JOB DESCRIPTION – Practice Pharmacy Technician

1. JOB SUMMARY

• To provide specialist pharmaceutical technical services, professional advice and direct support to Practice GPs, Nurses, Pharmacist, HCAs and Reception/Administrative Staff
• To liaise with patients, clinical and non-clinical staff, practice, hospital and community pharmacists and patient’s carers to improve the pharmaceutical care of patients.
• To develop the role of the Practice Pharmacy Technician to maximise support to all Clinical and Non-clinical practice staff to improve patient care in relation to all aspects of medicines and their impact
• To provide professional specialist medicines advice to GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Community Pharmacists, Community Nurses and other health professionals to promote the safe, effective and high quality, cost effective use of medicines in all prescribing decisions for the benefit of the Practice’s patients

EXPERIENCE

Medicines management or dispensing role in the community or within a hospital setting
Policy / procedure development
General Practice repeat prescribing systems

QUALIFICATIONS

NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or Equivalent

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Knowledge of pharmacy procedures
Understanding of medicines legislation and ethics
Knowledge of diversity issues and ability to work in non-discriminatory way.
IT skills including MS Word and Excel
High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
Skills in analysing and presenting prescribing activity data
EMIS user

• To act as a Technical Pharmacy Advisor to Practice Clinicians
• To advise Practice Management and other non-clinical staff concerning administrative aspects of medicines management as appropriate
• To manage repeat prescription requests, resolving queries where possible and producing prescriptions for clinical review and signature
• To address the following areas without the need to consult a GP/Clinical Pharmacist in each case (although clinical support and advice will always be available if required):
  § Review dates following medication reviews
  § Facilitate and document correct addition & removal of medications following receipt of a discharge summaries, secondary care and community clinic letters.
  § Tidying repeat medication lists – including synchronising durations and removing medications not ordered within a defined period
  § Changing acute medications to repeat where appropriate- e.g. A new medication that a GP/Pharmacist Prescriber has commenced and there is subsequently evidence for the need for the item on a repeat basis and necessary tests/checks have confirmed this
  § Addition/Removal of Medication for Nursing Centre, Nursing Home patients under GP/Pharmacist Prescriber guidance
  § Co-ordinate District Nurse Medication and Dressing requests for the practice population

§ Co-ordinate medical device prescription requests, including requests for catheters, nutritional supplements/feeds and stoma care products.

• To work in conjunction with the nominated Clinicians who support Nursing Homes in the area
• Provide independent information to patients with regard to medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate
• To participate with the PCN medicine management enhanced service
• Analyse Practice prescription data to produce reports as requested
• Participate in review and setting of policies relating to medicines management and prescribing
• Search and Audit CQC, MHRA, QOF and other audits regularly.
• Support and influence the Practice Clinical, Management and Administrative Teams to implement procedural and service changes relating to prescribing to ensure best practice is adopted in accordance with local guidelines, legislation, directives and safety updates e.g. NICE, MRHA etc.