Job Vacancies

Job summary

Chester Central Primary Care Network (PCN) are looking for a pharmacy technician to be an integral part of the general practice team, working within their professional boundaries in each practice within the Primary Care Network.

They will work under the supervision of the Practice Prescribing Lead/Clinical Pharmacist to ensure the safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medication to patients.

They will provide technical and administrative support to the GPs, Clinical Pharmacist and Medicines Team.

The pharmacy technician will support the PCN and practice clinical team with queries around medication from patients.

The pharmacy technician will complete audits around patient safety in the prescribing of medication and present the information for sharing with the clinical team.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team whilst in a supporting function to the clinical pharmacists and other clinicians and within agreed prescribing standard operating procedures

To support the clinical pharmacist as the PCN point of contact for all medicines related matters

To process repeat medication requests, including the conversion of acute requests to repeat medicines, changing quantities of medicines

To issue prescriptions in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency

To encourage cost-effective prescribing throughout the PCN

To undertake medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

To update and maintain accurate and timely patient medication records on each practice clinical system, including advice given and action taken

About us

Chester Central PCN consists of six GP practices based in the Chester area and has a patient list size of 41,000.

We are a well-established team and we’re committed to providing outstanding care for our local population.

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the PCN pharmacy technician. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team whilst in a supporting function to the clinical pharmacists and other clinicians and within agreed prescribing standard operating procedures

To support the clinical pharmacist as the PCN point of contact for all medicines related matters

To process repeat medication requests, including the conversion of acute requests to repeat medicines, changing quantities of medicines

To issue prescriptions in line with agreed clinical protocols and within your competency

To encourage cost-effective prescribing throughout the PCN

To undertake medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care

To update and maintain accurate and timely patient medication records on each practice clinical system, including advice given and action taken

To liaise with secondary and primary care colleagues to ensure correct medicines are continued following the transfer of care

To monitor practice adherence to the prescribing policy

To support virtual and remote models of consultation and support including e-consultations, telehealth and telemedicine

To liaise with practices and implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system for use across all practices

To support the clinical pharmacists in improving the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education to improve performance against NICE standards, and clinical and prescribing guidance

To support the clinical pharmacist in producing a prescribing newsletter or bulletin on a quarterly basis

To ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs

To apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines

To identify and be proactive in your training needs and development and as agreed with the Clinical Pharmacists.

To support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements on behalf of the PCN

To participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events

To actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional

To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

To attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

To contribute to public health campaigns (e.g. flu clinics) through advice or direct care.

Experience

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Good personal organisational skills
• Effective time management
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Flexible and cooperative
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Able to finish work tasks
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety
• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home
• Willingness to complete the CPPE course, PCN funded

Desirable

• Experience of working in primary care, although training can be provided.

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).