Job responsibilities
Job Summary
As part of our Primary Care Network (PCN) pharmacy team, the postholder will work collaboratively at Keston Medical Practice and with our associate practices within a Hub model, enabling integrated patient care, shared learning, and a multidisciplinary approach to clinical practice.
Led and supported by the Director of Pharmacy, the postholder will work closely with our GPs, nurses, and wider healthcare professionals to optimise medicines use, improve outcomes in long-term condition management, and support safer, more efficient prescribing across the network.
The postholder will play a key role in chronic disease management clinics, prescribing within their competency, and supporting quality improvement initiatives across the PCN.
Main duties of the job
As the role will develop the postholder will take responsibility for assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients presenting with a variety of minor illnesses across primary care both face to face and via telephone. You will also work to manage pathology results which include blood tests and other primary care pathology results. You will be supported by our significant GP team in this role.
What You Will Do
Conduct thorough both telephone and face to face clinical assessments and formulate management plans for patients with minor illnesses.
Prescribe medications safely and responsibly within your scope of practice.
Review, action and file blood test results as appropriate
Review, action and file clinical letters as appropriate
Work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and other team members to deliver seamless care.
Provide health promotion advice and support patient self-care.
Provide cover remotely to other Bourne Health Site.
Maintain accurate clinical records and comply with all governance and regulatory standards.
The postholder would also entail providing primary support to GP staff with regards to prescriptions (this includes repeat prescribing), medication queries, complex clinical queries. The postholder will also be expected to support, where required, delivery of Chronic Disease Management and undertake Clinical Medication Reviews, proactively managing patients with complex polypharmacy needs. The role also involves providing primary support to GP staff with regard to prescriptions (including repeat prescribing), medication queries, and complex clinical queries.
We are committed to supporting and developing our team. The postholder will receive dedicated training to enhance their clinical skills and pursue their professional interests.
The postholder would have an allocated GP Partner to mentor, support and guide them.There will also be training to manage low-level investigation results following strict protocol and supervision. Support will be provided to develop and train the postholder to further their skillset within their clinical interests.
Key Responsibilities
1. Clinical Assessment & Patient Consultations
- Conduct face-to-face and telephone consultations for patients presenting with acute or minor illnesses (e.g., infections, respiratory, dermatological, ENT, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and urinary conditions).
- Take a structured clinical history, perform relevant clinical examinations, and make safe, evidence-based diagnoses.
- Prescribe medications independently within scope of competence, ensuring adherence to NICE guidance, local formularies, and antimicrobial stewardship policies.
- Provide self-care advice, OTC recommendations, and safety-netting guidance, including when and how to seek further medical attention.
- Recognise and appropriately escalate red-flag symptoms or complex cases to a GP or senior clinician.
2. Medicines Management & Prescribing Governance
- Undertake medication reviews (acute and repeat), focusing on safety, appropriateness, and adherence.
- Initiate, adjust, or discontinue medications in collaboration with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).
- Ensure all prescribing and clinical decisions are accurately documented in the electronic patient record (EMIS/SystmOne).
- Support the implementation of practice and ICB prescribing policies, including optimisation initiatives and formulary compliance.
3. Pathology & Blood Test Management
- Request, interpret, and act upon blood test results such as FBC, U&E, CRP, LFT, thyroid, and infection markers.
- Identify abnormal or critical results, take appropriate clinical action, and document interventions clearly.
- Liaise with GPs or the duty doctor where urgent follow-up or escalation is required.
- Communicate results to patients via telephone or messaging, providing appropriate explanation and next steps.
- Ensure recall systems (e.g., chronic disease monitoring, follow-up testing) are updated and actioned appropriately.
4. Workflow Management: Letters, Documents & Results
- Review, triage, and action incoming correspondence, including hospital discharge summaries, outpatient letters, and pathology reports.
- Update patient medication lists and care plans in line with correspondence.
- Identify and follow up on clinical actions arising from letters, such as medication changes, follow-up bloods, or referrals.
- Work collaboratively with the practice administrative team to ensure timely and safe document processing.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of workflow protocols, ensuring appropriate delegation and clinician sign-off processes are in place.
5. Communication & Teamworking
- Liaise effectively with GPs, nurses, HCAs, admin staff, and community pharmacists to ensure seamless patient care.
- Participate in daily huddles or clinical debriefs to discuss complex cases or workflow challenges.
- Support patient education through telephone follow-ups, medication counselling, and health promotion initiatives.
- Provide advice and mentorship to junior pharmacists, technicians, and trainees where applicable.
6. Clinical Governance, Safety & Quality
- Adhere to GPhC standards, local governance policies, and professional codes of conduct.
- Participate in significant event reviews, clinical audits, and quality improvement projects relevant to prescribing or patient safety.
- Maintain up-to-date mandatory training, including safeguarding, infection control, and CPR.
- Engage in regular clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure continued competence within the minor illness scope.
7. Professional Development
- Maintain an up-to-date Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio aligned to prescribing and clinical assessment.
- Attend relevant practice or PCN clinical meetings and training sessions (e.g., Red Whale, NICE updates, ICB webinars).
- Expand clinical competencies (e.g., respiratory, dermatology, ENT, or urgent care) through accredited training and mentorship pathways.
This list is not exhaustive, and all team members should be prepared to accept additional, or surrender existing duties, to enable the efficient running of the organisation.
Key Relationships
Internal
Members of the Senior Management team
Members of the Partnership Board
Colleagues within The Bourne Partnership
External
Suppliers of services
Other GP practices and practice groups
Other external organisations
