Senior Clinical Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Senior Clinical pharmacist. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Leadership, Co-ordination and Administration Functions

Review all safety alerts ensuring the required actions are taken and ensure other clinical pharmacists undertake these duties in a timely fashion.

To provide subject matter expertise on medication monitoring, implementing and embedding a system

Undertake practice/ PCN and Federation level audits when agreed and supervise the completion of clinical audits by other clinical pharmacists.

Establish a robust mentoring programme for the PCN clinical pharmacist team, hold required meetings, offer clinical supervision and support in a documented and structured format to help others successfully complete CPPE training/ IP training.

To attend senior management meetings with the Federation Leads for Quality areas, help to deliver successful outcomes for all Practices within any such scheme

Work collaboratively with the Lead PCN Clinical Director

Liaise with colleagues in the ICB, Training Hub, Heads of Medicines management and Medicines optimisation teams

Undertake monthly clinical supervision of PCN Pharmacists (both Prescribing and Non-Prescribing) and Pharmacy Technicians

Schedule and lead clinical/tutorial meetings for the Pharmacy Team within the PCN

Encourage cost-effective prescribing within practices across the Town

Provide education on medicines for the clinical team

Review the latest guidance ensuring The Federation conforms to NICE, CQC etc.

Act as the PCNs point of contact for all medicines related matters, establishing positive working relationships

Produce pharmacy / prescribing newsletters or bulletins on a quarterly basis or devolve this to the clinical pharmacist team.

Lead clinical documentation and governance for COVID vaccine programme

Patient Facing Duties

Practice as an independent prescriber working within scope of practice.

To provide medication review services with patients by telephone calls, clinical records reviews, face to face reviews or during domiciliary visits, including structured medication reviews for patients resident in care home settings.

To reconcile medicines following patients discharge from hospital or clinic appointments, including de-prescribing

Carry out targeted medication reviews for high-risk patients

Review and implement safe prescribing systems for vulnerable patients and housebound patients, improving compliance

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the clinical pharmacist may be requested to:

To provide advice and support for patients with self-limiting conditions

Review medications for newly registered patients

Implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system and electronic repeat dispensing

To re-authorise medication for repeat prescribing within scope of practice

Identify patients suitable for repeat prescribing, liaising with the relevant clinicians as required

Support clinicians with the management of patients suffering from drug and alcohol dependencies

Actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional

Assist with QOF targets, including running LTC review clinics in individual or group settings

Administer influenza and any other required vaccines when requested to do so

To support with the requirements as outlines in the PCN DES, including but not limited to providing hours for Extended Access

Qualifications & Training for This Job:

NB: it is anticipated that the level of qualification held may vary according to the level of position and the components of the role being carried out

Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, with at least 1 year in general practice

Member of or working towards (through foundation) RPS Faculty membership

Holds a prescribing qualification

May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification

Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and long term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice

Behavioural Competencies & Skills for This Job:

Demonstrates general pharmaceutical skills and knowledge in core areas

Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general pharmaceutical care programmes for patients in core areas, including disease states / long term conditions identified by local Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision as an individual

Demonstrates ability to use 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 the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate

Is able to follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct

Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidance

Collaborative Working Relationships:

Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role in 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. ICBs)

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

Liaises with ICB pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation

Liaises with other Primary Care Networks, GP Practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients

Understanding of NHS 10 year plan with a particular focus on neighbourhood working

Leadership:

Demonstrates understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace

Demonstrates understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision

Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service

Reviews last years progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others

Demonstrates ability to motivate self to achieve goals

Demonstrate leadership of a team

Be part of a growing and learning culture

Management:

Demonstrates understanding of the implications of national priorities for the service

Demonstrates understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation

Demonstrates understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice

Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol

Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management

Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team

Education, Training & Development:

Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in service.

Demonstrate self-development through continuous professional development activity.

Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice.

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the commerical business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the company may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the company policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Self-Motivated
• Adaptable
• Full Driving Licence
• In date DBS

Desirable

• Up to date safeguarding adult and children level three training (will be an essential requirement of role)

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent)
• Completed CPPE course in Primary care pharmacy education pathway or equivalent experience
• Independent Prescribing qualification
• Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) which includes revalidation

Desirable

• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience

Essential

• Team Leader or programme lead experience
• Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience.
• An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practices.
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Can plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions.
• Good IT skills.
• 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.
• Gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/motivate/ persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/ agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers.
• Work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.
• Produce timely and informative reports.
• Experience of mentorship and clinical supervision of peers
• Strong sense of accountability and able to demonstrate this
• In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g., patients).

Desirable

• Extended training in heart failure

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).