Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as part of the Primary Care Network multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality clinical pharmacy services, optimise medicines use, and support practices in improving patient care. Working across multiple GP practices, the role involves undertaking structured medication reviews, contributing to MDT discussions, and supporting the management of long-term conditions through safe, effective, and evidence-based medicines management.
A key focus of the role is supporting practices with medicines optimisation initiatives. This includes responding to medication safety alerts, analysing and presenting prescribing data to drive quality improvement, and managing systems for repeat prescribing, acute prescription requests, medicines reconciliation, and medication queries. The post holder will work closely with practice teams to ensure medicines management policies remain current and aligned with CQC and national guidance. Strengthening links with community and secondary care pharmacy providers is an essential aspect of the role, ensuring continuity of care and supporting safe transitions between services.
The pharmacist will also play an integral part in the wider network, collaborating with colleagues to provide cross-cover and contribute to shared prescribing priorities. They will help build relationships with community pharmacies to support network wide improvement in the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of prescribing. The role requires delivering measurable improvements in medicines optimisation while supporting practice teams with workload and service development.
Clinical responsibilities include undertaking clinical medication reviews, ensuring continuity of medicines supply for high risk groups, and providing expert advice to clinicians, patients, and carers. The post holder will maintain accurate and detailed documentation of all clinical activity, contribute to audits, develop treatment pathways, and support public health initiatives. They will ensure adherence to the Northumberland Formulary, Area Prescribing Committee guidance, and all relevant governance processes, including the reporting of adverse drug reactions.
Strong communication and relationship building skills are essential. The post holder will be required to provide specialist advice to GP's, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, often involving negotiation and influencing skills. They must be able to prioritise the needs of multiple practices, support patients who may be anxious or distressed, and produce clear clinical and technical documentation such as prescribing protocols or PGDs. They will also collaborate with diagnostic services to support timely medication monitoring where needed.
Analytical ability is central to the role, including interpreting prescriptions for safety, resolving drug interactions, completing medicines reconciliation, and critically evaluating clinical evidence to inform decisionmaking. The post holder will interpret clinical and financial data to guide recommendations for prescribing within their specialist area.
The role also contributes to policy development, audit, and service improvement, including supporting the creation and review of medicines optimisation policies, clinical audits, and research activity within the practices. The pharmacist will help develop PGDs and support efficient management of drug expenditure.
Leadership, management, and education responsibilities include advising practice leads on resource implications, supporting performance management processes, promoting high standards of pharmaceutical care, and contributing to risk management. The post holder may mentor junior pharmacists or pharmacy technicians undertaking further clinical training and will model inclusive, equitable leadership behaviours.
The role requires the ability to travel independently between sites and to concentrate for extended periods during clinical consultations, medication reviews, and the assessment of clinical information. The post involves managing emotionally sensitive patient interactions and maintaining resilience in a busy, highdemand environment. Daily use of computer systems and clinical software is expected.
The post holder must maintain professional registration, uphold GPhC standards, and engage in ongoing professional development through appraisal, training, and self-directed learning. They will be expected to maintain up-to-date knowledge of national guidance, medicines safety updates, and developments in clinical pharmacy practice.