Clinical Pharmacist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To deliver a comprehensive medicines management service to the patients of the PCN and the multidisciplinary treatment team responsible for their care.

To provide input into policy and procedures affecting the use of pharmaceuticals at both local and PCN levels.

Main Responsibilities:

Overview of Main Responsibilities:

Clinical Practice

To be responsible for providing a clinical pharmacy service to GP surgeries and also community based teams within PCN if required.

In accordance with the NHS Clinical Pharmacy Standards ensure the safe, appropriate and legal use of medicines in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk to patients.

This will be achieved by;

Regular review of prescriptions for accuracy and legality (Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Mental Health Act), compliance with local medicines management protocols and policies and the local formulary.

Identification of high-risk drugs, high dose antipsychotic treatment, significant drug interactions and those drugs that require therapeutic drug monitoring. Any issues identified should be resolved and monitored appropriately.

Ensuring that Medicines Reconciliation is undertaken for every service user. Taking steps to ensure service users understand the purpose of their medicines and deal with any practical issues that may prevent the optimal use of their medicines. This will involve ensuringthat all service users are offered 1:1 medication education sessions with a pharmacist at least once. Where appropriate service users should be assessed for suitability for any local self-administration scheme.

Ensuring the timely and safe supply of medicines.

Attending appointments where required and supporting the MDT to ensure that the above standards are achieved.

Providing medicines information to the MDT, giving advice of a truly specialist nature, when they have been unable to access either information/advice, or require help where information is conflicting or difficult to interpret in themanagement of either individual patients, or groups of patients.

Attending local clinical meetings and developmental days, when necessary, to feedback on medicines management issues or provide training.

Be able to critically appraise the literature and give accurate interpretation in order improve use of medicines.

Reduce risk associated with medicines use by contributing to the safe medication practice agenda. This will include identification and reporting of medicines related errors.

Develop and demonstrate expert clinical knowledge in appropriate areas.

Advice provided is accurate, evaluated, impartial and up-to-date to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of medicines in patients.

The post holder will continually update their skills and knowledge as part of Continuing Professional Development.

Be familiar with the use of breakaway techniques.

Communication:

Identify and respond to the specialist pharmaceutical information needs of patients, carers, doctors, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team. Information will be required to be presented on an individual case basis or as part of structured medication education groups.

Ensure information is provided in a timely manner, to the appropriate individual (in accordance with the degree of urgency of the request or issue identified).

Able to keep accurate and complete records of relevant activities and communications in particular when about a service user in the service users notes

Be able to present information in a suitable format (e.g. written and/or verbal) and style for the target audience. Recognises and reflects on barriers to communication and works to overcome these. Barriers to effective communication may include learning disability, mental impairment, non-consenting/noncompliant patients, and patients detained under the mental health act who may be violent/aggressive. Encourages participation from all involved.

Assist other Clinical Pharmacists/Clinical Lead Pharmacist/Deputy Chief Pharmacist in communicating relevant PCN decisions and policy relating to medicines to local clinical areas.

Training:

To assist the other Clinical Pharmacists/Clinical Lead Pharmacist/Deputy Chief Pharmacist in the preparation and delivery of training for clinical staff (e.g. nurses, junior doctors) working within the PCN.

To provide education and training to other healthcare staff on mental health related issues.

To contribute to the training of pre-registration pharmacists, pre-registration technicians and pharmacy students as required.

To be responsible for own continuing professional development CPD, (and portfolio) in order to continue to update clinical knowledge and skills.

To participate and contribute to the PCN Pharmacy Continuing Professional Development/Continuing Education Programme.

Policy and/or Service Development:

Support local implementation of Medicines Management Policies within ownclinical area.

Support the implementation of policies and procedures to support the delivery of appropriate medicines supply service.

Provide information and advice on medicines management aspects of clinical governance in line with the Medicines Committee.

Be responsible for ensuring medicines are handled safely and securely within designated clinical areas.

Assist in the delivery of the modernisation agenda for pharmacy services .

Identify and undertake project work in order to make improvements within own clinical area.

Management of Resources:

To be responsible for planning and organising own workload for their clinical areas in accordance with the requirements of the job.

To be responsible for managing medicines storage and security (prescription only medicines and medicines specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act).

To be responsible for medicines supply (e.g. stock lists) ensuring appropriate quantities are stored in accordance with the changing clinical needs of each clinical environment to minimise waste and reduce risk.

Research and Development:

To participate in any PCN Medicines Audit programme. This includes supporting collection of data.

To identify and undertake medicines audit at the local directorates and re-audit where appropriate.

Promote and facilitate pharmacy practice related research within pharmacy services.

To participate in clinical trials within designated clinical areas as required

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• 3 years post graduate experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary Care
• Experience of working within a GP surgery

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Pharmacy
• Good level of relevant clinical knowledge

Desirable

• Good level of interpersonal skills
• Experience of working in an MDT

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Xcel Health

Address

Rochester Health Centre

Delce Road

Rochester

Kent

ME1 2EL

Employer's website

https://xcelhealth.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)