Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Job summary This is a new and developing role.The successful candidates will work across or at One of the North East IntraHealth practices and Community Pharmacies (Belmont, Sherburn and Bowburn or EPMG or Wingate or Hallgarth or Brook Square or West Cornforth)Projects ranging from dealing with prescription requests and queries, to cost-saving switches, to facilitating medication reviews.
We expect contribution to the overall medicines optimisation programme, acting on best practice from local and national guidelines.The Trainee Pharmacy Technician role is now an established development within PCN and we expect the successful candidate to contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive primary care medicines management system acting on current best practice / service change requests from our clinical commissioning group.
The Trainee Pharmacy Technician will be required to undertake activities predominantly at a practice level but will need to be flexible to work to the wider demands of the network.The role will contribute to the efficient and effective delivery of medicines to patients medicines supply, drug administration, actioning of discharge summary medication changes, liaising with care homes re prescription queries and supporting the organisation move towards online prescription services.
An understanding of primary care operations and use of SystmOne would be an advantage but is not essential.
Main duties of the job Main job roles include but are not limited to;Working under the supervision of the Clinical Pharmacists and Clinicians in accordance with the agreed practice prescribing standard operating procedures.Be able to describe the ways patients may contact the practice regarding their health needs (Phone, letter, in person, online).Describe the roles and responsibilities of different clinicians in the primary care team.Request issue of an acute drugRequest issue of a repeat drugSupporting in the delivery of 48-hour prescription turn around.Working with other members of prescribing team.Observe the process of clinical decision making and prescribing in GP, Nurse or Pharmacist consultations, understand the consent process for prescribing.Be able to describe circumstances when drugs may be issued as acute compared to repeat.Understand and perform checks related to repeat medicines requests from patients and take necessary actions before requesting issue of the drug.Be familiar with the process of the FP10 or EPS prescription after leaving the GP Surgery, and how to track it.Recommend cost effective strategies for supplying medicines in primary care.Understand the technical process of repeat dispensing via EPS.Identify patients who may be candidates for repeat dispensing.Initiate repeat dispensing after discussion and authorisation by a GP or Pharmacist.Initiate and continue repeat dispensing for dosette box patientsPerform a medicines waste audit.
(Pharm Tech/Pharmacist) About us IntraHealth is one of the UKs leading providers of NHS Primary and Community Care services.
We serve a range of patients across our three divisions of Primary Care (general practice), Pharmacy and Clinical Services which includes anticoagulation monitoring, patient medication reviews and childhood immunisation programmes.We are a well-established organisation having provided NHS services since 1999.
We operate NHS services across the North East, Yorkshire, the midlands and North West.
Our team is made up of a wide range of healthcare professionals and administrative roles including GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs), Nurses, Pharmacists, Health Care Assistants (HCAs) and local administration teams.
Our frontline teams are supported by a centralised back office function; providing executive, finance, HR, administration and data analysis support.
Job description Job responsibilities Main job roles include but are not limited toWorking under the supervision of the Clinical Pharmacists and Clinicians in accordance with the agreed practice prescribing standard operating procedures.Be able to describe the ways patients may contact the practice regarding their health needs (Phone, letter, in person, online).Describe the roles and responsibilities of different clinicians in the primary care team.Request issue of an acute drugRequest issue of a repeat drugSupporting in the delivery of 48-hour prescription turn around.Working with other members of prescribing team.Observe the process of clinical decision making and prescribing in GP, Nurse or Pharmacist consultations, understand the consent process for prescribing.Be able to describe circumstances when drugs may be issued as acute compared to repeat.Understand and perform checks related to repeat medicines requests from patients and take necessary actions before requesting issue of the drug.Be familiar with the process of the FP10 or EPS prescription after leaving the GP Surgery, and how to track it.Recommend cost effective strategies for supplying medicines in primary care.Understand the technical process of repeat dispensing via EPS.Identify patients who may be candidates for repeat dispensing.Initiate repeat dispensing after discussion and authorisation by a GP or Pharmacist.Initiate and continue repeat dispensing for dosette box patientsPerform a medicines waste audit.
