Band 8A Clinical Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

The PCN Band 8A Clinical Pharmacist will:

work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.

Be responsible for leading a small team of junior Clinical Pharmacists, providing leadership, support, and guidance. Carrying out annual performance reviews on those staff and encouraging them to grow and develop within the Clinical Pharmacist role.

be an Independent prescriber.

be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism.

Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the PCNs practice(s) and to help in tackling inequalities.

provide leadership on person-centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local guidance and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services;

through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care.

Have a role in supporting further integration of general practice with the wider healthcare teams (including community and hospital pharmacy) to help improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage general practice workload.

develop relationships and work closely with other pharmacy professionals across PCNs and the wider health and social care system.

take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols, clinical research with medicines, liaison with specialist pharmacists (including mental health and reduction of inappropriate antipsychotic use in people with learning difficulties), liaison with community pharmacists and anticoagulation.

Support relevant medicine-related enquiries from the practice team, PCN team, community pharmacists and patients.

Update practice teams at meetings on current medicines related information and issues with a view to educating and improving prescribing within the practice.

Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to practice staff regularly to highlight prescribing issues.

Communicate recommended actions relating to medication and medical device safety alerts.

To be part of the Clinical Governance Group at the Practice where we strive to improve the quality of prescribing.

Qualifications

Essential

• Desirable
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Specialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience

Experience

Essential

• Has experience/awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice.
• Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• Holds an independent prescribing qualification.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the role of a clinical pharmacist within primary care and where it fits into and how it complements the practice team and the wider PCN team.
• Accountable for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.
• Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct. Knowledge, Skills & Experience Essential
• Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience
• A good understanding of general practice and primary care
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing and the importance of medicines optimisation and person-centred care.
• Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for LTCs
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients)
• Good IT skills Ability 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
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Produce timely and informative reports
• Work effectively independently and as a team member
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision
• Self-Motivated, positive attitude, adaptable, self-aware and able to gain respect, trust and co-operation quickly
• Commitment to equality and diversity
• Current DBS check Desirable
• In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence based healthcare
• Knowledge and understanding of Primary Care Network arrangements
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
• Information Governance toolkit completion 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.
• Use of EMIS clinical system
• Understanding of local health infrastructure and pathways.
• (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

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).