Clinical Pharmacist

North Cotswold Primary Care Network

The closing date is 10 January 2025

Job summary

North Cotswold Primary Care Network has an exciting opportunity for talented, enthusiastic self motivated clinical pharmacist to join our supportive multi disciplinary team. Ideally you will be an independent prescriber but if not we will support you to become one. Do you seek to contribute to better management of patients so they can stay out of hospital and feel supported? Do you want to be a key member of our PCN in ensuring our prescribing is of the highest quality, safety and value and that medicines use is optimised for and with our patients? Are you keen to build an innovative role within the primary care setting? Then join our North Cotswold Primary Care Network and support us providing Primary Care of the highest quality, safety and value.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work within their clinical competencies as part of an mdt to provide expertise in medicines management, structured medication reviews, manage long term conditions, proactive management of patients with complex poly pharmacy, on transfer of care, systems for safer prescribing, manage repeat prescription authorisation and reauthorisation, acute prescription requests, while addressing both the public health and social needs of patients in the North Cotswold PCN. Clinical pharmacists will have a key role in supporting delivery of the new Care home DES. For the new Structured Medications Review and Optimisation requirements this will include tackling over-medication of patients, including inappropriate use of antibiotics, withdrawing medicines no longer needed through NHS-led programmes such as low priority prescribing and medicines optimisation more widely. For Enhanced Health in Care Homes, residents will benefit from regular clinical-pharmacy led medicines reviews.

About us

Our PCN is located in the beautiful rural setting of North Cotswolds and we have approximately 31,000 patients. We have a network of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and all new recruits will be welcome as integral part of this team. Together the team will develop medicines optimisation using a range of innovative methods including working with new consultation technologies. They will perform medication reviews of patients with poly-pharmacy especially older people, patients in care homes and those with multiple co-morbidities. The candidate will have to undertake a formal training on the Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway (unless you have already completed this). We will support all successful candidates through this pathway. You will receive supervision, training and mentoring from our fabulous Senior clinical pharmacist (where required) and benefit from direct mentoring with a GP based in your host Practice

Date posted

11 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

A1848-24-0000

Job locations

Four Shires Medical Centre

Stow Road

Moreton in Marsh

Gloucestershire

GL56 0DS


Campden Surgery

Back Ends

Chipping Campden

Gloucestershire

GL55 6AU


Stow Surgery

Maugerbury Road

Stow On The Wold

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 1AX


Westwood Surgery

Bassett Road

Northleach

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 3QJ


Moore Health Centre

Moore Road

Bourton-on-the-water

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 2AZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Care Home Medication Reviews: Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients and implement own prescribing changes (as an independent prescriber) and order relevant monitoring tests. (if not an independent prescriber; produce recommendations for the senior clinical pharmacist, nurses or GPs on prescribing and monitoring). Work with care home staff to improve safety of medicines ordering and administration.

Undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex poly pharmacy, especially the elderly, patients who are housebound, patients in care homes, those with multiple long term conditions ( in particular frailty, COPD and asthma)and patients with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP - Stop Over Medication Programme).

Through structured medication reviews support patients with their medicine taking, ensuring they get the best use of their medicines (i.e. medicine optimisation) reduce waste and promote self-care. Make appropriate recommendations to Senior Pharmacists or GPs for medicine improvement

Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines while helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients and help in tackling inequalities

Provide leadership in person centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement while contributing to the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.

Have a leadership 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 health care and help manage general practice workload

Recognise the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care

Develop relationships and work closely with the pharmacist across networks and the wider health system

Work closely with PCN practices, participating in practice meetings, patient participation groups and other meetings to improve engagement or the role of clinical pharmacist within the PCN model and to promote issues relevant to role

Take a central role in the clinical aspects of share 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.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Adhere to quality governance systems and processes across the five PCN practices and their activities, managing data collection to support data requirements/claims, ensuring information governance standards are implemented and maintained

To be responsible for the organisation and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines

To utilise PCN practices clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits (EMIS/SystmOne)

To undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice

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; Caldicott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct

Ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within level of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result

