Clinical Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

The postholder will work as part of the PCN Multi-disciplinary Teams to provide the following;

• Clinical leadership on medicines optimisation, medicines safety and quality improvement including responding to alerts (MHRA/CAS) and recording actions
• Assisting senior team members in identifying areas for improvement using data from suitable clinical systems and conducting quality improvement projects, either in collaboration with team members or independently.
• Support practices with relevant aspects of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and PCN Network Contract DES/IIF
• Managing medication related queries from both patients and colleagues. Finding solutions to problems and following up with patients or team members as needed.
• Ensuring medicines reconciliation following discharge from other healthcare settings is completed accurately and address any queries or unclear information. Liaising with patients and community pharmacy to facilitate timely supply of medication
• Improving prescription processes and workflow(for example repeat dispensing)
• Undertaking clinical medication reviews to support patients most in need e.g frail patients, those with complex polypharmacy or those on high risk medications or with co-morbidities, taking care to minimise waste and deprescribe where needed.
• Work alongside primary care colleagues to implement improvements in the management of long term conditions and run clinics independently if/when this is within scope of competence.
• Supporting and mentoring other team members eg technicians or prescription clerks and engaging in shared learning and best practice.
• If not yet completed, the postholder must be willing to complete the mandatory 18 month CPPE Primary Care Pharmacists Education Pathway which includes work time release for study days/webinars/tutorials, support from a clinical supervisor and tutor and self-study in own time.
• The postholder will communicate frequently with community and hospital pharmacy to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, to help manage workflow and ensure better access to healthcare e.g promoting use of CPCS and NMS services
• Patient interaction is key to this role, therefore strong communication skills are crucial both for over-the-phone and face-to-face consultations.
• The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and collaboration with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• The successful candidate will need the ability to adapt to change and take on new challenges as they arise within the sector.

General

The postholder will: Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The postholder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GP Federation and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post. Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candor are observed and upheld in all working practices. The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguarding protection policies and procedures. Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control 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 peoples 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: The post-holder will participate in appropriate training programmes implemented by the practice as part of this employment, with 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 (CPD)

Other

Essential

• Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Self-Motivated.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Adaptable.
• In date DBS.
• Immunisation status.
• Full Driving Licence

Desirable

• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
• A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
• Safeguarding adult and children level three.
• Information Governance toolkit completion.
• Basic life support training.

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent).
• Completed or willingness to complete the 18 month Primary Care pathway training.
• Independent prescriber or working towards/intention of gaining an independent prescribing qualification.

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate diploma level or training/experience.

Experience

Essential

• Able to provide evidence of in-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence based healthcare.
• Understanding and knowledge of local formularies, reliable information sources and local and national guidance
• An understanding of the nature of GPs, general practices and their teams.
• Able to show appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving safety and quality of prescribing.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Can demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients).
• Experience with clinical IT systems
• Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information.
• Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Produce timely and informative reports.
• Is able to gain understanding for recommendations and
• influence/ motivate/ persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations or agreed course of action using appropriate evidence sources and reasoning where appropriate.
• Work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.

Desirable

• Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions.

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).