Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in Bristol is seeking a part-time pharmacist to join their Medicines Optimisation Team. Responsibilities include supporting project developments, managing prescribing budgets, and promoting evidence-based medicine among GP practices. The ideal candidate should be a registered pharmacist with excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills. This role requires teamwork and the ability to present complex information clearly.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist able to cover GP practices across specified region.
• Strong communication skills and experience influencing prescribing.
• Excellent organisational and project delivery skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Medicines Optimisation project development with the team.
• Promote patient-focused care and manage prescribing budget.
• Analyze complex data and present findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Excellent organisational skills

Ability to analyse complex information

Education

Registered pharmacist with the GPhC

Demonstrated continuing professional development

Job description

Position Overview

Part‑time, 22.5 hours per week, permanent. Join our successful and well‑respected ICB Medicines Optimisation Team as a dynamic pharmacist.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Medicines Optimisation project development and evaluation with the ICB office‑based team.
• Promote safe, evidence‑based, patient‑focused care and undertake medication‑related clinical projects with GP practices.
• Assist GP practices in managing their prescribing budget and develop an optimised prescribing pattern that is quality‑driven, risk‑minimised, evidence‑based, financially sustainable and regulatory compliant.
• Lead the implementation of local and national medicines management policies at the practice level.
• Promote the use of the BNSSG formulary within BNSSG GP practices to encourage cost‑effective, evidence‑based prescribing.
• Challenge prescribers on appropriateness of prescribing to align with local and national guidelines and BNSSG formularies.
• Implement the ICB medicines management strategy at the practice level.
• Manage GP practice prescribing budgets using various data sources.
• Analyse and interpret highly complex data (ePACT data, financial reports and trial data) for GP practices and report prescribing trends requiring investigation.
• Develop and implement data collection systems that provide accurate and timely data.
• Present information and issues, explaining highly complex issues, to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Take action to tackle prescribing practices identified as not of optimum quality, not evidence‑based or not financially sustainable.
• Develop audits to critically evaluate prescribing and utilisation of medicines.
• Facilitate change in practices that are under‑performing against prescribing targets.
• Work with designated GP practices to agree short‑term, medium‑term and long‑term work plans using initiative to manage workload and meet ICB and practice deadlines.
• Serve as a point of contact as expert knowledge to answer day‑to‑day queries related to prescribing and medicines management from GPs and other healthcare professionals.
• Carry out any other duties related to improving the prescribing process within practices.
• Conduct patient medication reviews where appropriate, including face‑to‑face consultation.
• Use expert clinical knowledge to identify pharmaceutical care issues for patients, e.g., identifying unnecessary or ineffective therapy, unmet pharmaceutical needs, monitoring requirements, incorrect dosing or times of administration, contraindications, side‑effects and complications arising from polypharmacy or drug interactions.
• Assess and identify problems with concordance including practical issues with taking medications for patients, e.g., manual dexterity, visual impairment, cognitive impairment, swallowing difficulties, ordering and collection of prescriptions. Liaise with other healthcare professionals to find appropriate solutions.
• Take a lead in the coordination of training & development as delegated by line manager.
• Contribute to the short and medium‑term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with the GPhC and demonstrated continuing professional development.
• Ability to cover GP practices across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
• Strong communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills, and experience working with clinicians and influencing prescribing.
• Excellent organisational skills with effective time management and successful project delivery.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information and identify solutions to complex problems.