Job summary
A new opportunity has arisen at The Elms Surgery to join our family friendly,
patient centred, forward thinking practice based in the centre of Watford. We
are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced pro-active lead Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist.
We are looking for someone who shares our commitment and passion to
providing high quality patient care and who also has the desire to attain their
own individual career goals.
Main duties of the job
Main Responsibilities and Duties include
- Support the practice and its patients
- Medication reviews
- Repeat prescription re-authorisation
- Processing of hospital discharge letters
- Support and manage long term condition clinics
- Regular Audits
- Support QOF and ECF targets
- Steer development of the prescribing team
About us
The Elms Surgery has a list size of approximately 9500 patients, is based in Central Watford, with excellent commuter links (Watford Junction overground & Watford Metropolitan Line, on M25 and M1 junctions). The practice is in catchment of Watford Outstanding Primary and Secondary Schools.
EMIS Web and Docman practice
Paper light
High QOF achiever
Clinical team includes GP's, Physician Associates, Practice
Nurse, HCA, First Contract Physio's, Care Coordinators, Social Prescriber
Supported fully by competent and efficient Reception, Admin and
Management team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Fulfil locally defined outcomes
- Optimise medicines for patients who are on complex medicine regimes.
- Improve management of medicines to help reduce adverse effects to medicines.
- Maximise clinical outcomes for patients by focusing on patient engagement through medication reviews.
- Reduce potential waste medicines by medicine synchronisation and identifying non-adherent patients.
- Ensure cost effective use of investment in prescribing by ensuring full utilisation of resources and implementation of change to current prescribing.
Key responsibilities
- Undertake and record reviews of discharge/clinical letters where medication is involved to ensure all changes are accurately recorded on the clinical system and patients contacted where changes to medication have occurred or further tests are required
- Undertake and record medication reviews with direct patient contact for patients on complex medicine regimes/at high risk of harm from medicines (for example patients prescribed oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, warfarin/NOACs, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, antidepressants, beta-blockers, digoxin, opioid analgesics or aspirin), including patients residing in care homes.
- Proactively liaise with clinical staff to ensure this service is offered to patients who would benefit from having their medicines optimised
- Record interventions made during medication reviews using template provided and details of interventions that may have prevented an admission.
- When undertaking medication reviews, where appropriate, consideration should be given tapering, withdrawing, discontinuing or stopping medications to reduce over-prescribing, adverse drug effects and inappropriate or ineffective medication use by re-evaluating the ongoing reasons for, and effectiveness of medication therapy (de-prescribing).
- Undertake a regular medication related audits and implement any actions identified.
- Communicate with staff of all levels in and outside the practice
- Communicate effectively with clinicians of all disciplines on complex medication issues
- Communicate medication issues to patients and carers showing discretion and understanding
Leadership
- Act as an support for patients with complex pharmaceutical needs, liaising with GPs, PAs, care coordinators, social care staff and others
- Act as a Practice champion for medicines optimisation
- Promote standards for the quality use of medicines to deliver medicines optimisation and ultimately improved patient outcomes
- Work with care coordinators in the practice to support practice, local and national targets.
- Develop and support a prescribing team in the practice
Education, training and development
- To act as an expert in-house resource on medicines optimisation
- Participate in clinical audit and lead on audit of medicines-related activities e.g. prescribing
- Develop and deliver appropriate training for non-clinical practice staff and patients regarding medicines use. This to include direct patient contact, therapeutic updates etc.
- Keep abreast of current drug safety advice and alerts; ensure that relevant audits (i.e. MHRA safety alerts etc.) are carried out and guidance is circulated to GPs, pharmacists and other appropriate personnel in a timely fashion. Provide advice and support regarding necessary action required.
