Practice Pharmacy Technician

We have a team of 7 GP partners, 1 advanced pharmacists, 3 salaried GPs, 2 practice nurses, 4 healthcare assistants all of who are supported by a wider administrative and reception team. We are a training practice with a strong emphasis placed on education and training both externally and internally. We offer a wide range of enhanced services as well as supporting the provision of GMS core services and we encourage staff in the developed of specialist areas., We are looking for an enthusiastic full-time Pharmacy technician to join our practice medicines management team. The post holder would be based within Taff Vale Practice sitting in the medicines management team which currently consists of an advanced primary care pharmacist and two prescribing clerks. The medicines management team ensures the smooth running of all aspects of practice prescribing working directly with patients, community pharmacies, the local health board, local nursing homes and following Welsh Government Guidance.

Taff Vale Practice is situated just north of Cardiff and is less than 8 miles from the M4 junction 30 making us easily accessible from the M4 corridor. As a teaching practice we are forward thinking in our approach, working collaboratively with our wider cluster colleagues. As a practice our mission is to provide excellent and sustainable care to our patients and communities with our vision being to nurture a supportive team environment where each member and their role is valued and appreciated.

The wider practice team currently consists of 8 GP partners, salaried GPs, practice nurses, healthcare support workers, phlebotomists and an established support team. We also work closely with our extended teams which consist of District nurses, health visitors, midwives, physiotherapists, counsellors and well being nurses.

Job summary/purpose:

The post holder will work independently to provide technical assistance and support to the practice Clinical Pharmacist to aid the development of high quality, cost effective prescribing. They will also support the practice clinical team in all aspects of prescribing and medicines safety.

The purpose of this role is to lead improvements to maximise safe and best practice in prescribing and improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will facilitate the implementation of rational repeat prescribing strategies and develop expertise in the area of GP computer systems. They will help patients to get the best from their medicines through effective medicines reconciliation after discharge and on other transfers of care, identification of patients suitable for electronic repeat dispensing, promotion of online ordering, providing assurance of monitoring of high-risk drugs, and handling of prescription queries within the areas of competence.

The role will also include training and development of practice based prescribing clerks and administrators to support improved co-ordination and effective pharmacy administration within general practice, especially with relation to repeat prescribing systems and processes.

Working closely with the Prescribing lead, Pharmacist, Clerks, Community Pharmacists and Local health board to develop strong working relationships and high quality service to maximise patient outcomes.,

• Support to the practice Clinical Pharmacist and practice Clinical Team to provide a safe and effective repeat prescribing service


• Liaise with community pharmacies and hospitals regarding prescribing queries optimise therapy to improve prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.


• Comply with legal and professional requirements and with safe systems of work for re-authorising repeat prescriptions.


• Co-ordinate medication review appointments and any changes of medication as advised by the clinical team


• Support the Practice Pharmacist in the development of medicines related protocols and SOPs


• Liaise with pharmacies on the supply of prescribed drugs, alert clinicians of any supply issues and forward recommendations of alternatives


• Provide an efficient administration service as the role of lead to ensure smooth running of prescription support to the clinical and repeat prescribing teams


• Medicines reconciliation post discharge and on other transfers of care.


• Oversee patients on share care drugs, ensuring recalls and protocols in place to ensure safety and appropriate use of medicines and their management.


• Bring queries to clinical team to include under or over usage.


• Day to day handling of prescription queries within area of own competence.


• Delivery of training and development to practice based prescribing clerks and administrators to support improved co-ordination and effective pharmacy administration within General Practice.


• Use and maintain information reporting systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, prescribing data and patient outcomes.


• Participate in practice meetings, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role and to promote issues relevant to prescribing.


• Liaise with multidisciplinary team, prescribing support team, community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy teams.


• Facilitate prescribing meetings relating to practice prescribing reports audits, protocols, targets, budget, and education sessions relating to prescribing topics.


• Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the GDPR; Caldecott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct.


• Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines.


• Utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits.


• Develop a working knowledge of the computer systems to develop the skills of practice staff to utilise computers fully in relation to prescribing.


• Apply the knowledge gained of clinical systems to resolve problems relating to repeat prescribing.


• Support the Clinical Pharmacist with the work required under the UHB Medicines Management Incentive Scheme.


• In collaboration with practice Clinical Pharmacist and GP Prescribing Lead ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result


• Undertake training and development, to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice based work ensuring you keep professionally up to date to meet the General Pharmaceutical Council standards for professional development and registration.


• Escalate problems or issues to line manager that requires additional support or input


• Carry out other duties which are appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as the priorities of the service change


• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GP practices, staff and other healthcare professionals


• The post holder will: Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the practice and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.


• Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.


• The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisation's safeguarding protection policies and procedures.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines


• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks


• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills


• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards


• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised


• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holder's role


• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)


• Reporting potential risks identified


Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation


• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues


• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.


Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development


• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work


Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk


• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision


• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance


• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs


• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources


Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members


• Communicate effectively with patients and carers


• Recognize people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly


Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance


• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work


• Participate in audit where appropriate


Special requirements of the post:

This job description represents an outline of the post and is not exhaustive; it provides an indication only of the scope and range of the duties to be undertaken. The post holder may be required to undertake other related duties not specifically mentioned above. The job description therefore is intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment following consultation between the post holder and line manager.

Taff Vale Practice is an established GP practice based within the Pontypridd area. we are a multi-professional training practice that works across five sites within the communities of Pontypridd, Rhydyfelin, Glyncoch, Ynysybwl and Cilfynydd.