Clinical Pharmacist Frailty Pilot Service Newcastle Central PCN

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

Newcastle Central PCN is excited to launch a frailty-focused pilot service and we are seeking a Clinical Pharmacist with a special interest in frailty and holistic care to help shape and deliver this innovative approach. This is a new opportunity to work directly with frail and complex patients in a proactive, person-centred model of care.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering structured medication reviews and optimisation strategies, supporting safer prescribing, reducing medication-related harm, and improving outcomes for frail patients across our PCN.

Main Duties of the Job

Conduct comprehensive medication reviews for frail, polypharmacy, and housebound patientsat home or in care settings.

Participate in frailty-focused MDTs to develop personalised care plans, including deprescribing where appropriate.

Reconcile medicines after discharge and clinical interventions, ensuring seamless care transitions.

Provide expert pharmaceutical advice and support in frailty-related areas (e.g. cognitive impairment, falls, multimorbidity), include changing formulations of medications and/or advising carers on how to administer medications.

Identify patients at risk from medicines and develop risk mitigation plans in collaboration with the wider team.

Liaise effectively with GPs, care coordinators, care home staff, community pharmacy, and families/carers.

Contribute to the evaluation and continuous improvement of the frailty pilot service.

Support education and training of staff and patients on medicines use in frailty.

Lead on prescribing systems and repeat prescribing policy improvements tailored for frail individuals.

Ensure compliance with local formulary and contribute to cost-effective prescribing strategies.

About Us

Newcastle Central PCN is made up of 6 practices, caring for around 40,000 patients across Newcastle-under-Lyme. Our PCN team includes care coordinators, pharmacy technicians, a social prescriber, dietician, mental health practitioners, and paramedics.

We are proud of our collaborative approach, strong leadership, and culture of innovation. This pilot frailty service reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, integrated care to some of our most vulnerable patients.

Youll be supported by an experienced team, with flexibility, peer support, and a real opportunity to make a difference.

Job Description

Core Clinical Responsibilities:

Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), especially for frail and complex patients.

Medicines reconciliation post-discharge and after outpatient visits.

Support Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) through clinical reviews and medication optimisation.

Answer clinical and prescribing queries from the team and patients.

Review NICE and local guidelines to promote safe, effective, evidence-based care.

Work on repeat prescribing systems and cost-effective prescribing.

Contribute to QOF, IIF, and other PCN quality initiatives.

Education and Leadership:

Deliver internal training to clinicians on prescribing and frailty-related medicines use.

Participate in audit and service evaluation.

Engage with community and hospital pharmacy services to improve care pathways.

Collaboration and Communication:

Act as key link between PCN, care homes, secondary care, and community services.

Support communication with carers, patients, and families around medication and frailty care plans.

Provide advice on self-limiting conditions where appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years post-registration experience
• Interest or experience in frailty, care of older people, or polypharmacy
• Understanding of evidence-based prescribing in primary care

Desirable

• Experience working in primary care, care homes, or community health settings

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in Pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Desirable

• Independent Prescribing qualification (or working towards)
• Postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience
• CPPE Pathway enrolment or completion (Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice)

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent clinical judgement and decision-making
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team
• Organised, self-motivated, and adaptable
• Able to manage sensitive information and support shared decision-making

Other

Essential

• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle (domiciliary visits may be required)
• Willingness to undertake further training in frailty or older peoples care
• Commitment to continuous professional development and NHS values

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

North Staffordshire GP Federation

Address

Newcastle Central PCN

And all practices within

ST1 6RS

Employer's website

http://www.nsgpf.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)