Job responsibilities
General
Carry out work to identify patients suitable for medication changes in
line with the Medicines Management work plan to support QoF, prescribing
targets and CCG projects and subsequently make those changes with the agreement
of the GP, e.g: dose optimisation,
formulary switching.
Assess prescribing data using practice clinical computer systems and patient
records, highlight any recommendations and implement changes if required, to
ensure patients medication records are up to date.
Liaise with patients, practice staff, GPs, care home staff and community
pharmacists in all aspects of medication reviews and prescribing queries to
improve the pharmaceutical care of patients.
Support medication review and medicines reconciliation. Work to gather
information to support the practice pharmacist/doctor/nurse carrying out
medication reviews or clinical audits.
Implement initiatives to reduce waste and improve medicines compliance.
Implement service changes relating to prescribing to ensure best
practice is adopted in accordance with local guidelines, legislation, safety
updates e.g NICE, MHRA
Under the direction of the Practice Pharmacist/GPs, assist with
medication changes from hospital letters and medicines reconciliation for new
patients.
Highlight any medication errors/queries and report any concerns to the
Practice Pharmacist/GPs to support local clinical governance structures eg
datix reporting.
- To assist the Practice Pharmacist
with any searches, data collection and letter production required for
prescribing changes or drug alerts.
To provide information and answer technical medicines management queries
from healthcare professionals and members of the public.
Identify potential issues/areas, which require work to achieve maximum
cost or clinical effectiveness in prescribing
- In conjunction with Practice
Pharmacist, be responsible for ensuring recall systems are in place, and
working, for the correct monitoring of high-risk medicines.
- To help develop and implement
medicines management initiatives through the work of the practice e.g.
repeat dispensing.
To generate repeat and acute prescription requests on the surgery
computer system and process repeat prescriptions on a daily basis ensuring
compliance with practice protocols.
Provide training for practice staff on repeat prescribing systems and
help develop any required prescribing protocols.
In conjunction with the practice pharmacist deliver training and
education on prescribing and therapeutics in general practice.
Work in a professional manner, complying with confidentiality and data
protection policies.
Communication
Effectively communicate information directly to public on appropriate
use of medicines either verbally e.g. queries, campaign events, medication
reviews, or in writing e.g. letters to patients about changes to medication in
line with audit outcomes, patient information leaflets/posters.
Ensure all information regarding medicines management is distributed to
all healthcare professionals within the practice.
Assist the induction of medical students/ registrars, giving them a
brief overview of the practice prescribing policies and guidance available.
Establish effective working relationships with practice staff.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative
methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Analysis and data
management
Monitor activity and report progress on medicines management initiatives
relating to national and ICB prescribing targets.
Monitor prescribing of medication through clinical audit, national and
local prescribing reports.
Produce prescribing reports for feed back to the practice.
Research, Development and Audit Support
- To organise the
data collection and searches required for all audits being carried out for
medicines management priorities and ensure they are submitted on time.
- Collate and
interpret results from audits undertaken, make recommendations for review
and prepare regular reports on progress to the practice.
- Implement
changes or training after audit, to a range of health care staff.
Health &
Safety
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and
others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health &
Safety Policy, to include:
- Using
personal security systems within the workplace according to practice
guidelines
- Identifying
the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a
way that manages those risks
- Making
effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Adhere to all
aspects of the Health & Safety at Work Act and Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, ensuring good hygiene,
cleanliness and a safe environment in the dispensary.
- Reporting
potential risks identified.
- Maintain the
integrity and security of the practice by admitting only authorised
personnel.
Confidentiality
- In the course
of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather,
sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the
right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act
appropriately.
- In the
performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the
post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to
patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information
relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such
information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Information
relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the
business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in
accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to
confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Equality and
Diversity
The post-holder
will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and
colleagues, to include:
- Acting in a
way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them
in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and
current legislation.
- Respecting
the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
- Behaving in a
manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and
respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional
Development
The
post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the
practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- Participation
in an annual individual performance review, including taking
responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or
professional development.
- Taking
responsibility for own development, learning and performance and
demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar
work.
Quality
The
post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- Alert other
team members to issues of quality and risk.
- Assess own
performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or
under supervision.
- 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.
- Effectively
manage own time, workload and resources to deliver effective medicines
management within the practice.
Implement training and education in response to individual practice
needs.
Contribution to
the Implementation of Services
The
post-holder will:
- Contribute
towards specific medicines management projects within the practice
- Contribute to
the development of practice policies, standard operating procedures and
guidance
- Participate
in audit where appropriate.
This
job description is not exhaustive and covers the key duties and
responsibilities of the role only. Any other duties as required by the Practice
Pharmacist, GPs, Practice Manager and Deputy Practice Manager.