Job summary

A PCN Based in the Hull area is seeking to recruit a Clinical Pharmacist to develop & support medicines optimisation work across the 5 GP practices within their PCN.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Pharmacist to join a PCN in the Hull area. The successful applicant will work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a patient-facing role. The Clinical Pharmacist will take on responsibility for areas of chronic disease management, medication reviews, medicines optimisation and other PCN-led services such as enhanced health in care homes and will work proactively with other healthcare professionals across the PCN.

We are keen to hear from pharmacists of all backgrounds and level of experience, whether you have already completed or would like to complete the independent prescriber qualification. Part time/Full time/flexible working will be considered.

Main duties

The PCN Clinical Pharmacist will need to be committed to improving health and putting patients first. Key qualities will be the ability to build effective relationships with patients, GPs, nurses, community Pharmacists, hospital and practice staff, and to work effectively as part of a team.

The post holder will:

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role
• Support delivery of the new network Direct Enhanced Service (DES)
• Conduct structured medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Provide support for medicines optimisation
• Provide clinical medicines expertise to both patients and practice teams
• Improve prescribing in practices across the PCN
• Improve service and quality through mechanisms such as clinical audits
• Interface with community and hospital colleagues to help resolve medication-related issues
• Assist with delivery of enhanced health in care homes initiatives and any future initiatives with a pharmaceutical aspect.

It is a requirement of the role to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Primary care experience would be an advantage however is not essential. Flexibility, enthusiasm and good clinical knowledge are essential. Successful candidates will be supported in terms of clinical learning and professional development.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role
• Support, promote and implement high quality, evidence-based, cost-effective, and safe use of medicines
• Support delivery of the network Directly Enhanced Service (DES) specifications
• Conduct structured medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy across core member Practices
• Support the delivery of medicines optimisation across core member Practices
• Provide clinical medicines expertise to both patients and general practice teams
• Improve prescribing practices across the Primary Care Network
• Improve service and quality through mechanisms such as clinical audits
• Interface with community and hospital colleagues to help resolve medication-related issues
• Assist with delivery of enhanced health in care homes initiatives across the PCN.
• Work collaboratively with other pharmacy colleagues across the local healthcare community.
• Attend meetings, conferences and training events on behalf of the PCN and share learning with the wider PCN team

Clinical Duties

• Perform face to face medication reviews for patients with polypharmacy, in practice and in patients’ homes (including care homes).
• Through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care.
• Provide expertise in clinical medicines review and address public health and social needs of patients in GP practices.
• Discuss complex and sensitive information with patients during medication review including medical histories, lifestyles, and personal circumstances and to refer on to other services and professionals as appropriate.
• Improve patient and carer understanding of, confidence in and compliance with their medicines.
• Provide leadership on person-centred medicines optimisation and quality improvement whilst contributing to the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.
• Provide general practitioners with appropriate recommendations and actions plans following medication review clinics with patients to optimise the patient’s treatment with medicines and ensure appropriate follow up with patients.
• Record medication review plans, recommendations and outcomes on GP computer clinical systems and own clinical notes in accordance with practice procedures.
• 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 treatment plans and work with patients and other colleagues 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.
• Work in partnership with hospital clinicians to proactively manage patients at high risk of medicine-related problems before they are discharged to ensure continuity of care

Wider Duties

• As part of the multi-disciplinary team, attend relevant MDT Network 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
• Deliver training, mentoring and guidance to other clinicians and staff on medicine issues.
• Ensure that, within each practice you work, staff and clinicians are kept up to date regarding changes in national and local medicines guidance and legislation.
• Critically appraise clinical evidence and present information to prescribers via prescribing meetings and educational events, as required.
• Lead on medicines management governance arrangements to adhere to CQC standards, including assisting in developing policies and SOPs.
• Review repeat prescribing protocols and processes and support staff in their implementation
• Perform prescribing audits and direct/supervise the audit activity of others
• Facilitate good working relationships between practices and local community pharmacists.
• Develop an effective network and working relationship with individual practice GPs, practice staff, CCG medicines management colleagues, secondary care and other professionals.

Experience

Essential

Good critical appraisal skills

Experience of patient consultation

Experience of working with GPs

Desirable

Post- registration experience in primary, secondary or community pharmacy

Experience of clinical pharmacy

Qualifications

Essential

Degree in pharmacy or related subject

Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

Postgraduate diploma/MSc in Clinical or Community Pharmacy or equivalent

Non-medical prescriber registration

Advanced assessment and history taking skills, or be willing to enrol in a current training pathway to develop these

Knowledge

Essential

Good understanding of primary care structure and General Practice

Good clinical knowledge

Able to apply clinical knowledge appropriately in a variety of practice settings or patient groups

Desirable

Knowledge of GP clinical computer systems

Skills

Essential

Excellent communication skills written and verbal

Organisational skills

Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team

Computer literate including Microsoft office packages and web-based searching

Conducts oneself in a professional manner at all times

Be able to travel freely and travel between multiple sites on a daily basis

Enthusiastic and self-motivated

Flexible working approach

Able to work under pressure

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.