient management of prescription authorisation systems.
• Promote safe repeat prescribing practices.

Medicines Optimisation

• Support the implementation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
• Encourage evidence-based and cost-effective prescribing.
• Assist with reviews of prescribing data and identify areas for improvement.
• Promote adherence to local formularies and prescribing guidance.
• Support patients in understanding and obtaining the maximum benefit from their medicines.

Medication Safety

• Assist in monitoring high-risk medicines.
• Support implementation of MHRA safety alerts, prescribing alerts and product recalls.
• Identify and escalate medication-related risks.
• Contribute to reducing prescribing errors and medicines waste.

Patient Support

• Respond to medication-related queries from patients, carers and healthcare professionals within scope of competence.
• Provide information and advice to patients regarding their medicines.
• Signpost patients to appropriate services where necessary.
• Support shared decision-making regarding medicines.

Quality Improvement and Audit

• Participate in prescribing audits and quality improvement projects.
• Assist in data collection and reporting requirements.
• Support the achievement of QAIF and QOF targets.
• Contribute to service development and implementation of new working practices.

Clinical Systems and Administration

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records.
• Use EMIS Web and other Practice systems effectively.
• Ensure appropriate clinical coding relating to medicines management activities.
• Produce reports and searches to support medicines optimisation activities.

Collaborative Working

• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.
• Liaise with community pharmacies, care homes, hospitals and other healthcare providers.
• Develop positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Attend Practice meetings as required.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Work within the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and Information Governance requirements.
• Participate in annual appraisal and personal development planning.
• Undertake mandatory and role-specific training.
• Maintain evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Work within Practice policies, procedures and protocols.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• BTEC Level 3, NVQ Level 3, or equivalent qualification in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Desirable Qualifications

• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) qualification.
• Medicines Optimisation or Medicines Management qualification.
• Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP).
• Qualification in Quality Improvement or Audit.

Essential Experience

• Experience working as a Pharmacy Technician.
• Knowledge of medicines management and medicines optimisation principles.
• Experience dealing with medication queries.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and documentation.
• Good IT and organisational skills.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in General Practice or Primary Care.
• Experience using EMIS Web or other GP clinical systems.
• Experience undertaking medicines reconciliation.
• Experience supporting prescribing audits and quality improvement projects.
• Knowledge of QAIF, QOF and NHS Wales prescribing initiatives.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to patient-centred care and continuous improvement.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

This post is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and appropriate pre-employment checks.

Equal Opportunities

The Practice is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About us

Conveniently situated close to J44 of the M4 and in close proximity to the spectacular Gower Coast, we are a friendly, well-established and active teaching practice.

Our forward thinking and multi-disciplinary team are dedicated to delivering high quality primary services to our local community, whilst encouraging a flexible work life balance.

A Practice Team made up of 5 GP Partners, 4 Salaried GPs and support staff comprising of Practice Nurses, Health Care Support Worker, First Contact Physiotherapist, Practice Manager, HR Manager, Reception and Administration Staff.

GMS practice with list size of approximately 10,200 patients.

GP led Telephone Triage System and EMIS Clinical System.

No OOH or Extended Hours.

Training Practice, actively supporting the development of GP Trainees and Medical Students.

Numerous DES / LES offered.