Job summary
We are looking to recruit a highly motivated Clinical Pharmacist working for Widnes Highfield Health - GP Federation and WA8 Collaborate Widnes PCN, you will work as part of an
integrated healthcare team, supporting GPs, nurses, and other healthcare
professionals to deliver high-quality, safe, and effective prescribing. You
will be responsible for medicines management, structured medication reviews
(SMRs), and improving patient outcomes through proactive, evidence-based
pharmaceutical care. You will also be a non-medical prescriber and
contribute to chronic disease management, supporting patients with polypharmacy
and deprescribing where appropriate.
We offer:-
Competitive salary and NHS pension contributions.
Funded
CPD opportunities.
Regular clinical supervision and peer support networks
The post will be for 30 hours per week, you will be expected to work one Saturday per month.
Main duties of the job
- Undertake Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), particularly for high-risk patients, those on multiple medications, or with long-term conditions.
- Support the management of long-term conditions through medication reviews and prescribing support.
- Act as a non-medical prescriber, working within scope of practice to initiate and manage appropriate treatments.
- Assist in the monitoring and management of high-risk medications, including DMARDs, anticoagulants, and controlled drugs.
- Provide expert pharmaceutical advice to GPs, nurses, and other clinicians regarding prescribing best practices and complex cases.
- Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship by promoting responsible antibiotic prescribing in line with national and local guidelines.
- Offer patient education and counselling on medicines use, adherence, side effects, and lifestyle modifications to support self-care.
- Participate in CQC compliance activities, ensuring medication safety and governance across practices.
- Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes; identify and rectify unexplained changes; manage changes by referral to the GP; perform clinical medication review.
- Perform prescribing audits and direct/supervise the audit activity of others
- To support the requirements outlined in the PCN DES, including but not limited to providing Extended Access
About us
Widnes Highfield Health head office is located on the site of a former maternity hospital in Widnes, Cheshire. The building has undergone extensive renovations to create a comfortable waiting area and clinic rooms with state for the art facilities. The setting gives us access to the latest technology, enabling accurate and timely assessment and sharing of results for our patients, forming a core part of the healthcare on offer in Halton.
The GP Federation is a provider of services - Widnes Highfield Health and Wellbeing Centre primary care Halton. The patient list size for our PCN is 68,000 over 8 practices these include Bevan Group Practice, Fir Park Medical Centre, Hough Green Health Park, Newtown Surgery, Oaks Place Surgery, Peel House Medical Plaza, The Beeches Medical Centre and Upton Rocks Surgery.
In the last 12 months we have been winners of 2 national awards, received a highly commendation award and was nominated for PCN of the year for the work we do to improve the standard of the care for the residents of Widnes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), particularly for high-risk patients, those on multiple medications, or with long-term conditions.
- Provide medicines optimisation support, ensuring safe, cost-effective, and evidence-based prescribing across the PCN.
- Support the management of long-term conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease through medication reviews and prescribing support.
- Act as a non-medical prescriber, working within scope of practice to initiate and manage appropriate treatments.
- Assist in the monitoring and management of high-risk medications, including DMARDs, anticoagulants, and controlled drugs.
- Provide expert pharmaceutical advice to GPs, nurses, and other clinicians regarding prescribing best practices and complex cases.
- Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship by promoting responsible antibiotic prescribing in line with national and local guidelines.
- Offer patient education and counselling on medicines use, adherence, side effects, and lifestyle modifications to support self-care.
- Participate in CQC compliance activities, ensuring medication safety and governance across practices.
- Improve patients and carer understanding of, confidence in and compliance of their own medicines
- Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes; identify and rectify unexplained changes; manage changes by referral to the GP; perform clinical medication review; support the production of post-discharge medicines care plans and work with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need
- Support the processing of complex repeat prescribing medication requests made by patients or other repeat prescribing queries
- With appropriate training monitor the effects of medication by checking clinical signs e.g. BP, pulse monitoring etc
- As part of the multi-disciplinary team, attend relevant MDT meetings, providing information and feedback
- Report medicines related incidents, contribute to investigations and root cause analyses as well as participating in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary case reviews.
- Review repeat prescribing protocols and process and support staff in the implementation
- Work collaboratively with other ARRS-funded roles, including pharmacy technicians, paramedics, and social prescribers, to enhance integrated care
- Contribute to the training and development of practice staff, including mentoring trainee pharmacists or pre-registration pharmacy technicians
- Engage in public health initiatives, such as smoking cessation, weight management, and vaccinations this includes administer of Flu, COVID and other vaccinations when required.
