Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

We are excited that an opportunity has arisen for a Pharmacy Technician to join our team at the Cheltenham Peripheral Primary Care Network (CPPCN).

CPPCN consists of 5 practices on the outskirts of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire: Leckhampton, Sixways, Cleevelands, Stoke Road & Winchcombe. Together we look after 54,000 patients.

CPPCN is looking for a capable candidate to build on its existing team of 5 Clinical Pharmacists and 1 Pharmacy Technician.

Job description

The Role

You will report to our Lead Clinical Pharmacist. There is a requirement to travel between the 5 locations to perform your duties. We believe that sharing your time between the practices will enhance your work experience and development. Our practices recognise the valuable contribution that a Pharmacy Technician can make to patient care.

Training will be provided by our Lead Pharmacist and national bodies. There is also access to an active pharmacy network within Gloucestershire. The role involves your enrolment onto the CPPE and NHS England Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway which will help further develop the skills and knowledge required.

This is a certainly an exciting time for pharmacists to consider a career in primary care.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will be a good communicator who is self-motivated, well organised and keen to be part of a progressive team. You will be able to provide appropriate advice to patients, GPs, nurses, receptionists and other health care professionals including community pharmacists. You should be competent in the use of IT (our practices all use TPP SystmOne; experience is desirable but not essential), and prepared to use telephone and video consultations where necessary.

Job responsibilities

To undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared-decision making conversations with patients;

To carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews, and medicines reconciliation. Where required, utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively;

To assist in the delivery of medicines optimisation and management incentive schemes and patient safety audits;

To support, as determined by CPPCN, medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings and linking with local community pharmacists.

To provide specialist expertise, where competent, to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities;

To take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols and liaising with specialist pharmacists for more complex patients;

To support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing;

To support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings. This will be achieved through undertaking clinical audits (e.g. use of antibiotics), supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services;

About the organisation

The 5 practices within CPPCN enjoy a close working relationship under the leadership of our Clinical Director. The culture is friendly and teamwork is strong. We see good opportunities to collaborate to develop services to support our GP's and patients with pharmacy being at the forefront of our plans.

Person specification

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems (desirable) and Microsoft office packages (essential).
• Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Organised with an ability to work effectively on your own or in a team and , able to prioritise tasks in order to meet deadlines.
• A good communicator, both written and verbal.
• Well versed in data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Full driving licence and use of a car.

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional registration with GPhc.
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a qualified registered pharmacy technician in either primary care or in a community or hospital pharmacy.