ARRS PCN Pharmacy Technician - maternity cover
Job Description
Job summary
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. To better utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care to pro-actively help patients stay safe, well and help to reduce the demands on general practice.
Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.
To lead on maximising safe and cost-effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. To help patients get the best from their medicines by reviewing, and switching medications where required, in-line with agreed and approved protocols. To improve 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 guidance implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
Main duties of the job
- To undertake medicines and reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and update patients medical records accordingly.
- Support in the delivery of Clinical Pharmacy services, including processing discharge/clinic letters from secondary care.
- To support the achievement DES/Qof targets.
- Working with practices to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols.
- To provide advice to medical staff, administrative staff and patients in changes to prescribing ensuring safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
- To participate in and interpret medication audits.
- To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with the medicines management team.
- To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
- To support the practices in providing medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.
- To support all practices in implementing effective procedures and policies in relation to medicines management including the management and monitoring of shared care medication and MHRA Alerts.
- Medicines adherence.
- Take a proactive approach to promote the safe and secure handling of medicines.
- Any other ad hoc duties as required to do so by the Senior Management team, that are commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.
About us
Lincolnshire and District Medical Services (LADMS) is a private limited company providing primary care services throughout Lincolnshire. LADMS is a well-known provider who is commissioned to manage various contracts on behalf of NHS England.
The successful candidate would be primarily employed by LADMS on behalf of Meridian Medical Primary Care Network (PCN).
Meridian Medical PCN is a group of GP Practices collaborating to share experience, workforce and services, with the aim of improving access and meeting the needs of local patients and communities. In doing this, we can provide better quality services, closer to where patients live and are varied to meet their needs. Meridian Medical PCN comprises of the following practices: East Lindsey Medical Group - Louth & Tetford. James Street Family Practice - Louth. Tasburgh Lodge Surgery - Woodhall Spa and Marsh Medical Practice - North Somercotes and Manby - with a total PCN patient population of approx. 38,000 patients.
As a PCN we build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care for our patients. This is a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively caring for the people and communities we serve.
There's a greater understanding of the ways you want to work and the support you need to achieve your individual aspirations. Supporting your personal development and career long learning.
Job responsibilities
Pharmacy Technicians' core responsibilities will cover clinical, technical, and administrative categories. It is an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.
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. The post holder must:
a. be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
b. meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a Pharmacy Technician.
c. be enrolled in, undertaking, or qualified from an approved training pathway. e.g. the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP). Enrolled in or qualified from an approved training programme, e.g. Primary care pharmacy education pathway (PCPEP) or equivalent or courses approved by the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) as meeting the requirements of the UK-wide APTIK/PCPA National Competency Framework for Primary Care Pharmacy Technicians; and work under appropriate clinical supervision to ensure safe, effective, and efficient use of medicines.
This role will focus on:
Ensuring safe, accurate and timely supply of prescribed medications for patients. The postholder will have the opportunity to lead on improvements in this area, providing technical and administrative support.
Supporting the delivery of good care, helping patients to get the best outcomes from taking their medicines.
Being the main contact for non-clinical medication related queries from pharmacies, nursing homes and other health care professionals, to improve the accuracy of patient medication records.
Supporting implementation of medication changes under guidance of prescribing clinicians.
Supporting with audit work in relation to safe prescribing and general quality improvement.
Working closely with practice administration staff, GPs, and pharmacists to answer any queries and take forward any work streams identified providing technical and administrative support.
JOB ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To undertake medicines and reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients medical records accordingly.
- To support the achievement of practices QoF targets.
- Working with practices to contribute to the review and development of repeat prescribing protocols to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prescribing systems.
- To provide advice to GPs, staff, and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality, and cost effectiveness.
- To participate in and interpret medication audits.
- To assist in the appropriate monitoring and management of prescribing budgets and to liaise with medicines management team at the ICB.
- To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
- To support the clinical pharmacist team to provide medication reviews, patient information leaflets, medicine awareness; and to undertake community visits as appropriate.
- To support all practices to implement effective procedures and policies in relation to medicines management including the management and monitoring of shared care medication and MHRA Alerts.
- To promote medicines adherence including checking inhaler techniques where appropriate
- To take a proactive approach to promote the safe and secure handling of medicines including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
- To advise on the sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
- Be responsible for the ...