To undertake learning and development to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice-based work

Contribute to the achievement and maintenance of CQC registration status in the five PCN practices

Provide leadership and contribute to training and support of PCN practice dispensers and pharmacy technicians

Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as new priorities come along in the changing NHS

Technical and administrative:

Working with the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes and reducing wastage

Assist the PCN practices with the appropriate monitoring and management of their prescribing budgets

Liaise with other stakeholders in the supply chain such as community pharmacist and appliance contractors to handle queries and manage supply problems

Support practices providing training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

Support the organisation and overseeing of repeat prescribing, repeat dispensing, electronic prescribing and medication review systems

Support quality improvement measures and contribute to the Quality Outcome Framework and enhanced services undertaking clinical audits where required

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within PCN practices

Assist with delivery of medicines optimisation incentive schemes by undertaking patient safety audits and medication switches

Safety

Ensure all significant events are reported and discussed as appropriate contributing to investigation and root cause analysis and facilitate full understanding of clinic governance requirements with the PCN practices

Identify missing information, discrepancies and errors on repeat prescription requests and resolving them according to local policies and procedures

Participate in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary care reviews

Report Adverse Drug Reactions and promote reporting by MDT

Monitoring high-risk medicines according to local systems and processes

Helping to ensure effective antimicrobial stewardship

Oversee use and monitoring of high risk drugs and drugs of abuse

Implement changes to medicines that result from Drug Safety Alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance

Training and Education Information

Provide education and training to primary healthcare teams on therapeutics and medicines optimisation

Participate in MDT learning activities

Attend training courses identified as essential or beneficial to the role and take responsibility for identifying own learning needs

Provide ad-hoc medicines advice to doctors and other clinicians

Horizon scan for new drugs and provide information to the MDT on their introduction

Provide advice on cost effective prescribing and supply issues

Enrolment on Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (if not already completed)

Enrolment on the Medicines Optimisation in Care Home (where applicable)

Enrolment or annual updates for non-medical prescribers course (as applicable)

Quality

Undertake PCN wide clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the Clinical Director, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice teams

Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in the individual practices as directed by the GPs, feedback results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice team.

Contribute to the achievement of quality improvement initiatives and objectives, monitor against overall objectives

Inspire innovation amongst the team and stimulate improvement activities

Ensure compliance with CQC and professional standards

Promote a culture of constant improvement and excellence

Understand a risk management approach and apply it all activities

Contribute with integrity to team work focused on improving quality within the practice

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Conduct regular clinical audits and other improvement activities

Involvement in National and local quality improvement projects

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Financial and Physical Resources

Support staff management and performance review

Support prescribing leads, pharmacy technicians etc., monitor expenditure and drug budget

Support Cost effective prescribing

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Reduce waste

Ensure safe storage and security of medicines

Governance

Implementing policies and effective processes for medicines governance including controlled drugs

Implementing policies and effective processes for repeat prescribing and repeat dispensing

Ensuring allergy information is accurate and correctly documented and that the information is shared with the wider multidisciplinary team including community pharmacy

Code of Conduct

Clinical Pharmacist must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set by the General Pharmaceutical Council

Follow all legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Care Home Medication Reviews: Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients and implement own prescribing changes (as an independent prescriber) and order relevant monitoring tests. (if not an independent prescriber; produce recommendations for the senior clinical pharmacist, nurses or GPs on prescribing and monitoring). Work with care home staff to improve safety of medicines ordering and administration.

Undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex poly pharmacy, especially the elderly, patients who are housebound, patients in care homes, those with multiple long term conditions ( in particular frailty, COPD and asthma)and patients with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP - Stop Over Medication Programme).

Through structured medication reviews support patients with their medicine taking, ensuring they get the best use of their medicines (i.e. medicine optimisation) reduce waste and promote self-care. Make appropriate recommendations to Senior Pharmacists or GPs for medicine improvement

Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines while helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients and help in tackling inequalities

Provide leadership in person centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement while contributing to the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.

