Pharmacy Technician

A minimum of a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent qualification is required. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is essential.

Previous experience working as a pharmacy technician in a primary care setting is preferred. Experience in dispensing medication, managing stock, and providing patient counselling is highly desirable.

Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential. The ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and provide excellent customer service is crucial. Attention to detail, accuracy in dispensing medication, and proficiency in using pharmacy software systems are also important.

A good understanding of pharmaceutical regulations, guidelines, and best practices in primary care settings is required. Knowledge of medical terminology, drug interactions, and pharmaceutical calculations is essential.The ideal candidate should be reliable, organized, and able to work efficiently under pressure. A professional and empathetic approach to patient care, along with a commitment to continuous professional development, is important.

Additional requirements: Flexibility in working across all sites is essential, Compliance with confidentiality and data protection regulations is mandatory.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person

technicians core role responsibilities will cover clinical, technical, and

administrative categories.

The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise efficient,

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 supporting all National and Dorset ICS medicines optimisation

programmes, improving repeat prescribing processes, promoting ion of repeat

dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical risk due to medicines and

aiming to reduce wasted medicines.

to patient queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring

to the appropriate healthcare professional in accordance with practice

protocols. Support

patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines signposting

patients to appropriate services and other healthcare professionals (e.g.

community pharmacy, face to face medicines review with the practice

pharmacists). To offer practical advice to patients and carers for minor ailments.

Processing Repeat Prescriptions To participate in the daily preparation of repeat prescriptions for care

homes residents and for list holders on leave at SCMG in order to ensure high

quality, safe and timely repeat prescribing.

Co-ordinating Repeat Prescribing Systems - To proactively contribute to the review and development of repeat

prescribing protocols / Standard Operating Procedures across the PCN to improve

the efficiency and effectiveness of repeat prescribing systems.

Medicines Reconciliation - To support the practice pharmacists with medicines reconciliation in

accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records /

prescribing accordingly liaising with community pharmacy to ensure the correct

medicines are continued following transfer of care. (Including updating weights

and renal function tests).

Medication Review - To support the practice pharmacists to complete medication reviews

prioritising patients with polypharmacy, strong opioids, high risk medicines

and patients with unplanned hospital admissions or as directed by the PCN DES.

Care Home Patients - To support the Care Home Pharmacist with medication reviews in Care

Homes and updating patients medical records / prescribing accordingly

(including updating weights and renal function tests.

Domiciliary Medication Review - To support medication reviews to patients via domiciliary visits if

appropriate and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise

cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care and ensure

adherence.

Leading and supporting on cost effective

prescribing initiatives - To implement medication changes in line with Dorset ICS CCG guidelines in

agreement with the practice. To review medicines described as Red

Formulary specials or unlicensed medicines and liaise with practice pharmacist/ designated GP to justify use.

To reduce the prescribing of

medicines available over the counter, low value and low priority treatments and

self-care items. - To raise awareness of medicines

that should be purchased and lead on projects to inform patients and reduce

prescribing in line with NHS England guidelines.

Development - To participate in audits to

monitor and analyse individual practice / primary care network prescribing

performance and trends against Dorset ICS and National targets, using data and

identifying priority areas for action. To produce and present written and

verbal prescribing reports for practices / primary care networks including

recommendations and assistance in the implementation of these recommendations.

High Risk Medicines - To support the PCN Senior practice pharmacist by ensuring monthly review

of High Risk medicines, checking that routine monitoring is completed regularly

reporting any variances and taking appropriate action as specified by

designated GPs.

Long term clinical conditions / Service

Evaluation - To support practice nurses in

providing care for long term conditions which might include ensuring

Respiratory patients have good inhaler technique, Diabetes patients know how to

use blood glucose monitoring equipment. Helping to ensure blood tests have been

completed for long term conditions and medicines prescribed are safe and

appropriate e.g., HbA1C / GFR and diabetes reviews / medications.

External reviews and CQC Inspections - To support the practice and PCN when preparing for external reviews and

CQC inspections ensuring SOPs relevant to medicines are current, relevant and

up to date. Support the work of practice pharmacist and prescribing lead to

ensure practice is compliant with CQC standards relating to medicines.

Safe storage of medicines and vaccinations - To ensure fridge monitoring is complete and complies with legislation at

SCMG. To ensure medicines are stored safely and comply with legislation. To

ensure stock is maintained and out of date stock is identified and disposed of

in a timely manner. To oversee ordering processes for formulary

medicines, blood glucose meters and vaccines.

Liaising with Dorset ICS - To support the PCN Senior Pharmacist to liaise with the ICS in response

to monitoring and management of prescribing budgets.

deliver specialist training to GPs, practice, community and care staff, and

patients to promote and ensure current best practice related to prescribing

appropriate to your knowledge, competencies and specialist areas under the

supervision of the PCN Senior Pharmacist. To maintain mandatory training competencies as specified by

Practice Manager.

Medicines Safety and Alerts - To highlight and discuss MHRA alerts and product withdrawals with

GPs, HCPs and PCN Senior Pharmacist agreeing and implementing changes, informing patients and

community pharmacies. To ensure prescribing supports current safety

recommendations e.g. Insulin - prescribed by brand.

QOF and IIF - To support the

achievement of the PCNs prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework and

Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) targets.

Repeat prescribing staff management - To provide supervision, training and professional leadership to the

practice administrative staff in the preparation of repeat prescriptions.

Medicines Information - To signpost and share with PCN Staff Dorset ICS Medicines internet

pages, prescribing newsletters and formulary

and other useful resources. To participate in medicines information tasks from

health professionals within your scope of practice and under the supervision of

the PCN Senior Pharmacist

Supporting Digital Solutions - To promote and adopt digital solutions including

Patient Access, NHS App, Electronic Repeat Dispensing, Electronic Prescription Services (EPS), Ardens, AccuRx to

patients and practice staff.

South Coast Medical Group is an award-winning NHS Primary Care Home, comprising six GP surgery locations in the Bournemouth general area and serving over 55,000 patients in total.

By working at scale, we are better able to promote health and provide for the differing needs of the communities of local people and a balanced workload for our staff. It also enables us to employ a significant multi-disciplinary team including Pharmacists, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Paramedics (for pre-assessment screening and home visits) all of whom reduce the clinical workload for GPs.

SCMG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Qualifications

Essential: - General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)