DEAL & SANDWICH PCN CLINICAL PHARMACIST

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas. They will be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme).

Patient facing clinics and medication reviews

The post holder will manage their own case load and operate long-term condition clinics and medication reviews to implement improvements to patients medicines, including reviewing the on-going need for each medicine, implementing own prescribing changes (as an independent prescriber), ordering relevant monitoring tests and supporting patients with their medicines taking, ensuring they get the best use of their medicines, reduce waste and promote self-care.

Prescription and medication queries

The post holder will provide primary support to patients and general practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. Duties may include providing patient facing clinics and telephone support for patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines, providing follow up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes, supporting repeat prescription systems, dealing with acute prescription requests, medicines reconciliation on transfer of care and systems for safer prescribing, providing expertise in clinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs of patients.

Cross organisational working

The post holder will ensure the practice integrates with community and hospital pharmacy to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage workload. This will include signposting to other services and/or healthcare professionals where appropriate, while working within a scope of practice and limits of competency. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and passion to deliver excellent service within general practice.

Clinical Audit

The post holder will improve the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education to improve performance against NICE standards, and clinical and prescribing guidance. The post holder will undertake activities in medicines optimisation, quality improvement and aid achievement of some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services. This will include conducting clinical audits, participating in improvement projects, analysing, interpreting and presenting medicines data to highlight issues and risks to support decision-making, providing leadership on suggested changes and contributing to national and local research initiatives.

Key responsibilities

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

Recognise the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Delivering a quality service

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality, including participating in shared learning across the practice, PCN and wider organisation. Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning.

Managing information

Use technology, read codes and appropriate software as an aid to planning, implementing and monitoring care, communicating information and reviewing and processing data for audit purposes.

Learning and development

Take responsibility for own learning and performance through continuous professional development, including participating in clinical supervision, acting as a positive role model and assessing own learning needs.

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.

Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g. courses and conferences).

Equality and diversity

Support the equality and diversity of patients, carers and colleagues by recognising the importance of peoples rights and interpreting them in a way that is consistent with policy, procedures and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues by behaving in a manner which is welcoming, non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Professional development

Participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own professional development

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, access regular supervision and take an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities of the post.

Miscellaneous

Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

This job description is not meant to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post. The post holder would be expected to undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as agreed with the practice or PCN.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent)
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Undertaking / qualified from / intention of achieving an approved training pathway, e.g. CPPE Clinical Pharmacist training pathway

Desirable

• Independent prescriber or working towards / intention of gaining independent prescribing qualification
• Specialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understands and acts in line with GPhC professional standards for practice
• Good IT skills including ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients, relatives / carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines

Desirable

• Knowledge of primary care networks and collaborative ways of working

Experience

Essential

• At least two years post registration working in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Experience/ awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice
• Able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general pharmaceutical care programmes for patients across core areas, including disease states-long term conditions
• Experience of working under own direction in a patient focused environment
• Uses skills in a range of routine situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options
• Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
• Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines

Desirable

• Experience of working within a primary care environment
• Experience of EMIS

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Deal & Sandwich Primary Care Network

Address

24 Marine Road

Walmer

Deal

Kent

CT14 7DN

Employer's website

https://cedarssurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)