Frailty Clinical Pharmacist

NHS; Worcester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Worcester is seeking an experienced clinical pharmacist to lead pharmacy services in care homes. The role involves providing medication management, collaborating with healthcare teams, and improving patient safety. Applicants should possess significant experience and relevant qualifications in pharmacy. This position offers an opportunity to make a direct impact on patient care within the community.

Qualifications

• Must be a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Experience working within a practice portfolio.
• Desirable to hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead a specialist care home pharmacy service.
• Provide structured medication reviews to care home residents.
• Promote the safe, high quality and cost-effective use of medicines.

Skills

Clinical medicines review

Pharmaceutical advice

Multidisciplinary team collaboration

Education

Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy

Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience

Independent Prescriber qualification

Job description

Job overview

Worcester City PCN has an exciting opportunity for an experienced clinical pharmacist to join our established multidisciplinary care home team working across the care homes within our PCN. We are looking for someone to take responsibility for leading on all of the pharmacy and medication related aspects of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Network Direct Enhanced Service Specification and to support in delivering the highest quality of care to this complex set of patients. You will need to work closely with the care homes MDT, comprising GPs, ANPs/ACPs, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Paramedics, Physician Associates, Care Coordinators and other local stakeholders to provide high quality and efficient pharmacy care home support.

Main duties of the job: you will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team, to provide advice and support on all prescribing and medication related issues for our care home residents. When clinically appropriate, you will be expected to implement and action changes to the patient19s medical prescribing record as directed by primary, secondary or community care; working at all times within professional limits. Provide expertise in clinical medicines review and address public health and social needs of these patients.

Responsibilities

• Lead, deliver and evaluate a specialist care home pharmacy service by providing in-depth, patient focused Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) to the care home residents under the care of our PCN care home team.
• Support with care home visits and ward rounds as required by the care home team and in line with local need.
• Promote the safe, high quality and cost effective use of medicines in care homes.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical advice in complex situations (where advice may be challenged) to health care professionals across the PCN and to care home staff.
• Communicate highly complex medicines related information with residents and/or their carers who may have complex care and communication needs.
• Work with the care home team to develop and co-ordinate discharge pathways for care home residents to ensure all patients have appropriate and timely medicines optimisation post-discharge and suitable pharmaceutical management plans moving forwards.
• Contribute to reductions in medicine related hospital admissions and readmissions by supporting patients to get the best outcomes from their medicines and identifying and addressing medicines related issues.
• Ensure prescribing and administration of medicines and disposal of medicinal waste follows appropriate legislation and health and safety policies.
• To support the PCN in ensuring the Network Impact and investment Fund (IIF) and Quality Prescribing and Medicines Service (QPMS) targets are met and maximum reimbursable achieved where possible.
• Reduce inappropriate polypharmacy and wasteful prescribing through structured medication review.
• Interface with community and hospital pharmacy colleagues across the network to foster good working relationships and improve their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the care home team as needed.
• Oversee the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process, including reviewing requests for repeat prescriptions and medicines reaching review dates.
• Ensure adherence to the Hereford & Worcestershire formulary and the optimizeRx prescribing support software to improve the quality, safety, and cost effectiveness of prescribing.
• Action any relevant medication safety alerts (e.g., MHRA alerts, NPSA alerts, Supply Disruption Alerts, CAS alerts) for care home residents in line with local guidance and in liaison with the practice pharmacy teams.
• Lead on supporting the care homes in the safe and timely monitoring of any high-risk medications in line with appropriate local and national guidance.
• Lead and develop clinical audit relating to the use of medicines in care homes and for care home SMRs.
• Work with primary care professionals and patients to implement NICE and other evidence-based guidelines.
• Work with Commissioning organisations and the PCN to comply with local medicines optimisation schemes and projects.
• Deliver medicines information and training to members of the care home team, local practices within the PCN, care home team members and other local stakeholders as needed.

Qualifications and training

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio
• Completed CPPE pathway
• Independent Prescriber qualification - Desirable
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Desirable
• May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification
• Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice

Behavioral competencies and skills

• Expert Professional Practice: Demonstrates general pharmaceutical skills and knowledge in core areas; able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general pharmaceutical care programmes for patients in core areas.
• Accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision as an individual.
• Ability to use skills in routine situations requiring analysis or comparison of options; recognises priorities and refers to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Follows legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
• Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE.

Collaborative working relationships

Recognises the roles of other colleagues and demonstrates appropriate communication to gain cooperation from patients, colleagues, and other organisations. Works as a team member and refers to more appropriate colleagues when necessary. Liaises with PCN colleagues including GPs, Advanced Practitioners, Paramedics and Pharmacy Technicians to ensure continuity of care. Liaises with ICB colleagues and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support.

Leadership

• Demonstrates understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and contributes to the workplace vision.
• Contributes to quality improvement within service limitations.
• Reviews progress and develops plans to achieve results within set priorities; motivates self to achieve goals.

Education, training and development

• Demonstrates role model characteristics and mentorship; conducts teaching and assessment with a learning plan and supervision as needed.
• Engages in continuous professional development and participates in formal education programmes.
• Keeps up to date with relevant educational policies and clinical practice.

Research and evaluation

• Critically evaluates literature, identifies evidence gaps, generates local evidence, and applies the research base into practice; understands research governance and works as a research team member.

Confidentiality

• Recognises and respects patient and staff confidentiality; information is shared only with authorised persons per policy.

Communication

• Communicates effectively with team members, patients and carers; accommodates alternative communication needs as required.

Health & safety

The post-holder promotes health, safety and security in line with policy and procedures, including infection control, hazard reporting, and maintaining clean and safe work areas.

Equality and diversity

The post-holder will support equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues.

Other information

Disclosure and Barring Service check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a DBS disclosure. UK sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. UK registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For details see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Vertis Health

Henwick Halt Medical Centre, 1 Ingles Drive, Worcester, WR2 5HL

Employer's website: https://www.vertishealth.org.uk/