Primary Care Network Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

To be a Prescriber (or work towards this) ; to work with other Clinical Pharmacists and alongside the multi-disciplinary team across a PCN.

To promote enhanced collaboration and integration across healthcare interfaces.

To 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.

To take responsibility for the Care Management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake Structured Medication Reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple long term conditions and people with learning disabilities or autism and any other long term conditions as appropriate

To provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines while helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients in the network and help to tackle inequalities.

To support the focus on Person Centered Medicines Optimisation (including ensuring Prescribers in the practices conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement, while contributing to the quality and outcomes framework

To support patients to take their medications and to achieve the best from them.

Reduce waste and promote self-care.

To support 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. The role has the potential to significantly improve quality of care and safety for patients.

To develop relationships and work closely with other Pharmacists within the practices; across networks and the wider health system.

To take a role in the clinical aspects of Shared Care Protocols, Clinical Research with medicines, liaise with Specialist Pharmacists (including mental health and reduction of inappropriate antipsychotic use in people with learning difficulties) and anticoagulation.

To contribute to reductions in medicine related hospital admissions and readmissions by supporting patients to get the best outcomes from their medicines and identifying and addressing medicines related issues

To help manage the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process by reviewing requests for repeat prescriptions and medicines reaching review dates

To increase the quality and safety of prescribing through mechanisms such as audit and PDSA cycles

To implement local formulary advice where appropriate to improve the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of prescribing and implementing drug withdrawals and alerts e.g. MHRA aimed at improving medicines safety. Working with primary care professional and patients to implement NICE and other evidence based guidelines

To perform prescribing audits and support the practices to achieve prescribing incentive scheme targets, quality outcome framework targets, quality improvement payments and achieve locally commissioned enhanced services.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with the GPC
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of Microsoft office software

Desirable

• Familiarity with EMIS Web
• Diploma in chronic disease management
• Qualified Non-medical prescriber

Additional

Essential

• Well motivated and flexible to adapt to the PCNs developmental needs
• Willing to work across sites and undertake home visits if required
• Access to own transport and a valid driving license
• Flexibility in working arrangements
• Reliable, enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Enthusiasm for the role and for developing new services to develop patient care

Experience

Essential

• 2 years minimum post registration experience
• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work autonomously within own professional competency
• Demonstrate maintenance of mandatory and statutory training

Desirable

• Experience in chronic disease management
• Experience working in a primary care setting
• Experience with working in minor ailment clinics

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Ability and confidence to make autonomous decisions for which they are accountable.
• Demonstrate a commitment to on-going professional development
• Experience in delivering training
• Good understanding of community pharmacy
• Understands the law and governance relating to safe handling and administration of medicines in the community

Desirable

• Participation in and experience of audits
• Experience of clinical supervision
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures for adults and children
• Experience / knowledge of working within primary care and liaising with other MDT members

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).