Job summary
Care Homes Pharmacist Rushcliffe PCN
Partners Health
The closing date is 18th October 2023
Interview Date is 9th November 2023
Job overview
If you are an innovative Pharmacist and would love the exciting
challenge of working as part of our continually developing patient-focused Care Home Team
within the Rushcliffe Primary Care Network, then this could be the job for you.
If you are an energetic and committed pharmacist with experience of or
an enthusiasm for working with care homes then we would love to hear from you.
You must be able to travel across the PCN locality for service delivery:
we work between the hours of 8am 6.30pm Monday to Friday. In return we offer
a friendly, supportive Multi-disciplinary working environment. We have a commitment to providing supervision, learning
and professional development for all staff together with a competitive salary
package and other benefits including NHS Pension, 30 days Annual Leave plus all
bank holidays and an employee assistance programme.
Main duties of the job
We are looking to recruit a Care Homes Pharmacist who will work within
our established Care Homes Clinical Team in Rushcliffe alongside our current Care
Home Pharmacists and Care Home clinicians. We are looking for a dynamic individual
who shares a passion for the delivery of care to older people living within a
care home setting. This innovative role will operate across Rushcliffe to
support the delivery of the National Care Home Direct Enhanced Service (DES),
providing specialist medicines advice to care homes and care homes residents,
supporting the delivery of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments and Structured
Medication Reviews for our care home population. We work closely with our PCN GP
colleagues, Community Geriatricians and the wider community MDT to support quality
outcomes for our care home residents.
The post holder will work across organisational boundaries, developing
new ways of working to promote relationships between providers and statutory
bodies and improve care for people living in long term residential and nursing
care. The post-holder will be an Independent Non Medical Prescriber and if you have
not already completed the CPPE pharmacists in general practice training pathway
we will support you in this during your first year of employment.
About us
Our Care Home Pharmacists are an integral part of our Care Home Team and have regular clinical contact with the residents of care homes within the Rushcliffe PCN. Partners Health are committed to supporting your ongoing professional development and all pharmacists are expected to undertake monthly clinical supervision with our GP pharmacy lead, in addition, our GP lead for care homes also provides monthly training to support clinical development.
About us
PartnersHealth LLP was formed on 2nd October 2015 by the GP Partners of
the General Practices in Rushcliffe in recognition and response to the changing
NHS landscape. It is constituted as a membership organisation, a partnership of
partnerships.
Our vision is to continue to care for our patients and our community by
creating a sustainable provider of modern general practice. We are committed to
Living Life Better for and on behalf of our patients, our colleagues and the
communities we serve.
A more exhaustive list of job responsibilities and the necessary skills,
experience and qualifications can be found in our Job Description and Person
Specification.
Please note you will need to meet the essential criteria as outlined in
the person specification to be considered for the role.
For an informal discussion please contact our
Care Home Clinical Team Lead Rebecca Goodband on 0115 8834230
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION: Rushcliffe PCN Care Home Pharmacist
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
- To lead and support the work of the Primary Care Network to ensure that all care home residents receive an annual Structured Medication Review as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric assessment
- To be the first point of contact for medicines related queries for care homes across Rushcliffe Primary Care Network.
- To improve medicines management in Nursing and Residential care homes, working in partnership with all appropriate agencies and staff
- To work with general practice and community pharmacy to develop efficient repeat prescribing / dispensing systems to support care home prescribing across the whole sector
- To support the development of quality initiatives that address identified prescribing and medicines management issues, including those that cross interfaces
- To support the implementation of medicines related elements of national policy declarations relating to care homes
- To support the care homes sector, including residential and nursing care and Housing with Care units, with medication review of patients as required
- To work with colleagues to establish and develop good medicines management systems across the care homes sector.
1 Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To assist the PCN care homes team and wider MDT with care home-related medication queries
- Work to introduce systems across providers in both primary and secondary care to ensure accurate medicines reconciliation for care home patients when moving across the interface
- Work with community pharmacy on the development of robust systems for the delivery of repeat and acute medication needs to care homes including appropriate use of repeat dispensing services
- Keep records of reviews and issues arising to identify trends. Feedback identified prescribing issues to support the care homes team in developing quality initiatives and action plans.
- Liaise as required with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to keep up to date with current guidance concerning medicines use in care homes. Identify any issues that may ensue and work to address them.
- Liaise with care home staff as necessary to ensure accurate exchange of information and clarification of queries regarding medicines to facilitate safe handling, storage, administration and destruction of medicines
- Respond efficiently to the unpredictable demands of the care home sector environment with regard to requests for assistance from staff and patients
- Liaise with personnel form NUH regarding admission and discharge of patients from and to their care home.
- Keep up to date with weekly news pertaining to prescribing and medicines issues and extract key information for dissemination to the primary healthcare team across the provider arm
- Work effectively and flexibly as part of the Care Homes Team
- Work effectively with the PCN pharmacy team across all practices within the PCN.
- Work on individual projects relating to prescribing as required, for example: development and delivery of training packages and development of Medicines Policy protocols, procedures and policies.
