REPORTS TO: The Partners/Pharmacy Support (Clinically) | The Practice Manager (Administratively)
HOURS: 30-37
JOB SUMMARY
To support practice prescribing and practice clinical teams to ensure delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- To undertake medicines reconciliation in accordance with practice protocols and to update patients’ medical records / prescribing accordingly.
- To support the achievement of the practice’s prescribing Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.
- To provide advice to GPs, staff and patients in changes to prescribing to support the improvement of prescribing safety, quality and cost effectiveness.
- To participate in medication audits.
- To support the practice to provide medication reviews , patient information leaflets and medicine awareness.
- To take a proactive approach to the safe handling of prescriptions, including assessment of risk and making recommendations for improvement.
- To respond to medication queries from patients and staff in a professional manner referring to the appropriate GP in accordance with practice protocols.
- To advise on sourcing and safe management of medicines as appropriate.
- Responsibility for administration.
Other duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all the items in the following list:
- Taking messages and passing on information appropriate.
- Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.
- Initiating contact with the responding to request from patients, other team members and associated healthcare professionals and providers.
- Helping to maintain a positive, patient focussed culture.
- Helping to maintain a positive, supportive culture across the whole of the practice team.
- Any other duties commensurate with this position.
Patient Services - To communicate effectively with patients ensuring they understand why tests have been requested.
- To clearly communicate to clinicians that tests have been ordered to allow them to safely and confidential undertake medication reviews and prescription processing.
- To liaise with community pharmacy staff if any issues arise.
- To liaise with the PCN Pharmacist located in the Practice with any queries.
Responsibility for administration - To provide regular support and feedback to the Practice Manager/clinicians.
- To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practice’s clinical computer systems, including advice given and action taken.
- To inform clinicians of any changes made or any tests requested.
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 and work closely with the PCN Pharmacist located in the Practice.
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
- Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
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 follow Practice health and safety and infection control 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 (but will not be limited to):
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- Following procedures and protocols for correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
- Following protocols for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Following guidelines for hand hygiene.
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and informing nurse team leaders of anything which could compromise patient safety
- Following protocols and procedures to ensure safe disposal of sharps
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
- Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business
- Undertaking periodic infection control training
- Following protocols and procedures with regard to waste management
- Following spillage control procedures.
- Following decontamination control procedures.
- Maintenance of sterile environments
- 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 recognizes 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:
In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days 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
- Recognise 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.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. Qualifications
- NVQ3 Pharmacy services (or equivalent)
- Registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Evidence of CPD.
2. Experience
- Understanding of prescribing and Medicines Management issues
- Understanding of working effectively within multidisciplinary groups
- Post qualification experience
- NHS Primary Care
- EMIS clinical system.
- Microsoft Office software.
- Dealing with the public/patients.
3. Knowledge/Skills
- Good verbal and written communication
- Motivated and enthusiastic
- Able to respond to change and apply new developments without difficulty.
- Demonstrates resilience and an ability to cope under pressure commensurate with the responsibilities of the post.
- Good interpersonal skills, ability to make effective relationships with others.
- Excellent attention to detail
- Advanced numeracy skills.
- Excellent keyboard and computer skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
4. Qualities/Attributes
- An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
- Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
- Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team.
- Pleasant and articulate.
- Able to work under pressure.
- Able to work in a changing environment.
- Able to use own initiative.
- Ability to self-motivate, organise and prioritise own workload.
For further practice information please visit our website.
To apply for the vacancy please send covering letter and CV to Tracy James, Business Manager.