- Review all Safety Alerts and ensuring that the required actions are taken in a timely manner.
- To support with the requirements as outlined in the PCN DES, including but not limited to providing hours for the extended access service.
- Attend regular clinical supervision sessions and engage in peer learning within the PCN
- Ensure compliance with information governance, data protection (GDPR), and confidentiality regulations in all aspects of patient care
- Undertake Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in line with GPhC requirements, including mandatory training in safeguarding, infection control, and clinical governance.
- Stay up to date with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) regulations, and NHS England policies
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), particularly for high-risk patients, those on multiple medications, or with long-term conditions.
- Provide medicines optimisation support, ensuring safe, cost-effective, and evidence-based prescribing across the PCN.
- Support the management of long-term conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease through medication reviews and prescribing support.
- Act as a non-medical prescriber, working within scope of practice to initiate and manage appropriate treatments.
- Assist in the monitoring and management of high-risk medications, including DMARDs, anticoagulants, and controlled drugs.
- Provide expert pharmaceutical advice to GPs, nurses, and other clinicians regarding prescribing best practices and complex cases.
- Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship by promoting responsible antibiotic prescribing in line with national and local guidelines.
- Offer patient education and counselling on medicines use, adherence, side effects, and lifestyle modifications to support self-care.
- Participate in CQC compliance activities, ensuring medication safety and governance across practices.
- Improve patients and carer understanding of, confidence in and compliance of their own medicines
- Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes; identify and rectify unexplained changes; manage changes by referral to the GP; perform clinical medication review; support the production of post-discharge medicines care plans and work with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need
- Support the processing of complex repeat prescribing medication requests made by patients or other repeat prescribing queries
- With appropriate training monitor the effects of medication by checking clinical signs e.g. BP, pulse monitoring etc
- As part of the multi-disciplinary team, attend relevant MDT meetings, providing information and feedback
- Report medicines related incidents, contribute to investigations and root cause analyses as well as participating in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary case reviews.
- Review repeat prescribing protocols and process and support staff in the implementation
- Work collaboratively with other ARRS-funded roles, including pharmacy technicians, paramedics, and social prescribers, to enhance integrated care
- Contribute to the training and development of practice staff, including mentoring trainee pharmacists or pre-registration pharmacy technicians
- Engage in public health initiatives, such as smoking cessation, weight management, and vaccinations this includes administer of Flu, COVID and other vaccinations when required.
- Review all Safety Alerts and ensuring that the required actions are taken in a timely manner.
- To support with the requirements as outlined in the PCN DES, including but not limited to providing hours for the extended access service.
- Attend regular clinical supervision sessions and engage in peer learning within the PCN
- Ensure compliance with information governance, data protection (GDPR), and confidentiality regulations in all aspects of patient care
- Undertake Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in line with GPhC requirements, including mandatory training in safeguarding, infection control, and clinical governance.
- Stay up to date with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) regulations, and NHS England policies
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Self Motivated
- Adaptable
- Team Player
- Good IT skills
Additional Information
Essential
- Full clean driving licence
- In date DBS
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in primary care especially GP Practices
- Independent Prescribing qualification (IP) with experience managing chronic diseases.
- Experience leading quality improvement projects within primary care.
- Knowledge of local Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and their approach to medicines management.
- Previous involvement in education and training of healthcare professionals.
- Experience of using EMIS computer software
- Experience of working as part of multi - disciplinary team
Desirable
- Ability to engage effectively, gaining respect from a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, patients and the public and ensuring a two way communication within primary care network and GP Federation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or primary care pharmacy (or working towards one).
- Qualified Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP).
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Self Motivated
- Adaptable
- Team Player
- Good IT skills
Additional Information
Essential
- Full clean driving licence
- In date DBS
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in primary care especially GP Practices
- Independent Prescribing qualification (IP) with experience managing chronic diseases.
- Experience leading quality improvement projects within primary care.
- Knowledge of local Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and their approach to medicines management.
- Previous involvement in education and training of healthcare professionals.
- Experience of using EMIS computer software
- Experience of working as part of multi - disciplinary team
Desirable
- Ability to engage effectively, gaining respect from a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, patients and the public and ensuring a two way communication within primary care network and GP Federation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or primary care pharmacy (or working towards one).
- Qualified Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP).
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Widnes Highfield Health
Address
Highfield Hospital
Highfield Road
Widnes
Cheshire
WA8 7DJ