Job summary
Are you dynamic and pro-active? Are you able to deliver safe, quality, and cost-effective
pharmacy services, and develop medicines optimisation services to improve patient outcomes? If that sounds like you come and be part of our integrated pharmacy team!
West Wakefield Primary Care Network are looking for a proactive pharmacist to join our multi-disciplinary team in a role that will mix service development work with a patient-facing role.
We are looking for you to join our team to help enable the Primary Care Network, working alongside the wider clinical and administrative team, to deliver safe, effective and efficient systems for repeat prescribing, medicines optimisation, reducing medicines waste and maximising patient outcomes.
We have a diverse team delivering excellent patient care. Our team comprises Care Co-ordinators, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Social Prescribing Link Workers, Nurse Associates, Paramedics, and Occupational Therapists.
You would be employed by Conexus Healthcare Limited, the confederation for Wakefield.
Main duties of the job
You will be working alongside a great team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in general practice so you will need to be able to work collaboratively across the existing team. In this role you will be supported by a senior clinical pharmacist and GP who will develop and mentor you.
You will provide support to GP staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. You should help support the repeat prescription system, deal with acute prescription requests, process medicine reconciliations for safer prescribing and provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation, structured medication reviews, and care home medication reviews.
While we try and assign each pharmacist to one or two practices, we would expect the Clinical Pharmacist to work across the Network (at any of the 5 practices and care homes) when required. The diverse demographics of all 5 Practices will provide a variety of work for you. We are keen to support your growth and development in line with your interests.
Current registration and relevant qualifications are essential.
The role is ideal for you as a forward-thinking, innovative and enthusiastic clinical pharmacist who is keen to deliver the ethos of the network.
The successful candidate will be required to enrol on the CPPE primary care pathway which will be fully funded or we may apply for an exemption if you are suitably qualified
Please read the attached person specification and job description for further information.
About us
West
Wakefield is a Primary Care Network of 5 practices; we are a network of
forward-thinking General Practices covering circa 68,000 patients in the West
Wakefield area.
Conexus
Healthcare Limited is the Confederation for general practice in Wakefield, we
have four areas of work.
1.Delivery of high-quality public-facing Health and
Wellbeing services across the Wakefield District:We develop, manage
and deliver health and care services that support the population of the whole
Wakefield district
2.Delivery of Training, Development and Consultancy
support across the United Kingdom:We design and deliver a range of training courses,
development activity and provide advice and guidance.
3.Supporting Our Practices and Primary Care Networks
(PCNs):We support general practices and PCNs across the Wakefield
district to be more resilient, sustainable and deliver better patient care.
4.Providing a voice and influence for General Practice in
the Health and Care System:We provide a forum to develop a unified voice for General
Practice and support general practices to cooperate and work collaboratively.
Built
within primary care, for primary care, Conexus Healthcare Limited works with
local GPs and their practices to champion investment in and deliver effective
primary care at scale.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role of Clinical Pharmacists in primary care is changing rapidly and will support our ambition to pro-actively help patients stay safe and well, and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.
The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost effective and best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder through a partnership approach with the Primary Care Network and its associated practices will help patients to get the best from their medicines by proactively identifying unmet pharmaceutical need using risk stratification tools, provision of predominantly level 3 medication reviews, supporting self-care, minimising clinical risk, answering complex medicines queries and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
In addition the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and with other stakeholders, and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the Primary Care Network in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
The post holder will be undertaking structured medication reviews, improving medicine optimisation and safety, supporting care homes, as well as running practice clinics, as set out in the national service specification structured medication reviews in the GP contract.
As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will also provide peer support to other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the Primary Care Network.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Lead at PCN level on the delivery of care model
Report on key performance indicators to demonstrate added value for patients and general practice in accordance with NICE guidance
Utilise a polypharmacy approach in line with the principles of medicines optimisation
Utilise risk stratification methods to identify patients at risk and review medications including long term condition and chronic disease patients
Undertake level 3 structured medication reviews to support improved patient outcomes including:
- increased medication adherence,
- stopping medications that are causing harm,
- preventing avoidable hospital admissions
- starting medications where there is unmet needs
- Highlight and review the following patient demographics:
- Patients with anticholinergic burden score 6 or more
- Patients on 8 or more unique repeat medicines
- complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly,
- People in care homes,
- Multiple comorbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma)
- People with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme).
Accurate and consistent recording and monitoring of data including incident reporting, prescribing data and patient outcomes Work in partnership with GP practices and the CCG
Participate in practice meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation.
