Pharmacy Technician inSheffield inSheffield PUBLISHED 18 OCT 2024

Job summary

Are you a secondary care, community-based or primary care registered Pharmacy Technician looking for your next career move?

Sevenhills Primary Care Network is looking for two motivated Pharmacy Technicians with a strong desire for professional development to join an established clinical pharmacy team of 9 pharmacists and 1 pharmacy technician.

The Primary Care Pharmacy Technician post is suitable for registered Pharmacy Technicians already working in primary care, or those who are looking to move to primary care while being supported to complete the PCN CPPE training pathway, GP Pharmacy Technician Medicines Optimisation Programme or equivalent.

With experience of successfully supporting over 40 pharmacy professionals to make the transition to working in primary care, the Sevenhills pharmacy team will not only offer comprehensive guidance and training on induction but also a framework for professional development and progression to support your career in one of the newest and most exciting sectors of pharmacy, that of primary care.

Induction to the role consists of an initial 14 to 15 month funded training pathway for those who havent already completed the PCN CPPE training pathway, GP Pharmacy Technician Medicines Optimisation Programme or equivalent.

The successful applicants will work alongside the existing clinical pharmacy team and be supervised and mentored by a named dedicated and experienced clinical pharmacist.

Job Responsibilities

The post holder will work within their clinical competencies as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide expertise in clinical medicines management, management of medicines on transfer of care, manage repeat prescription authorisations and reauthorisation and acute prescription requests, while addressing both the public health and social care needs of patients registered within the Sevenhills Primary Care Network.

Successful applicants will benefit from working in a single or limited number of practice sites, dedicated CPD days, and normal primary care working patterns (no late nights, on-calls, weekend or Bank Holiday working and the option of flexible working patterns).

22.5 hours per week based at Handsworth Medical Centre

Flexible working patterns available. Usual working hours 9-5pm Monday to Friday. Job share will be considered.

Base: The post holder may be expected to work from multiple sites, this will be kept to a minimum but may require travel between sites.

For an informal chat to discuss the role or to arrange a visit contact:

About us

Responsible to

Senior Pharmacist, Sevenhills Primary Care Network

Location

Sevenhills Primary Care Network, covering the areas of Darnall, Handsworth and Tinsley

Purpose of the role

Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is part of an exciting programme of transformation to develop a new model of care which addresses our ambition to deliver person-centred, coordinated care across the district. The Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice model is supported by the direction of national policy including the Five Year Forward View and GP Forward View where there is a need 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.

Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other members of the PCN multidisciplinary team. Pharmacy technicians are different to clinical pharmacists as they are not able to prescribe or make clinical decisions, instead working under supervision to ensure effective and efficient use of medicines.

Pharmacy technicians core role responsibilities will cover clinical, and technical and administrative categories.

The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical risk and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.

In addition, the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the PCN in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.

There may be a requirement to travel within the S9 and S13 areas. There are no line management responsibilities for the post holder.

Clinical Responsibilities

Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicinesuse, through shared decision making conversations with patients.

Carry 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 effectively.

As 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 pharmacies

Support the Clinical Pharmacist in Structure Medication Reviews i.e. undertake medicines use review and organise necessary monitoring tests prior to SMR

Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.

Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.

Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.

Technical and Administrative Responsibilities

Support the PCN multidisciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed.

Implement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.

Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service.

Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing and online ordering

Develop 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 health.

Support practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests.

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.

Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, IIF, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services

Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements

Professional development

1.Work with a named clinical point of contact for advice and support

2.Undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the role and responsibilities, and provide evidence of learning activity as required

3.Participate in appraisal

4.Participate in any network mandated training including CPPE primary care education pathway, GP Pharmacy Technician Medicines Optimisation Programme, or equivalent, if not already complete or exempt.

5.Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, equality, diversity and inclusion training and health and safety

Miscellaneous

1.Demonstrate a flexible attitude and be prepared to carry out other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time within the general character of the post or the level of responsibility of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner

2.Identify opportunities and gaps in the service and provide feedback to continually improve the service and contribute to business planning

3.Work in accordance with practice and PCN policies and procedures

4.Contribute to the wider aims and objectives of the PCN to improve and support primary care.

5.Engage with local peer support, clinical supervision and action learning sets

The main duties and responsibilities shown above are not exhaustive but should merely be regarded as a guide. The post holder will be expected to conduct any reasonable activities according to the service needs at that time. These will be subject to periodic review and may be amended to meet the challenging needs of the service. The post-holder will be expected to participate in this process and the organisation would aim to reach agreement to changes.