Job responsibilities Castle Partnership Job Description Pharmacy Technician 1. JOB SUMMARY To provide specialist pharmaceutical technical services, professional advice and direct support to Practice GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, HCAs, and Reception/Administrative Staff. To liaise with patients, clinical and non-clinical staff, practice, hospital and community pharmacists and patient's carers to improve the pharmaceutical care of patients. To develop the role of the Practice Pharmacy Technician to maximise support to all Clinical and Non-clinical practice staff to improve patient care in relation to all aspects of medicines and their impact. To provide professional specialist medicines advice to GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Community Pharmacists, Community Nurses and other health professionals to promote the safe, effective and high-quality, cost-effective use of medicines in all prescribing decisions for the benefit of the Practice's patients. 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To act as a Technical Pharmacy Advisor to Practice Clinicians Undertake patient facing/supporting work to ensure effective medicines use through shared decision-making conversations. Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine management, supporting medication reviews and reconciliation. Provide specialist expertise to address the public health and social care needs of patients to help tackle local health inequalities. Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance, contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services. To advise Practice Management and other non-clinical staff concerning administrative aspects of medicines management as appropriate To manage repeat prescription requests, resolving queries where possible and producing prescriptions for clinical review and signature To address the following areas without the need to consult a GP/Clinical Pharmacist in each case (although clinical support and advice will always be available if required): Review dates following medication reviews Facilitate and document correct addition & removal of medications following receipt of a discharge summaries, secondary care and community clinic letters. Tidying repeat medication lists including synchronising durations and removing medications not ordered within a defined period Changing acute medications to repeat where appropriate. Co-ordinate medical device prescription requests, including requests for catheters, nutritional supplements/feeds and stoma care products. To work in conjunction with the nominated Clinicians who support Nursing/Care Homes in the area. Provide independent information to patients with regard to medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate To review practice stock management and develop systems to improve processes. Analyse Practice prescription data to produce reports as requested Participate in review and setting of policies relating to medicines management and prescribing Support and influence the Practice Clinical, Management and Administrative Teams to implement procedural and service changes relating to prescribing to ensure best practice is adopted in accordance with local guidelines, legislation, directives, and safety updates e.g., NICE, MRHA etc. 3. SUPERVISION RECEIVED The postholder will be operationally line managed by the Practice Pharmacists. 4. SUPERVISION EXERCISED The postholder has no day to day line management responsibility and does not directly manage any members of staff. However, they are responsible for mentoring and supervising the Prescription Clerks. 5. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Develop and maintain key working relationships with: Practice GPs, Practice Pharmacists, Practice Nurses, and HCAs Patients and Carers where appropriate Practice Management, Reception and other Administrative staff Secondary Care ICB Medicines Management Team Community Nurses and other allied health professionals Community Pharmacists and support staff PCN staff members