(Pharm Tech/Pharmacist)Understand drug monitoring in accordance with shared care guidelines.Be able to record, suggest actions and implement learning from significant events.Reconcile medication changes from clinic letters, including medication safety checks.Reconcile medication changes from discharge summaries, including medication safety check, and clarification of any issues arising.Answer queries received from staff and secondary/ tertiary care as necessaryBe familiar with the range of drugs held as stock in primary care, and in GP home visit bags.Be familiar with the ordering and receipt processes for drugs in primary care.Understand the role of the Medicines Optimisation TeamHave observed, or discussed, with a CCG Technician the process used in bulk medication switches.Use reliable sources of information to act on medicines optimisation advice.Construct a medicines related search using the primary care IT system.Perform a personal interest medicines audit and present the results.Be able to discuss protocol managed changes with patients eg titration of levothyroxine.Develop a basic understanding of organisational change management theory as applied to medicines optimisation.Support clinical pharmacists in the delivery of clinical pharmacy services to people in care homes or in their own homesMonitor and encourage safe and cost-effective prescribingHelp identify patients at risk of medicine use issues, including waste, safety and over-useProvide support to the administrative team with queries.Provide training and development to the administrative teamManaging Tasks / ProjectsEnsuring tasks and duties are performed within clearly defined time quality standardsManaging Information / DataCompiling and processing, supplying information and data to both internal and external contacts whilst ensuring confidentiality is maintained where appropriate.CommunicationsHigh level of verbal and written communication skillsInformation sharing with other professionalsProvide advice and support to patients and their relatives and carers as appropriate.Build good relationships with practices and other prescribers and healthcare professionals ( GPs, community pharmacists, district nurses etc.)
to facilitate patient care.Communicate effectively with the patient, relatives, carers and all members of the healthcare team.Counsel patients appropriately upon medication issues and throughout their care, providing advice and written support where appropriate.Promote and enhance the reputation of IntraHealthDelivering a quality serviceCode of Conduct for Professional Group all staff members are required to work in accordance with their professional groups code of conduct.Be aware of and comply with employment legislation and codes of good practice.Be aware of, and comply with, all company and practice infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.Report any significant events within the time frame set out in the company policy.Follow current local guidance with regard to medication alerts.Team WorkingWork as part of the practice team and wider team of healthcare professionals, fielding queries and offering advice.Support and help develop colleagues and other members of the community pharmacy teamThe post holder will be expected to work flexibly according to team / clinical needsManagement of riskHealth & Safety the post-holder must co-operate with Management in discharging its responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and take reasonable health and safety of themselves and others and to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for patients, employees and visitors.
All Health & Safety issues to be flagged to senior staff and the post-holder must comply with the IntraHealth Health & Safety Policy as well as any additional policy requirements within the clinical contract.Report all adverse events and significant events in accordance with agreed procedures and participate in improvement activities to reduce reoccurrenceManaging informationMaintain appropriate records.Confidentiality During the course of your employment you may have access to, see or hear information of a confidential nature and you are required not to disclose such information, particularly that relating to patients and staff.In order to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 you must not at any time use personal data held by IntraHealth or IntraHealth Pharmacy for any unauthorized purpose or disclosure such as data to a third party.Learning and DevelopmentComplete accredited course, to enable all aspects role delivery.Complete in-house training course and annual, mandatory training including peer review.Equality and DiversityYou are at all times required to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the IntraHealth Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure that staff receive equal treatment throughout their employment with the company.Managing Tasks / ProjectsEnsuring tasks and duties are performed within clearly defined time quality standardsManaging Information / Confidentiality and data protectionEnsure all relevant information is handled appropriately in concordance with Information Governance guidelines.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential GCSEs English and Maths (grade A- C or equivalent) Desirable 5 GCSE grade C (4 or 5) or above and including English, Maths and 2 Science subjects/equivalent Experience Essential No previous experience essential Previous work in a community Pharmacy or, health care role Customer facing experience Attitudes Essential Positive attitude; self-motivated and able to motivate others Hard working and able to prioritise workload.
Reliable with excellent time keeping Courteous, Friendly, and professional with staff and customers Proven Communication skills Basic IT literacy use of e-mail, the internet and word processing, spreadsheets Ability to plan own workload with priorities and objectives Motivated and ability to work and follow instruction with accuracy Accurate with good attention to detail Well organised and good time management Ability to work safely under pressure Ability to work as part of a team Reliable, trustworthy, and able to maintain confidentiality Excellent communication skills both verbal and written Understand clinical governance and risk management Desirable Knowledge of NHS Systems Demonstrate an understanding of the data protection act and patient confidentiality, clinical and information governance and Caldicott requirements.
Knowledge of Audits and research Understanding of Medicine management and incentive schemes Full UK Driving License