Liaise with other pharmacy stakeholders e.g. Medicines Optimisation team, community pharmacy, Connecting Care Pharmacy and hospital pharmacy teams.
Support the Medicines Optimisation team in the delivery of the Medicines
Handle function specific information which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act; Caldecott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct
Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines
Utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits e.g. SystmOne
Undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits in order to facilitate improvement and changes in practice
As instructed by the CCG Medicines Safety Officer, ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result
Regular monitoring of prescribing expenditure at individual practice level and propose changes to ensure containment within identified resource
Undertake training and development, to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice based work
Carry out other duties which are appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as the priorities of the service change
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GP practices, CCG staff and other healthcare professionals/stakeholders across the interface
Provide clinical and professional support to GPs and members of the primary healthcare team
Provide direct support and advice to GP practices and health professionals to promote and implement high quality prescribing to the benefit of patients
Provide peer support to other clinical pharmacists in the PCN
Promote cost-effective, safe, evidence based prescribing in accordance with national guidance and the local Medicines Optimisation Strategy.
The postholder will:
Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of Trinity Health Group Primary Care Network and comply with all the requirements of these policies and also actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.
Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.
The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisation's safeguarding protection policies and procedures.
Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role of Clinical Pharmacists in primary care is changing rapidly and will support our ambition to pro-actively help patients stay safe and well, and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.
The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost effective and best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder through a partnership approach with the Primary Care Network and its associated practices will help patients to get the best from their medicines by proactively identifying unmet pharmaceutical need using risk stratification tools, provision of predominantly level 3 medication reviews, supporting self-care, minimising clinical risk, answering complex medicines queries and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
In addition the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and with other stakeholders, and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the Primary Care Network in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
The post holder will be undertaking structured medication reviews, improving medicine optimisation and safety, supporting care homes, as well as running practice clinics, as set out in the national service specification structured medication reviews in the GP contract.
As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will also provide peer support to other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the Primary Care Network.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Lead at PCN level on the delivery of care model
Report on key performance indicators to demonstrate added value for patients and general practice in accordance with NICE guidance
Utilise a polypharmacy approach in line with the principles of medicines optimisation
Utilise risk stratification methods to identify patients at risk and review medications including long term condition and chronic disease patients
Undertake level 3 structured medication reviews to support improved patient outcomes including:
- increased medication adherence,
- stopping medications that are causing harm,
- preventing avoidable hospital admissions
- starting medications where there is unmet needs
- Highlight and review the following patient demographics:
- Patients with anticholinergic burden score 6 or more
- Patients on 8 or more unique repeat medicines
- complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly,
- People in care homes,
- Multiple comorbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma)
- People with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme).
Accurate and consistent recording and monitoring of data including incident reporting, prescribing data and patient outcomes Work in partnership with GP practices and the CCG
Participate in practice meetings, patient participation groups, and other meetings to improve engagement and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines optimisation.
Liaise with other pharmacy stakeholders e.g. Medicines Optimisation team, community pharmacy, Connecting Care Pharmacy and hospital pharmacy teams.
Support the Medicines Optimisation team in the delivery of the Medicines
Handle function specific information which may be sensitive, complex or confidential and appropriately recording, transferring and/or coordinating such information in accordance with the Data Protection Act; Caldecott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct
Be responsible for the organisation, planning and of own workload to meet set deadlines
Utilise GP practice clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits e.g. SystmOne
Undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits in order to facilitate improvement and changes in practice
As instructed by the CCG Medicines Safety Officer, ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within levels of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result
Regular monitoring of prescribing expenditure at individual practice level and propose changes to ensure containment within identified resource
Undertake training and development, to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice based work
Carry out other duties which are appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as the priorities of the service change
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GP practices, CCG staff and other healthcare professionals/stakeholders across the interface
Provide clinical and professional support to GPs and members of the primary healthcare team
Provide direct support and advice to GP practices and health professionals to promote and implement high quality prescribing to the benefit of patients
Provide peer support to other clinical pharmacists in the PCN
Promote cost-effective, safe, evidence based prescribing in accordance with national guidance and the local Medicines Optimisation Strategy.
The postholder will:
Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of Trinity Health Group Primary Care Network and comply with all the requirements of these policies and also actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.
Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.
The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the organisation's safeguarding protection policies and procedures.
Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Current GPhC registration
- Independent Prescribing Qualification/or working towards it
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working at a specialist level with CCG, community or hospital pharmacy services and/or at the interface between primary care and other healthcare providers.