- To implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.
- To ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the residents and care home managers within Rushcliffe receive assistance in accessing health care interventions by signposting to the most appropriate person to provide care
- To participate in the weekly care home rounds and the MDT as appropriate
- Make recommendations regarding patient management in accordance with Local and National guidelines relating to the management of the older population.
- To assist in developing an evidence base for health needs led service planning, delivery and commissioning.
- Work with the Care Home Lead and GP leads in developing the strategic and operational management of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Service.
- To participate in the development and delivery of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service across Rushcliffe
- To establish and improve professional standards of care in the management of residents within care homes by developing partnerships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work effectively alerting any risks and benefits when developing services and practice in new areas.
- To undertake research and service development.
- Utilising and interpreting data, to support service improvement for care homes and primary care, as well as understanding the demands on urgent and emergency services to reduce avoidable activity where possible. Data and local intelligence will be utilised to develop and influence new ways of working to improve patient care, the resilience of primary care and system partners.
- The post holder will promote new ways of working promoting the use of digital technology, for example remote consultations and MS Teams MDTs
- The post holder will be required to evidence the impacts of the post and provide data monitoring to further shape the role and delivery of the Care Home DES within Rushcliffe
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and to participate in the review and appraisal process.
- To adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times.
- To reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision.
2 Professional/Clinical Responsibilities
- To make amendments to patient records, written and/or computer, as appropriate to ensure agreed changes to therapy are actioned in a precise and systematic fashion
- Develop appropriate systems for the assessment of improved medicines management including evaluation of cost savings, reduction of medication errors and reduction of hospital admissions
- Carry out clinical medication review for patients in care homes, other relevant facilities, and for other patients as appropriate. Assist staff in identifying those patients who would benefit from pharmaceutical intervention.
- Liaise and communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and/or carers, who on occasions may be resistant to change, on subjects which are often of a very sensitive nature, on all aspects of good medicines management with the objective of optimising patient outcomes
- Liaise with PCN, community and CCG pharmacists, community nurses, hospital pharmacists other healthcare staff and Social Care as required to ensure changes are implemented smoothly. Work with appropriate team members to facilitate seamless admission and discharge in respect of medicines
- Provide highly specialised medicines management support including prescribing information, advice and guidance to ensure effective, appropriate, cost-effective and safe prescribing to all prescribers, other healthcare professionals and support staff in the care homes sector including residential homes, nursing homes and Housing with Care facilities
- Assist prescribers in managing the implementation of NICE guidance and other local or national guidance and the introduction of new therapies
- Identify specific patient, or patient group, related prescribing problems or issues and to provide highly specialised advice, guidance and support on the appropriate course of action
- Formulate solutions to complex prescribing issues where conflicting opinions may exist
3 Collaborative Working Relationships
- Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care
- Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)
- Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality
- Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality
- Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships
- Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams
- Liaises with PCN colleagues including PCN Pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit
- Liaises with PCN pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION: Rushcliffe PCN Care Home Pharmacist
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
- To lead and support the work of the Primary Care Network to ensure that all care home residents receive an annual Structured Medication Review as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric assessment
- To be the first point of contact for medicines related queries for care homes across Rushcliffe Primary Care Network.
- To improve medicines management in Nursing and Residential care homes, working in partnership with all appropriate agencies and staff
- To work with general practice and community pharmacy to develop efficient repeat prescribing / dispensing systems to support care home prescribing across the whole sector
- To support the development of quality initiatives that address identified prescribing and medicines management issues, including those that cross interfaces
- To support the implementation of medicines related elements of national policy declarations relating to care homes
- To support the care homes sector, including residential and nursing care and Housing with Care units, with medication review of patients as required
- To work with colleagues to establish and develop good medicines management systems across the care homes sector.
1 Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To assist the PCN care homes team and wider MDT with care home-related medication queries
- Work to introduce systems across providers in both primary and secondary care to ensure accurate medicines reconciliation for care home patients when moving across the interface
- Work with community pharmacy on the development of robust systems for the delivery of repeat and acute medication needs to care homes including appropriate use of repeat dispensing services
- Keep records of reviews and issues arising to identify trends. Feedback identified prescribing issues to support the care homes team in developing quality initiatives and action plans.
- Liaise as required with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to keep up to date with current guidance concerning medicines use in care homes. Identify any issues that may ensue and work to address them.
- Liaise with care home staff as necessary to ensure accurate exchange of information and clarification of queries regarding medicines to facilitate safe handling, storage, administration and destruction of medicines
- Respond efficiently to the unpredictable demands of the care home sector environment with regard to requests for assistance from staff and patients
- Liaise with personnel form NUH regarding admission and discharge of patients from and to their care home.
- Keep up to date with weekly news pertaining to prescribing and medicines issues and extract key information for dissemination to the primary healthcare team across the provider arm
- Work effectively and flexibly as part of the Care Homes Team
- Work effectively with the PCN pharmacy team across all practices within the PCN.
- Work on individual projects relating to prescribing as required, for example: development and delivery of training packages and development of Medicines Policy protocols, procedures and policies.
