Job Description

This is a new role for a Pharmacy Technician to work for Cestria Health Centre. The role is to support the Practice based Clinical Pharmacists to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and support all Practice staff to develop and improve processes. Innovative ideas are welcomed, and excellent communication skills, enthusiasm and motivation are essential skills for a successful candidate. A key part of the role will be dealing with daily medication requests and queries, and communicating with patients and Community Pharmacies.
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 Practices in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
Main duties of the job
Manage incoming medication requests
Liaise with patients to resolve queries and support their use of medication
Contribute towards improvement of prescribing processes in general practice
Promotion of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering
Carry out housekeeping whilst in patient records e.g. dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
Use and maintain information systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, medicines optimisation, prescribing data, cost savings and patient outcomes
To utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits
To undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice
Support the role of the Clinical Pharmacist on the delivery of the new Primary Care Networks specification model
Where applicable, contribute/participate in practice meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of pharmacy technician and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation
To be responsible for the organisation and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines
To undertake learning and development to maintain the required knowledge and skills for practice based work
To 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
About us
We are a long-established practice based in the small market town of Chester le Street. We have a growing patient population, currently 12,700. We have a sister practice in Coxhoe with 7,100 patients. Cross-Site PCN working may be required. We have our own car park and staff kitchen and common room. There are 8 GP partners and several salaried doctors and Nurse Practitioners. Our organisation employs around 50 people and our Partner-Practice Manager is Denise Minnis. We look forward to welcoming you to the team!
Date posted
04 May 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
Depending on experience
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
A5383-25-0008
Job locations
Cestria Health Centre
Whitehill Way
Chester-le-Street
DH2 3DJ
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage incoming medication requests, e.g. from Patients, Pharmacies, Care Homes etc.
Assisting the Practice admin team/s with medication queries.
Liaise with patients to resolve queries and support their use of medication
Contribute towards improvement of prescribing processes in general practice
Promotion of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering
Carry out housekeeping whilst in patient records e.g. dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
Use and maintain information systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, medicines optimisation, prescribing data, cost savings and patient outcomes
Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act; Caldicott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct
To utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits
To undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice
Support the role of the Clinical Pharmacist on the delivery of the new Primary Care Networks specification model
Where applicable, contribute/participate in practice meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of pharmacy technician and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation
To be responsible for the organisation and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines
To undertake learning and development to maintain the required knowledge and skills for practice based work
To 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 Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage incoming medication requests, e.g. from Patients, Pharmacies, Care Homes etc.
Assisting the Practice admin team/s with medication queries.
Liaise with patients to resolve queries and support their use of medication
Contribute towards improvement of prescribing processes in general practice
Promotion of electronic repeat dispensing and online ordering
Carry out housekeeping whilst in patient records e.g. dose optimisation and medicines synchronisation
Use and maintain information systems and databases relevant to the position including incident reporting, medicines optimisation, prescribing data, cost savings and patient outcomes
Handle function specific information, which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act; Caldicott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct
To utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits
To undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice
Support the role of the Clinical Pharmacist on the delivery of the new Primary Care Networks specification model
Where applicable, contribute/participate in practice meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of pharmacy technician and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation
To be responsible for the organisation and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines
To undertake learning and development to maintain the required knowledge and skills for practice based work
To 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
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Professional registration with GPhC
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges

• Postgraduate qualifications of a relevant nature. e.g. FdSc in Medicines Management/Pharmacy Services; BTEC Therapeutics

• An appreciation of the NHS agenda and government targets
• Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the Practice(s)
• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation
• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues

• Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of general practice and evidence-based medicine
• Knowledge/understanding of Primary care and/or General Practice

• Professional registration with GPhC
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges

• Postgraduate qualifications of a relevant nature. e.g. FdSc in Medicines Management/Pharmacy Services; BTEC Therapeutics

• An appreciation of the NHS agenda and government targets
• Awareness of systems to support management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the Practice(s)
• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge including terminology
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics and current legislation
• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues

• Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of general practice and evidence-based medicine
• Knowledge/understanding of Primary care and/or General Practice