- Proven track record of delivering and maintaining systems to manage clinical and/or medicines optimisation services in a CCG, hospital or general practice setting
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
Desirable
- Experience of working in a primary care environment
Knowledge and Understanding
Essential
- Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of general practice and evidence-based medicine.
- Knowledge of the principles of Medicines Optimisation.
- Knowledge of polypharmacy and deprescribing.
- Awareness and understanding of a risk stratification approach to identify chronic disease and long term conditions, patients
- Awareness of systems to support the management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s).
- Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality.
- Evidence of working across the interfaces between general practice providers and social care.
- Evidence of personal leadership to improve the quality of care.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritise own workload and that of others.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Effective consultation skills within a clinical setting to support people be activated in their own care including use of motivational interviewing techniques, patient education and supported self-care.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain good working relations across multidisciplinary teams.
- Must have an understanding of the aims of current healthcare policy, including the new GP contract and the NHS Long Term Plan.
- Awareness of primary care systems for prescribing and funding to facilitate pathways across health systems.
- Able to interpret complex clinical information and data on medicines to deliver face to face clinical care including managing a caseload.
- Strong leadership skills
- Excellent ability to organise oneself and others.
- Demonstrate accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision; accepts accountability for and learns from their acts and omissions.
- Skills in preparing formal documentation for staff, the public and patients.
- Able to demonstrate tact, empathy and diplomacy in order to communicate confidential and sensitive information to patients and healthcare professionals.
- Able to demonstrate engagement of GPs in the effective and appropriate use of medicines and of medicines optimisation services.
- Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to groups.
- Ability to plan and organise a broad range of activities formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
- Ability to work with stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and service development/new ways of working.
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight, and often changing and conflicting deadlines.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and complex clinical and organisational issues.
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
- Ability to perform patient-centred medication reviews to a proficient level using techniques such as motivational interviewing etc.
- Sound problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
- Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to establish systems and ensure delivery of data gathering and reporting for highly detailed outcome and output measures relevant to the GP Clinical Pharmacy pilot.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.
- Self-motivated.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others.
- Able to travel independently across Wakefield district.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Current GPhC registration
- Independent Prescribing Qualification/or working towards it
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working at a specialist level with CCG, community or hospital pharmacy services and/or at the interface between primary care and other healthcare providers.
- Proven track record of delivering and maintaining systems to manage clinical and/or medicines optimisation services in a CCG, hospital or general practice setting
- Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges
Desirable
- Experience of working in a primary care environment
Knowledge and Understanding
Essential
- Relevant advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of general practice and evidence-based medicine.
- Knowledge of the principles of Medicines Optimisation.
- Knowledge of polypharmacy and deprescribing.
- Awareness and understanding of a risk stratification approach to identify chronic disease and long term conditions, patients
- Awareness of systems to support the management of patients in a primary care setting, delivering pharmaceutical input and support in the context of pathways of care and the business of the organisation(s).
- Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of PCN and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality.
- Evidence of working across the interfaces between general practice providers and social care.
- Evidence of personal leadership to improve the quality of care.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritise own workload and that of others.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Effective consultation skills within a clinical setting to support people be activated in their own care including use of motivational interviewing techniques, patient education and supported self-care.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain good working relations across multidisciplinary teams.
- Must have an understanding of the aims of current healthcare policy, including the new GP contract and the NHS Long Term Plan.
- Awareness of primary care systems for prescribing and funding to facilitate pathways across health systems.
- Able to interpret complex clinical information and data on medicines to deliver face to face clinical care including managing a caseload.
- Strong leadership skills
- Excellent ability to organise oneself and others.
- Demonstrate accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision; accepts accountability for and learns from their acts and omissions.
- Skills in preparing formal documentation for staff, the public and patients.
- Able to demonstrate tact, empathy and diplomacy in order to communicate confidential and sensitive information to patients and healthcare professionals.
- Able to demonstrate engagement of GPs in the effective and appropriate use of medicines and of medicines optimisation services.
- Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to groups.
- Ability to plan and organise a broad range of activities formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
- Ability to work with stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and service development/new ways of working.
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight, and often changing and conflicting deadlines.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and complex clinical and organisational issues.
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
- Ability to perform patient-centred medication reviews to a proficient level using techniques such as motivational interviewing etc.
- Sound problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
- Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to establish systems and ensure delivery of data gathering and reporting for highly detailed outcome and output measures relevant to the GP Clinical Pharmacy pilot.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.
- Self-motivated.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others.
- Able to travel independently across Wakefield district.
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
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
