PCN Clinical Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the clinical pharmacist. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Medication review and optimisation

To respond to reception, dispensary and prescription clerk queries to amend prescriptions, re-authorise repeats, clarify doses, clarify products, and give appropriate alternatives when there are availability and supply issues

To discuss specific patient and prescribing issues (eg complicated regimes, polypharmacy, compliance difficulties, multiple adverse effects, medication reduction regimes) with other clinicians as necessary

Face to face clinics: To identify patients in need of medication review and develop the system of patient invitation with the practice management an administration team. To see patients face-to-face for medication reviews and to discuss specific issues, such as those described above. Where face-to-face reviews may not be possible due to Covid-19 restrictions, to offer reviews over the telephone or via video consultation

To discuss medication issues with patients as needed and appropriate by telephone, eg adverse effects/interactions, overdose/inadvertent ingestion, over the counter (OTC) remedies, queries from reception queries from care homes

To complete pink (medication administration) from for district nurses and GPs to sign

To provide structured medication reviews in line with the PCN DES, including patients in care homes, with complex and problematic polypharmacy, with severe frailty (who are particularly isolated or housebound, or who have had recent hospital admissions and/or falls, and using potentially addictive pain management medication.

Medicines Reconciliation

To review secondary care requests for new medication (as communicated by discharge summaries, outpatient letters and other correspondence) and raise and queries with relevant GP, and discuss how to respond when inappropriate prescribing requests arise

To review and continue repeat medications for new patients who have just registered at the practice, and suggest GP medication review where appropriate

To deal with anticoagulant start/stop requests from secondary acer and contact patients who have defaulted on INRs.

To monitor and inform colleagues as relevant about ongoing prescribing issues, eg new guidelines (national and local), new products being asked for by secondary care, manufacturing and supply problems, new prescribing restrictions or contraindications, and individual and systematic errors made by colleagues

To advise on cost effective prescribing and prescribing budget issues

To keep the prescribing information on the practice intranet up to date, with admin support

Prescribing systems and policies

To liaise with reception, dispensing, admin and clinical staff in discussing, developing and implementing medicines management systems in the practice

To work with the GPs (especially the prescribing lead) and the practice and operations managers to review, develop and implement prescribing policies and strategies for the whole of the designated practices

To suggest and design audits in relation to prescribing targets, implementation of locality policies and the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOFF)

To work with the GPs and admin team on choosing and delivering targets for the local Prescribing Achievement Framework

To monitor the practices prescribing performance (via the CCG portal and reports from the CCG medicines management team, ePACTs etc) and suggest changes to practice prescribing as appropriate

To support the delivery of electronic prescribing

Working relationships and communication requirements

Communicate information to patients, carers, colleagues and other agencies in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communication

Provide complex information to patients/carers and supporting those receiving it, sometimes where significant barriers to understanding and acceptance exist. This includes gaining informed consent in sensitive circumstances and demonstrating empathy with patients, carers and families

Practice within a legal and ethical framework that adheres to the GPC Code and practice policies and procedures

Always assess and adapt appropriately and respectfully to the home environment of patients and carers remembering, We are guests in their home

Demonstrate established negotiating and influencing skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations which may involve diffusion of hostility and aggression, e.g. to deal with complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation, etc.

Maintain confidentiality of information consistent with legislation and practice policies.

Be proficient with IT systems, compile reports, analyse data often in the context of frequent interruption.

Registered health professional

All staff who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional practice/conduct. It is the post holder's responsibility to ensure they are both familiar with and adhere to these requirements.

Qualifications

Essential

• GPhC Registered Pharmacist

Desirable

• GPhC Independent Prescriber Qualification
• Minor Ailments certification
• Medicines Management Qualification
• MUR and repeat dispensing certification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of two years working as a pharmacist
• Experience in managing pharmacy services in primary care

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of General Practice

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• EMIS / Systmone / Vision user skills
• Ability to promote best practice regarding all pharmaceutical matters
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow policy and procedure

Personal qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated
• Forward thinker
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Evidence of continuing professional development

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).