Lead Pharmacist (Taunton Dean West PCN)

100Fold CIC; Taunton, Wellington; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare organization in Taunton is seeking a Lead Pharmacist to oversee efficiencies in prescription management and patient-centered medicines optimization. The role emphasizes leadership within a multidisciplinary team, focusing on patient outcomes and quality improvement initiatives. Candidates should possess an MPharm degree, a GPhC registration, and a minimum of 2 years of post-qualification experience. This position includes training responsibilities and contributions to service development, fostering an integrated healthcare approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience.
• Specialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the PCN Pharmacy Team.
• Lead on acute and repeat prescription management.
• Undertake structured medication reviews for patients.
• Run patient-facing clinics for long-term conditions.
• Support care homes by improving medicines management.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Clinical knowledge

Education

Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Job description

Taunton Dean West are looking for a Lead Pharmacist to join their team.

As LeadClinical Pharmacist for Taunton Deane West PCN, you will play a key role indelivering high-quality, patient-centred medicines optimisation across ListerHouse and Wellington Medical Centre. The post-holder will lead on acute andrepeat prescribing systems, medicines reconciliation, structured medicationreviews, and the management of complex medicines-related queries. You willsupport care homes, run face-to-face clinics, contribute to quality improvementinitiatives, and promote safer prescribing.

Workingas part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide advanced clinical supportto both practices, ensuring effective integration between primary care,community, and hospital pharmacy services. The role includes delivering expertmedicines optimisation for patients with polypharmacy, long-term conditions,and those in care settings.

You willhave line-management responsibility for the Pharmacy team, supporting theirdevelopment and ensuring clinical supervision, appraisal, and adherence to PCNand contractual requirements. As a senior leader within the PCN, you willcontribute to developing prescribing pathways, enhancing patient outcomes, andreducing workload pressures across the network.

This advert will close Sunday 28th December with interviews in early January.

For any questions about the role please email Maria on the email address attached in the advert.

Main duties of the job

Provide clinical leadership to the PCN Pharmacy Team, includingsupervision, support, and performance oversight.

Lead on acute and repeat prescription management, ensuring safe,effective prescribing processes.

Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with polypharmacy,long-term conditions, and complex clinical needs.

Carry out medicines reconciliation following discharge from hospital,care homes, or intermediate care.

Run patient-facing clinics for long-term conditions and medicinesoptimisation.

Support care homes by improving medicines management, safety, andadministration processes.

Respond to complex medication-related queries from clinicians, staff,community pharmacists, and patients.

Monitor and action prescribing safety alerts, formulary updates, andhigh-risk medicine reviews.

Lead and contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement projects,and prescribing data analysis.

Develop and implement local prescribing policies and repeat prescribingsystems.

Support CQC compliance relating to medicines governance and safety.

Deliver training and education to practice teams on therapeutics andprescribing safety.

Promote integration between primary care, community pharmacy, andsecondary care services.

Contribute to service development, pathway implementation, and publichealth initiatives.

Ensure effective signposting and referral to appropriate clinicians orservices.

About us

Taunton Deane WestPrimary Care Network is an NHS collaboration between 2 GP Practices -Wellington Medical Centre and Lister House Partnership. Our surgery teams areworking closely with each other, enjoying the ability to share expertise andresources, to develop new services. As an approved PCN Learning Organisationthere is a focus on creating a learning culture and enabling both learners andeducators to thrive.

Our vision is tocontinue to improve the quality of care that we provide in alignment with theneed of our patient population. Because we are part of a PCN, we are able totake advantage of additional staff roles that are now available to support allof our patients. These additional roles help us to provide the right care atthe right time, from the right professional.

Job responsibilities

Please see Lead Pharmacist Job description and Person specification attached for full breakdown of duties.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Is able to plan, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long-term conditions
• Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information
• Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
• Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Produce timely and informative reports
• Gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/motivate/persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers
• Work effectively independently and as a team member
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision
• In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience

Qualifications

• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical SocietySpecialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
• Completed or working towards a Primary Care

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.