Clinical Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

Overview of Responsibilities

The Clinical Pharmacist will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary primary care team, delivering expert medicines optimisation, improving patient outcomes, and contributing to the overall efficiency of the Health Centre. This patient-facing role includes clinical assessment, prescribing, and medicines management across a range of long-term conditions.

There may be occasions when the post holder is asked to undertake additional duties, depending on service needs and staffing levels.

Primary Responsibilities

Clinical Care and Medicines Optimisation

• Conduct patient-facing and remote consultations, clinically assessing and treating patients using expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.

• Independently prescribe acute and repeat medications, following successful completion of prescribing qualifications.

• Lead on the care management of patients with chronic conditions, including frailty, COPD, asthma, and those in care homes or with learning disabilities/autism (e.g. through STOMP).

• Carry out structured medication reviews to optimise therapeutic outcomes, reduce waste, promote self-care, and improve adherence.

• Manage therapeutic drug monitoring and recall systems for high-risk medications (e.g., anticoagulants, DMARDs).

• Undertake domiciliary visits and deliver long-term condition clinics for patients with complex medication regimes.

Clinical Leadership and Governance

• Provide specialist advice on medicines use and lead on person-centred medicines optimisation.

• Promote antimicrobial stewardship and ensure compliance with local and national guidance.

• Drive quality improvement initiatives, including clinical audits and contributions to QOF, Enhanced Services, and NICE compliance.

• Oversee and enhance prescribing systems, including repeat prescribing, medication reviews, and prescribing safety alerts.

• Lead the review and integration of clinical protocols related to shared care and high-risk medications.

• Maintain clinical governance through supervision, reflective practice, mandatory training, and incident learning.

• Ensure the safe storage, rotation, and disposal of vaccines and medicines in line with infection control protocols.

Collaboration and Communication

• Act as the central point of contact for medicines-related matters within the Health Centre.

• Liaise with hospital and community pharmacy teams, specialist pharmacists, and the wider health and social care system.

• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and case reviews to support high-risk and vulnerable patients.

• Respond to medicines queries from patients and staff in a timely and supportive manner.

• Support clinicians with the management of patients with complex needs, including those with mental health concerns or substance misuse.

Patient Engagement and Public Health

• Improve patient and carer understanding of medicines and promote confidence in their use.

• Support public health initiatives, such as flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

• Actively signpost patients to the appropriate clinician or service to ensure timely and effective care.

Professional Development and Support

• Receive monthly supervision from a senior clinical pharmacist and ongoing support from an assigned GP clinical supervisor.

• Engage in continuous professional development, training, and service redesign to evolve the role.

• Contribute to peer learning and development through mentoring, teaching, and collaborative working.

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to core duties, the post holder may be asked to:

• Support QOF, NIS, QIPP and incentive scheme delivery.

• Review and monitor prescribing protocols and formularies.

• Improve medicines data quality and coding.

• Deliver training sessions for practice staff and clinicians.

• Liaise with hospital pharmacy to enhance medicines reconciliation post-discharge.

• Provide leadership and mentoring to prescription administrative staff.

• Develop and share pharmacy newsletters and bulletins.

• Develop a specialist clinical interest relevant to primary care.

• Champion virtual consultation methods including e-consults and telemedicine.

• Undertake other tasks commensurate with the role, as needed.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of the community through safe, effective, and patient-centred pharmaceutical care.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Holds a GPhC-accredited Independent Prescribing qualification.
• Enrolled on, or completed, an approved 18-month Clinical Pharmacist training programme (e.g. CPPE pathway) or equivalent.
• Trained to practice and prescribe safely and effectively within a primary care setting.

Desirable

• Minor Ailments certification.
• Medicines Use Review (MUR) and repeat dispensing accreditation.
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), and working towards Faculty membership.
• Additional qualifications in medicines management.

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of the nature and demands of working in general practice.
• Awareness of the principles of primary care prescribing and rational prescribing strategies.
• Experience in or understanding of common acute and chronic conditions in primary care.
• Familiarity with the NHS structure, including the role of PCNs and commissioning bodies.

Desirable

• Experience working as a pharmacist (as evidenced in a professional portfolio).
• Experience in managing pharmacy services in a primary care setting.
• Strong knowledge of therapeutics and evidence-based clinical practice.
• Awareness of the mentorship and supervision process.
• Broad insight into the structure and functioning of general practice.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex and sensitive information effectively across all mediums (telephone, email, face-to-face).
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the confidence to challenge clinical and managerial decisions constructively.
• Proficient IT skills, including email, internet, and word processing; able to produce reports and basic action plans.
• Clear and professional telephone manner.
• Capable of promoting safe and effective pharmaceutical practice.
• Strong time management, planning, and organisational skills.
• Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Desirable

• Proficiency in managing and reviewing medicines optimisation for long-term conditions.
• Familiarity with clinical IT systems, particularly EMIS.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Commitment to following legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies and procedures.
• Able to act with initiative, discretion, and sound judgement.
• Approachable and respectful towards individuals from all backgrounds and communities.
• Flexible, cooperative, and committed to teamworking.
• Able to assess and manage risk in clinical settings.
• Sensitive, empathetic, and composed in challenging or distressing situations.
• Strong leadership qualities and reliability in completing work tasks.
• Analytical thinker with problem-solving abilities.
• Upholds confidentiality and information governance standards at all times.

Other requirements

Essential

• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development (CPD).

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).