Job summary
As a Lead Pharmacist, the post-holder will take a proactive role in
managing acute and repeat prescriptions, medicines reconciliation
post-discharge, and addressing complex medication-related queries. They will
also support care homes, run clinics (both face-to-face), contribute to quality
improvement initiatives, and ensure safer prescribing systems. The role
includes providing clinical leadership in medicines optimisation and enhancing
integration between primary care, community, and hospital pharmacy services to
improve patient outcomes and reduce workload pressures.
The post-holder will work as an integral part of the PCN
multi-disciplinary team, providing advanced clinical support across practices
and working closely with the PCN Pharmacy Team, Pharmacy Technicians, and
general practice staff. This role focuses on medicines optimisation, improving
prescribing safety, and delivering high-quality structured medication reviews,
particularly for patients with complex polypharmacy, those in care homes, and
individuals with multiple long-term conditions.
The post-holder will have managerial responsibilities for both
professional development and line management of the Pharmacy team, and ensure
compliance with DES requirements and other relevant contractual obligations.
Main duties of the job
Lead on acute and repeat prescription management, ensuring safe,
effective prescribing processes.
Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with polypharmacy,
long-term conditions, and complex clinical needs.
Carry out medicines reconciliation following discharge from hospital,
care homes, or intermediate care.
Run patient-facing clinics for long-term conditions and medicines
optimisation.
Support care homes by improving medicines management, safety, and
administration processes.
Respond to complex medication-related queries from clinicians, staff,
community pharmacists, and patients.
Monitor and action prescribing safety alerts, formulary updates, and
high-risk medicine reviews.
Lead and contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement projects,
and prescribing data analysis.
Develop and implement local prescribing policies and repeat prescribing
systems.
Support CQC compliance relating to medicines governance and safety.
Deliver training and education to practice teams on therapeutics and
prescribing safety.
Promote integration between primary care, community pharmacy, and
secondary care services.
Contribute to service development, pathway implementation, and public
health initiatives.
Ensure effective signposting and referral to appropriate clinicians or
services.
for further queries please contact Maria on the given email address.
About us
Taunton Deane West
Primary Care Network is an NHS collaboration between 2 GP Practices -
Wellington Medical Centre and Lister House Partnership. Our surgery teams are
working closely with each other, enjoying the ability to share expertise and
resources, to develop new services. As an approved PCN Learning Organisation
there is a focus on creating a learning culture and enabling both learners and
educators to thrive.
Our vision is to
continue to improve the quality of care that we provide in alignment with the
need of our patient population. Because we are part of a PCN, we are able to
take advantage of additional staff roles that are now available to support all
of our patients. These additional roles help us to provide the right care at
the right time, from the right professional.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached the Lead Pharmacist Job description and person specification for a full breakdown of duties.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached the Lead Pharmacist Job description and person specification for a full breakdown of duties.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Registration
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)
- Independent prescribing qualificationSpecialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
- Completed or working towards a Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway qualification
Desirable
- Independent prescribing qualificationSpecialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
- Completed or working towards a Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway qualification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
Desirable
- 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
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- 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
- Is able to plan, 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
- Produce timely and informative reports
- 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
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Registration
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)
- Independent prescribing qualificationSpecialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
- Completed or working towards a Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway qualification
Desirable
- Independent prescribing qualificationSpecialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
- Completed or working towards a Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway qualification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
Desirable
- 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
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- 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
- Is able to plan, 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
- Produce timely and informative reports
- 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
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).