- To implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.
- To ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the residents and care home managers within Rushcliffe receive assistance in accessing health care interventions by signposting to the most appropriate person to provide care
- To participate in the weekly care home rounds and the MDT as appropriate
- Make recommendations regarding patient management in accordance with Local and National guidelines relating to the management of the older population.
- To assist in developing an evidence base for health needs led service planning, delivery and commissioning.
- Work with the Care Home Lead and GP leads in developing the strategic and operational management of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Service.
- To participate in the development and delivery of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service across Rushcliffe
- To establish and improve professional standards of care in the management of residents within care homes by developing partnerships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work effectively alerting any risks and benefits when developing services and practice in new areas.
- To undertake research and service development.
- Utilising and interpreting data, to support service improvement for care homes and primary care, as well as understanding the demands on urgent and emergency services to reduce avoidable activity where possible. Data and local intelligence will be utilised to develop and influence new ways of working to improve patient care, the resilience of primary care and system partners.
- The post holder will promote new ways of working promoting the use of digital technology, for example remote consultations and MS Teams MDTs
- The post holder will be required to evidence the impacts of the post and provide data monitoring to further shape the role and delivery of the Care Home DES within Rushcliffe
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and to participate in the review and appraisal process.
- To adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times.
- To reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision.
2 Professional/Clinical Responsibilities
- To make amendments to patient records, written and/or computer, as appropriate to ensure agreed changes to therapy are actioned in a precise and systematic fashion
- Develop appropriate systems for the assessment of improved medicines management including evaluation of cost savings, reduction of medication errors and reduction of hospital admissions
- Carry out clinical medication review for patients in care homes, other relevant facilities, and for other patients as appropriate. Assist staff in identifying those patients who would benefit from pharmaceutical intervention.
- Liaise and communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and/or carers, who on occasions may be resistant to change, on subjects which are often of a very sensitive nature, on all aspects of good medicines management with the objective of optimising patient outcomes
- Liaise with PCN, community and CCG pharmacists, community nurses, hospital pharmacists other healthcare staff and Social Care as required to ensure changes are implemented smoothly. Work with appropriate team members to facilitate seamless admission and discharge in respect of medicines
- Provide highly specialised medicines management support including prescribing information, advice and guidance to ensure effective, appropriate, cost-effective and safe prescribing to all prescribers, other healthcare professionals and support staff in the care homes sector including residential homes, nursing homes and Housing with Care facilities
- Assist prescribers in managing the implementation of NICE guidance and other local or national guidance and the introduction of new therapies
- Identify specific patient, or patient group, related prescribing problems or issues and to provide highly specialised advice, guidance and support on the appropriate course of action
- Formulate solutions to complex prescribing issues where conflicting opinions may exist
3 Collaborative Working Relationships
- Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care
- Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)
- Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality
- Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality
- Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships
- Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams
- Liaises with PCN colleagues including PCN Pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit
- Liaises with PCN pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support
Person Specification
Other Job Requirements
Essential
- Enthusiasm for working with elderly people in Care Home settings
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
- Willingness to travel within locality
- Use of own vehicle to travel between GP practices, care homes and PCN offices
- Good attendance record
- Ability to be flexible and adjust to a changing health care environment
Qualifications
Essential
- Pharmacy degree (Masters Level or equivalent)
- Currently registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Independent Prescriber qualification
Desirable
- Completion of the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Understanding of evaluating and measuring prescribing performance.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Good computer skills to manipulate information and a knowledge of Microsoft powerpoint, excel and word
- A good understanding of the legal framework for prescribing and the national NHS medicines Quality agenda including QIPP, NICE, Medicines Act and Misuse of Drugs legislation
- Excellent written and spoken English
Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years post registration relevant experience
- Knowledge of current NHS policies/processes and structures relating to prescribing and medicines
- Knowledge of medicines management issues relating to primary care
- Experience in medicines in elderly care
- Experience of undertaking of medicine reviews and deprescribing
Person Specification
Other Job Requirements
Essential
- Enthusiasm for working with elderly people in Care Home settings
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
- Willingness to travel within locality
- Use of own vehicle to travel between GP practices, care homes and PCN offices
- Good attendance record
- Ability to be flexible and adjust to a changing health care environment
Qualifications
Essential
- Pharmacy degree (Masters Level or equivalent)
- Currently registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Independent Prescriber qualification
Desirable
- Completion of the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Understanding of evaluating and measuring prescribing performance.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Good computer skills to manipulate information and a knowledge of Microsoft powerpoint, excel and word
- A good understanding of the legal framework for prescribing and the national NHS medicines Quality agenda including QIPP, NICE, Medicines Act and Misuse of Drugs legislation
- Excellent written and spoken English
Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years post registration relevant experience
- Knowledge of current NHS policies/processes and structures relating to prescribing and medicines
- Knowledge of medicines management issues relating to primary care
- Experience in medicines in elderly care
- Experience of undertaking of medicine reviews and deprescribing
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 (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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 (opens in a new window).
