Job Description

Lancaster Medical Practice is a large, at-scale, GP provider delivering General Medical Services to around 68,000 patients in Lancaster and surrounding villages. Formed in April 2017 from our successful, legacy practices, Lancaster Medical Practice has continued to evolve to become the strong, high performing Practice it is today, receiving a rating of 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission in August 2018.

We deliver our services from eight locations throughout the city of Lancaster and its surrounding area and are continuing to develop ourselves to improve what we do for our patients, staff and the local community. We are a progressive, modern organisation with patient-centred General Practice at our core. When joining #teamlmp you are joining an organisation with a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical roles but who all work together to provide the best care we can to our patients.

LMP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All staff are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment and will be responsible for safeguarding the interests of children and adults who they come into contact during their work.

Please be aware that in the event that we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the post before the closing date.

Please note, we are unable to support candidates requiring a skilled worker visa for this post as the Practice is only able to support clinical posts at this time.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Pharmacy Technician

Accountable to:

Lead Pharmacist

Key Relationships:

Lead Pharmacists, Pharmacists, Medicines Co-Ordinators, Patient Services

Job Summary:

To provide technical assistance, as part of the Medicines Management Team, working across Lancaster Medical Practice to implement and maintain high-quality, cost-effective changes in prescribing patterns and trends and reducing medicine related risk to patients.

To undertake prescribing audits and support the development of repeat prescribing systems within Lancaster Medical Practice as directed by the Practice Pharmacists/Partners.

Key Duties/Responsibilities

Responsibility for Patient Care

Carry out work to identify patients suitable for medication changes in line with the Medicines Management Strategy and subsequently make those changes with the agreement of the GP, e.g. dose optimisation, generic switching. Assess prescribing data using practice clinical computer systems and patient records, highlight any recommendations and implement changes if required, to ensure patient's medication records are up to date. Liaise with patients, practice staff, GPs, care home staff and Community Pharmacists in all aspects of medication reviews. Support medication reviews. Work to gather information to support the Practice Pharmacist/Doctor/Nurse carrying out medication reviews or clinical audits. Responsible for identifying medication errors/queries and reporting to the Practice Pharmacist or GP for verification before actioning. Work in a professional manner, complying with confidentiality and data protection policies. Responsible for informing patients of any changes to their medication e.g. designing and sending patient letters. To provide information and answer technical medicine management queries from healthcare professionals and members of the public.

Responsibilities for Human Resources

Provide training for practice staff on repeat prescribing systems and help develop repeat prescribing protocols. Assist in development of other team members.

Responsibilities for Physical and Financial Resources

Provide prescribing information necessary to monitor the prescribing budget by using the EPACT.net system. Identify potential issues/areas, which require work to achieve maximum cost or clinical effectiveness in prescribing.

Communication and Leadership

Prepare reports, deliver feedback and implement changes or training after audit, to a range of health care staff. Assist on projects to implement Medicines Management Strategy aimed at GPs, practice staff, nurses, community pharmacists and the public. Effectively communicate information directly to the public on appropriate use of medicines either verbally e.g. campaign events, medication reviews, or in writing e.g. letters to patients about changes to medication in line with audit outcomes, patient information leaflets/posters. Assist the Practice Pharmacists with the preparation of reports and deliver feedback to the CCG Prescribing Subgroup and CCG management teams on prescribing trends and the work of the prescribing team. Assist in the designing and producing two monthly newsletters for GPs, community nurses, non-medical prescribers and community pharmacists containing prescribing and drug information. Produce and distribute practice support material to assist in implementing the Medicines Management Strategy. To develop relationships with GPs/Practice Managers and other practice staff including negotiating with GPs to allow work to be undertaken within practices. Communicate with practice staff to implement/improve repeat prescribing within primary care. Provide assistance and advice to multidisciplinary team members, in conjunction with the IT team, on prescribing systems within the two practices.

Policy and Service Development

To contribute towards specific medicines management topics within Lancaster Medical Practice or across the primary/secondary care interface. To contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that all work undertaken in Practice meets these and ultimately Clinical Governance standards.
P

lanning and Organising

Plan and co-ordinate own prescribing support work to deliver effective medicines management within the Practice. Provide planned and dedicated support to the Practice. Implement training and education in response to individual practice needs.

Partnership Working

Work with Community Pharmacists and other staff in the primary health care team across North Lancashire CCG to improve/develop appropriate prescribing.

Analysis and Data Management

Monitor activity and report progress on GP Practice medicines management initiatives relating to national and CCG prescribing targets. Analyse audit data and produce practice reports in conjunction with the locality Pharmacists and present the findings to the practice in a suitable format. Monitor prescribing of medication through clinical audit, EPACT.net and other prescribing reports. Produce prescribing reports to feedback to the Practice.

Research, Development and Audit

To perform clinical audits within the Practice to help them achieve prescribing incentive scheme targets and quality targets. Audit prescribing against protocols and procedures and make recommendations for review, in line with the Medicines Management Strategy. Audit the implementation of clinical guidance (national and local). Implement audit findings.

Freedom to Act

Use own initiative to prioritise workload and action findings. Accountable for own continuing professional development. Work unsupervised.

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 , 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, to 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. Reporting potential risks identified. Act as Chaperone when requested by clinician and in accordance with the Chaperone policy.

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 the Practice policies and procedures, and current legislation. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to 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 their own personal and/or professional development. Taking responsibility for their 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.

Safeguarding:

LMP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment. You will be responsible for safeguarding the interests of children and adults who you come into contact during your work. To fulfil these duties, you will be required to attend training and development to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse or individuals at risk, to follow local and national policy relating to safeguarding practice and to report and act on concerns you may have appropriately.

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. Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Infection Control:

Adhere to the Practice's infection control policies. Undertake regular infection control training, as required. Raise any infection control concerns to the infection control lead. Participate in any infection control audits, as required.

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.
The job description and person specification are an outline of the main tasks, responsibilities and requirements of the role. The post holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager commensurate with the band of the post. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on-going basis in accordance with the changing needs of the LMP.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

POST TITLE: Pharmacy Technician

Please refer to this document carefully when completing your application form and preparing for your interview. You must demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria on your application form.

Qualifications (essential)

Pharmacy technician - NVQ Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent

Registration with GPhC

Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

Experience working as a pharmacy technician in hospital or community.

Desirable

Experience of working in primary care

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of current medicines management issues

Basic knowledge of role of CCG in provision of health care

Understanding of audit

Understanding of clinical governance

Desirable

Good knowledge of therapeutics

Personal

Essential

Ability to work independently or as part of a team

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines

Ability to influence change

IT literate

Self motivated

Neat and professional appearance

Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010*

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From 15.02 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

Company pension
Work Location: In person