Clinical Pharmacist

Principal Medical Ltd.; Banbury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to enhancing patient care as a Clinical Pharmacist. In this role, you will leverage your pharmacy expertise to support GPs and optimize medication management. Your responsibilities will include conducting medication reviews, collaborating on prescribing policies, and fostering effective communication with patients and colleagues. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the health of the community while working within a supportive and dynamic team environment. If you are passionate about improving patient outcomes and thrive in a collaborative setting, we invite you to apply!

Qualifications

• Mandatory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council is required.
• Postgraduate diploma level knowledge or equivalent experience is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medication reviews and optimize prescriptions for patients.
• Collaborate with GPs to develop prescribing policies and strategies.
• Communicate effectively with patients and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Therapeutic and clinical knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Negotiating skills

Analytical skills

Time management

Education

General Pharmaceutical Council registration

Postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience

Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Job description

Banbury Cross PCN is recruiting a Clinical Pharmacist who will operate as part of our practice team. The pharmacist will work within designated, established practice teams, using and sharing pharmacy expertise to support GPs and the entire practice in effective medicines management and optimal patient care.

Main duties of the job

• Medication Review and Optimisation
• Prescribing Systems and Policies
• Working relationships and communication requirements
• Registered health professional
• Information governance

About us

PML is a successful not-for-profit, GP-led organization providing various NHS community and primary care clinical services across Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. Since 2004, we have evolved as an NHS healthcare provider and now employ around 300 staff with a turnover of approximately £16m. PML holds GMS contracts and is a GP Federation representing about 50 GP practices serving roughly 650,000 patients.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, including those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Job responsibilities

Medication Review and Optimisation:

• Respond to reception queries to amend prescriptions, re-authorize repeats, clarify doses and products, and provide appropriate alternatives when availability issues arise.
• Discuss specific patient and prescribing issues with clinicians, such as complex regimes, polypharmacy, compliance difficulties, adverse effects, or medication reduction regimes.
• Identify patients needing medication review through face-to-face clinics and develop patient invitation systems with admin staff; conduct reviews and discuss issues with patients.
• Discuss medication issues with patients via telephone as needed, including adverse effects, interactions, overdose, OTC remedies, and queries from reception or care homes.
• Review secondary care requests for new medications and raise queries with GPs; respond to inappropriate prescribing requests.
• Review and continue repeat medications for newly registered patients and suggest GP medication reviews when appropriate.
• Monitor ongoing prescribing issues, inform colleagues about new guidelines, products, supply problems, restrictions, or systematic errors.
• Advise on cost-effective prescribing and budget issues.

Prescribing Systems and Policies:

• Collaborate with reception, admin, and clinical staff to develop and implement medicines management systems.
• Work with GPs and the practice manager to review and develop prescribing policies and strategies.
• Design audits related to prescribing targets and policies.
• Assist in delivering targets for the Prescribing Incentive Scheme (PIS).
• Monitor prescribing performance and suggest improvements.
• Support electronic prescribing initiatives.

Working relationships and communication requirements:

• Communicate effectively with patients, carers, colleagues, and other agencies, considering their understanding, culture, background, and communication preferences.
• Provide complex information clearly, gaining informed consent in sensitive situations and demonstrating empathy.
• Work within legal and ethical frameworks, adhering to the GPC Code and PML policies.
• Respect patients' home environments and demonstrate negotiation and influencing skills to manage conflicts and complaints.
• Maintain confidentiality and be proficient with IT systems, including report compilation and data analysis.

Registered health professional

Members of professional bodies must adhere to standards of practice and conduct, ensuring familiarity with and compliance to these standards.

Information governance

Maintain high standards of record-keeping, data accuracy, and confidentiality in line with policies and legislation, including the Data Protection Act 1998.

Confidentiality

Maintain confidentiality of information, accessing only what is necessary for duties and sharing information only as required.

Promote equality of opportunities in line with the PML Equal Opportunities Policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Mandatory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate diploma level knowledge or equivalent experience
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Working towards or holding Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience

Skills and Knowledge

• Deep therapeutic and clinical knowledge, evidence-based healthcare principles
• Understanding of GPs and general practice dynamics
• Knowledge of primary care prescribing and strategies for rational prescribing
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and negotiating skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to various audiences, including patients
• Ability to manage medication optimization for long-term conditions
• Ability to analyze complex technical information
• Prioritize problems and escalate when necessary
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Gain acceptance for recommendations and motivate compliance
• Accountability for professional expertise and service delivery

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.