Dr Firth and Partners, The New Surgery

Clinical Pharmacist

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Description:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Clinical Pharmacist to join our friendly, dedicated and established team based in Chesham.

As a member of our clinical team you will be working alongside our GPs and other allied healthcare professionals to provide the very best patient care.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be required to work independently, within the scope of their professional boundaries, to assess and manage patients. You will be providing assessment, treatment, and diagnosis to patients (with acute and/or emergency presentations) via telephone and face-to-face consultations.

You will need to demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care including assessment and diagnostic skills. There will be a need to prioritise and triage the needs of patients making any necessary referrals for investigations as appropriate.

You will need to be a qualified Clinical Pharmacist, with a degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) and be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. An independent prescribing qualification is preferable, as well as prior experience of working in Primary Care.

About us

The New Surgery is a stable six-partner Practice supported by an excellent, dedicated team of nurses and admin /reception team.We also benefit from a wide multi-disciplinary team, including clinical support from a Pharmacist, Physiotherapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

We are a GMS practice, with a list size of 11,000, based in a purpose-built medical centre in Chesham with free parking available on site.We share the premises with another GP surgery and a dentist.There is also a pharmacy on the ground floor.

We are an EMIS practice, rated GOOD by CQC.We were recently voted the Best Practice in Bucks in the 2022 National Patient Survey.

You will benefit from support by one of our GP partners, who has years of experience teaching clinical skills to Clinical Pharmacists at the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE).

Details

Date posted

31 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A4961-23-0003

Job locations

Chess Medical Centre

260-290 Berkhampstead Road

Chesham

Bucks

HP5 3EZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the main responsibilities of this role. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

  • 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
  • Be a prescriber, or completing training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the general practice team
  • Be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism
  • Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the organisation and to help in tackling inequalities
  • Provide leadership on person-centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services
  • Through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care
  • To act as the point of contact for all medicine related matters, establishing positive working relationships
  • To consult patients within defined levels of competence and independently prescribe acute and repeat medication
  • To receive referrals and directed patients from triage services and other clinicians
  • To receive and resolve medicines queries from patients and other staff
  • To provide medication review services for patients in the practice
  • To manage a caseload of complex patients
  • To manage a therapeutic drug monitoring system and the recall of patients taking high risk drugs, i.e., anticoagulants, anticonvulsants and DMARDs, etc.
  • To review medications for newly registered patients
  • To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
  • To encourage cost-effective prescribing throughout the organisation
  • To implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system
  • To improve the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education, to improve performance against NICE standards and clinical and prescribing guidance.
  • To support clinicians with the management of patients suffering from drug and alcohol dependencies
  • To actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional
  • To provide proactive leadership on medicines and prescribing systems to the organisation, patients and their carers
  • To participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so, and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events
  • To contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., COVID-19 or flu clinics) through advice or direct care
  • To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
  • In addition, the Clinical Pharmacist may be requested to:
  • Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives
  • Agree and review prescribing formularies and protocols, and monitor compliance levels
  • Improve the data quality of medicines records and linking to conditions
  • Working in partnership with pharmacists and clinicians in local hospital(s), improve the safety and quality of prescribing after discharge from hospital admissions and attendance

Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the main responsibilities of this role. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

  • 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
  • Be a prescriber, or completing training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the general practice team
  • Be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism
  • Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the organisation and to help in tackling inequalities
  • Provide leadership on person-centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services
  • Through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care
  • To act as the point of contact for all medicine related matters, establishing positive working relationships
  • To consult patients within defined levels of competence and independently prescribe acute and repeat medication
  • To receive referrals and directed patients from triage services and other clinicians
  • To receive and resolve medicines queries from patients and other staff
  • To provide medication review services for patients in the practice
  • To manage a caseload of complex patients
  • To manage a therapeutic drug monitoring system and the recall of patients taking high risk drugs, i.e., anticoagulants, anticonvulsants and DMARDs, etc.
  • To review medications for newly registered patients
  • To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
  • To encourage cost-effective prescribing throughout the organisation
  • To implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system
  • To improve the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education, to improve performance against NICE standards and clinical and prescribing guidance.
  • To support clinicians with the management of patients suffering from drug and alcohol dependencies
  • To actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional
  • To provide proactive leadership on medicines and prescribing systems to the organisation, patients and their carers
  • To participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so, and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events
  • To contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., COVID-19 or flu clinics) through advice or direct care
  • To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
  • In addition, the Clinical Pharmacist may be requested to:
  • Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives
  • Agree and review prescribing formularies and protocols, and monitor compliance levels
  • Improve the data quality of medicines records and linking to conditions
  • Working in partnership with pharmacists and clinicians in local hospital(s), improve the safety and quality of prescribing after discharge from hospital admissions and attendance

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of two years post qualification experience
  • An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing
  • Experience and an awareness of common acute and chronic conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice
  • An appreciation of the new NHS landscape, including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners

Desirable

  • Experience of working in primary care environment
  • Broad knowledge of general practice

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Pharmacy/Pharmacology
  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

  • Independent prescribing qualification (or working towards it)
  • Minor ailments certification
  • Medicines management qualification
  • MUR and repeat dispensing certification
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of two years post qualification experience
  • An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice
  • An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing
  • Experience and an awareness of common acute and chronic conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice
  • An appreciation of the new NHS landscape, including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners

Desirable

  • Experience of working in primary care environment
  • Broad knowledge of general practice

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Pharmacy/Pharmacology
  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable

  • Independent prescribing qualification (or working towards it)
  • Minor ailments certification
  • Medicines management qualification
  • MUR and repeat dispensing certification

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Dr Firth and Partners, The New Surgery

Address

Chess Medical Centre

260-290 Berkhampstead Road

Chesham

Bucks

HP5 3EZ


Employer's website

https://www.newsurgerychesham.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dr Firth and Partners, The New Surgery

Address

Chess Medical Centre

260-290 Berkhampstead Road

Chesham

Bucks

HP5 3EZ


Employer's website

https://www.newsurgerychesham.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Practice Manager

Denise Burnham

denise.burnham@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

31 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A4961-23-0003

Job locations

Chess Medical Centre

260-290 Berkhampstead Road

Chesham

Bucks

HP5 3EZ


Privacy notice

Dr Firth and Partners, The New Surgery's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)