Pharmacy Technician or Dispenser

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Triage & Clinical Support Pharmacy Technician / Dispenser

Reports To: Lead Practice Clinical Pharmacist / Practice Manager

Location: General Practice / Primary Care Network Surgery

Clinical Systems: EMIS Web, Accurx Batch Messaging & Patient Triage, Docman 10

Pay Scale/Band: Depending on qualifications and experience

Hours: Full-time

Job Summary

The Triage & Clinical Support Pharmacy Technician/Dispenser plays a vital role in connecting the frontline Patient Services/Reception team with the clinical triage workflow. Working as a key bridge between care navigators and duty clinicians, you will lead the digital intake, initial assessment, and resolution of medication-related queries received via Accurx Patient Triage, EMIS Web, and internal reception requests.

This role requires a highly self-motivated individual who naturally uses their initiative to solve problems, streamline administrative bottlenecks, and support frontline staff. While you will be expected to work proactively, you will be fully supported with structured training, clinical mentorship, and clear practice protocols to safely expand your scope of practice.

Key Responsibilities1. Bridge Between Reception & Clinical Triage

Reception & Care Navigation Liaison: Act as the direct liaison for the reception/patient services team, taking verbal and written medication queries from the front desk and helping care navigators correctly route pharmacy requests.

Staff Up-skilling & Guidance: Provide informal guidance to reception staff on medication terminology, prescription turnaround expectations, and identifying urgent clinical warning signs (red flags) that need immediate escalation.

First-Contact Digital Triage: Act as the lead pharmacy contact monitoring incoming Accurx Patient Triage medication requests, online consultation forms, and internal EMIS tasks generated by reception.

2. Proactive Query Resolution & Workflow Management

Taking Initiative: Proactively review medication queues, identifying and resolving routine issues e.g., generic substitutions, stock shortages, dose alignment, and out-of-stock alternatives without needing step-by-step instruction for standard tasks.

Patient Communication: Utilize Accurx SMS, Florey questionnaires, and batch messaging to proactively message patients regarding prescription status, dose changes, or to request updated monitoring data e.g., BP readings, asthma reviews prior to issuing repeat prescriptions.

Structured Escalation: Accurately summarize complex clinical requests, append relevant EMIS consultation notes, and route task threads to Duty GPs or Clinical Pharmacists when clinical oversight is required.

3. EMIS Web & Prescription Support

EMIS Workflow Processing: Systematically process daily prescription requests, pharmacy tasks, and Electronic Prescription Service EPS queries directly within EMIS Web.

Transfer of Care Docman 10: Action discharge summaries and outpatient letters into EMIS Webreconciling medication changes, adding new items, discontinuing stopped medicines, and flagging discrepancies for clinical review.

High-Risk Drug Safety: Utilize EMIS protocol pop-ups to verify required blood monitoring e.g., DMARDs, DOACs, Lithium is up to date prior to issuing prescriptions.

Training, Support & Development

We invest in our team: While self-motivation and initiative are essential, you will not be expected to work in isolation.

Comprehensive Induction: Full initial training on practice-specific EMIS Web templates, Accurx workflows, and protocol-based decision-making.

Clinical Mentorship: Regular 1-to-1 supervision and ongoing support from our Lead Clinical Pharmacists and GP Triage Leads.

Professional Growth: Opportunities and financial support to undertake relevant training courses e.g., CPPE primary care pathways, care navigation, or clinical assessment modules.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RequirementEssentialDesirable
• Qualifications NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services / BTEC or equivalent dispensing qualification.
• Registration with the GPhC(Essential for Pharmacy Technician title. Enrolled in or completed the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway CP.

• Experience Minimum 2 years experience in a pharmacy setting General Practice, Community, or Hospita).
• Hands-on experience working with EMIS Web and Accurx SMS, Floreys, Patient Triag). Experience working within a GP reception or duty triage hub.
• Experience processing Docman 10 clinical documents.
• Key Mindset & Attributes Self-motivated & Proactive: Driven to take ownership of tasks and use initiative within standard operating procedures.
• Collaborative Team Player: Excellent interpersonal skills to build strong, supportive working relationships with receptionists and clinicians.
• Problem Solver: Ability to work calmly and methodically under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Understanding of general practice reception workflows and frontline triage challenges.
• Knowledge of local ICB prescribing formularies.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

Studholme Medical Centre

Address

50 Church Road

Ashford

Middlesex

TW15 2TU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.studholmemc.nhs.uk/