- Agree, implement and monitor actions required for the medicines management annual plan, as requested by the ICB. Attend regular prescribing meetings during the year and take part in biannual medicines optimisation practice meetings to support ECF targets. Receive updates from ICB and discuss and agree actions required for medicines management audits.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of care pathways within the practice that involve medicines, taking into account national (NICE etc.) and local clinical guidelines, formularies and prescribing policies
Clinical
- Maintain professional accreditation and CPD as required by the GPhC.
- Prescribe acute and repeat medication for patient need within areas of competency.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Fulfil locally defined outcomes
- Optimise medicines for patients who are on complex medicine regimes.
- Improve management of medicines to help reduce adverse effects to medicines.
- Maximise clinical outcomes for patients by focusing on patient engagement through medication reviews.
- Reduce potential waste medicines by medicine synchronisation and identifying non-adherent patients.
- Ensure cost effective use of investment in prescribing by ensuring full utilisation of resources and implementation of change to current prescribing.
Key responsibilities
- Undertake and record reviews of discharge/clinical letters where medication is involved to ensure all changes are accurately recorded on the clinical system and patients contacted where changes to medication have occurred or further tests are required
- Undertake and record medication reviews with direct patient contact for patients on complex medicine regimes/at high risk of harm from medicines (for example patients prescribed oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, warfarin/NOACs, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, antidepressants, beta-blockers, digoxin, opioid analgesics or aspirin), including patients residing in care homes.
- Proactively liaise with clinical staff to ensure this service is offered to patients who would benefit from having their medicines optimised
- Record interventions made during medication reviews using template provided and details of interventions that may have prevented an admission.
- When undertaking medication reviews, where appropriate, consideration should be given tapering, withdrawing, discontinuing or stopping medications to reduce over-prescribing, adverse drug effects and inappropriate or ineffective medication use by re-evaluating the ongoing reasons for, and effectiveness of medication therapy (de-prescribing).
- Undertake a regular medication related audits and implement any actions identified.
- Communicate with staff of all levels in and outside the practice
- Communicate effectively with clinicians of all disciplines on complex medication issues
- Communicate medication issues to patients and carers showing discretion and understanding
Leadership
- Act as an support for patients with complex pharmaceutical needs, liaising with GPs, PAs, care coordinators, social care staff and others
- Act as a Practice champion for medicines optimisation
- Promote standards for the quality use of medicines to deliver medicines optimisation and ultimately improved patient outcomes
- Work with care coordinators in the practice to support practice, local and national targets.
- Develop and support a prescribing team in the practice
Education, training and development
- To act as an expert in-house resource on medicines optimisation
- Participate in clinical audit and lead on audit of medicines-related activities e.g. prescribing
- Develop and deliver appropriate training for non-clinical practice staff and patients regarding medicines use. This to include direct patient contact, therapeutic updates etc.
- Keep abreast of current drug safety advice and alerts; ensure that relevant audits (i.e. MHRA safety alerts etc.) are carried out and guidance is circulated to GPs, pharmacists and other appropriate personnel in a timely fashion. Provide advice and support regarding necessary action required.
- Agree, implement and monitor actions required for the medicines management annual plan, as requested by the ICB. Attend regular prescribing meetings during the year and take part in biannual medicines optimisation practice meetings to support ECF targets. Receive updates from ICB and discuss and agree actions required for medicines management audits.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of care pathways within the practice that involve medicines, taking into account national (NICE etc.) and local clinical guidelines, formularies and prescribing policies
Clinical
- Maintain professional accreditation and CPD as required by the GPhC.
- Prescribe acute and repeat medication for patient need within areas of competency.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy
- A GPhC registration holder who has completed a CPPE pathway, such as the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) or the General Practice Pharmacist Training Pathway (GPPTP).
- Independent prescribing qualification
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- More than 2 years previous experience in a GP practice
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy
- A GPhC registration holder who has completed a CPPE pathway, such as the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) or the General Practice Pharmacist Training Pathway (GPPTP).
- Independent prescribing qualification
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- More than 2 years previous experience in a GP practice
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).