Have a leadership 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 health care and help manage general practice workload

Recognise the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care

Develop relationships and work closely with the pharmacist across networks and the wider health system

Work closely with PCN practices, participating in practice meetings, patient participation groups and other meetings to improve engagement or the role of clinical pharmacist within the PCN model and to promote issues relevant to role

Take a central role in the clinical aspects of share 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.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Adhere to quality governance systems and processes across the five PCN practices and their activities, managing data collection to support data requirements/claims, ensuring information governance standards are implemented and maintained

To be responsible for the organisation and planning of own workload to meet set deadlines

To utilise PCN practices clinical systems to conduct prescribing audits (EMIS/SystmOne)

To undertake, participate and share the outcomes of clinical audits to facilitate improvement and changes in practice

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; Caldicott Guidelines and the Confidentiality Code of Conduct

Ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts, where appropriate and within level of competence, are acted upon within practices over an appropriate time frame and to advise on any medication changes that occur as a result

To undertake learning and development to ensure the required knowledge and skills for practice-based work

Contribute to the achievement and maintenance of CQC registration status in the five PCN practices

Provide leadership and contribute to training and support of PCN practice dispensers and pharmacy technicians

Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the skills and competencies of the post holder and grade of the post as new priorities come along in the changing NHS

Technical and administrative:

Working with the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation, including implementing efficient ordering and return processes and reducing wastage

Assist the PCN practices with the appropriate monitoring and management of their prescribing budgets

Liaise with other stakeholders in the supply chain such as community pharmacist and appliance contractors to handle queries and manage supply problems

Support practices providing training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

Support the organisation and overseeing of repeat prescribing, repeat dispensing, electronic prescribing and medication review systems

Support quality improvement measures and contribute to the Quality Outcome Framework and enhanced services undertaking clinical audits where required

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within PCN practices

Assist with delivery of medicines optimisation incentive schemes by undertaking patient safety audits and medication switches

Safety

Ensure all significant events are reported and discussed as appropriate contributing to investigation and root cause analysis and facilitate full understanding of clinic governance requirements with the PCN practices

Identify missing information, discrepancies and errors on repeat prescription requests and resolving them according to local policies and procedures

Participate in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary care reviews

Report Adverse Drug Reactions and promote reporting by MDT

Monitoring high-risk medicines according to local systems and processes

Helping to ensure effective antimicrobial stewardship

Oversee use and monitoring of high risk drugs and drugs of abuse

Implement changes to medicines that result from Drug Safety Alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance

Training and Education Information

Provide education and training to primary healthcare teams on therapeutics and medicines optimisation

Participate in MDT learning activities

Attend training courses identified as essential or beneficial to the role and take responsibility for identifying own learning needs

Provide ad-hoc medicines advice to doctors and other clinicians

Horizon scan for new drugs and provide information to the MDT on their introduction

Provide advice on cost effective prescribing and supply issues

Enrolment on Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (if not already completed)

Enrolment on the Medicines Optimisation in Care Home (where applicable)

Enrolment or annual updates for non-medical prescribers course (as applicable)

Quality

Undertake PCN wide clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the Clinical Director, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice teams

Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in the individual practices as directed by the GPs, feedback results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice team.

Contribute to the achievement of quality improvement initiatives and objectives, monitor against overall objectives

Inspire innovation amongst the team and stimulate improvement activities

Ensure compliance with CQC and professional standards

Promote a culture of constant improvement and excellence

Understand a risk management approach and apply it all activities

Contribute with integrity to team work focused on improving quality within the practice

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Conduct regular clinical audits and other improvement activities

Involvement in National and local quality improvement projects

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Financial and Physical Resources

Support staff management and performance review

Support prescribing leads, pharmacy technicians etc., monitor expenditure and drug budget

Support Cost effective prescribing

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Reduce waste

Ensure safe storage and security of medicines

Governance

Implementing policies and effective processes for medicines governance including controlled drugs

Implementing policies and effective processes for repeat prescribing and repeat dispensing

Ensuring allergy information is accurate and correctly documented and that the information is shared with the wider multidisciplinary team including community pharmacy

Code of Conduct

Clinical Pharmacist must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set by the General Pharmaceutical Council

Follow all legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Mandatory Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council An undergraduate Degree or equivalent in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council Commitment towards continuing professional development in accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

  • Membership Primary Care Pharmacy Associated (PCPA) A member or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Specialist knowledge acquired through Post graduate or Diploma level or equivalent training/experience. Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience
  • In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence based medicine and able to apply in practice Evidence of planning and delivering projects on time.
  • A planned and organised approach with ability to work under pressure, manage and prioritise own workload effectively to meet strict deadlines. Experience of planning organising and carrying out structured medication reviews
  • Good understanding of NHS and healthcare delivery within the Primary Care setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working in general practice
  • Experience of working in PCN
  • Has appreciation of new NHS structure including the relationship between individual provider, PCN and commissioners

Qualities and attitude

Essential

  • Self-driven, adaptable and resilient with a positive outlook and clear focus on high quality patient service
  • Reliable, honest, tolerant and determined
  • Excellent interpersonal influencing and negotiating skills
  • Able to get on with others and strong desire to be an integral team player in a multidisciplinary team
  • Empathetic communicator with ability to deliver key messages to a range of stakeholders
  • Adaptable and flexible willing to undertake a wide variety of tasks and able to provide cover for colleagues

Desirable

  • Eager to be a key member of our PCN in ensuring our prescribing is of the highest quality, safety and value and that medicines use is optimised for and with our patients.
  • Keen to build an innovative role within the primary care setting
  • Ability to remain calm and professional in an emergency situation
  • Have a Quality Improvement Approach to problem solving
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Mandatory Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council An undergraduate Degree or equivalent in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council Commitment towards continuing professional development in accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

  • Membership Primary Care Pharmacy Associated (PCPA) A member or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Specialist knowledge acquired through Post graduate or Diploma level or equivalent training/experience. Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience
  • In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence based medicine and able to apply in practice Evidence of planning and delivering projects on time.
  • A planned and organised approach with ability to work under pressure, manage and prioritise own workload effectively to meet strict deadlines. Experience of planning organising and carrying out structured medication reviews
  • Good understanding of NHS and healthcare delivery within the Primary Care setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working in general practice
  • Experience of working in PCN
  • Has appreciation of new NHS structure including the relationship between individual provider, PCN and commissioners

Qualities and attitude

Essential

  • Self-driven, adaptable and resilient with a positive outlook and clear focus on high quality patient service
  • Reliable, honest, tolerant and determined
  • Excellent interpersonal influencing and negotiating skills
  • Able to get on with others and strong desire to be an integral team player in a multidisciplinary team
  • Empathetic communicator with ability to deliver key messages to a range of stakeholders
  • Adaptable and flexible willing to undertake a wide variety of tasks and able to provide cover for colleagues

Desirable

  • Eager to be a key member of our PCN in ensuring our prescribing is of the highest quality, safety and value and that medicines use is optimised for and with our patients.
  • Keen to build an innovative role within the primary care setting
  • Ability to remain calm and professional in an emergency situation
  • Have a Quality Improvement Approach to problem solving

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

North Cotswold Primary Care Network

Address

Four Shires Medical Centre

Stow Road

Moreton in Marsh

Gloucestershire

GL56 0DS

Employer details

Employer name

North Cotswold Primary Care Network

Address

Four Shires Medical Centre

Stow Road

Moreton in Marsh

Gloucestershire

GL56 0DS

For questions about the job, contact:

Business Manager

Mrs Marie Tew

marie.tew@nhs.net

07743064913

Date posted

11 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

A1848-24-0000

Job locations

Four Shires Medical Centre

Stow Road

Moreton in Marsh

Gloucestershire

GL56 0DS


Campden Surgery

Back Ends

Chipping Campden

Gloucestershire

GL55 6AU


Stow Surgery

Maugerbury Road

Stow On The Wold

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 1AX


Westwood Surgery

Bassett Road

Northleach

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 3QJ


Moore Health Centre

Moore Road

Bourton-on-the-water

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL54 2AZ


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