PCN Care Homes Clinical Pharmacist

PartnersHealth; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Nottingham seeks a qualified Care Home Pharmacist to support medication reviews and management for residents in care homes. The role requires an Independent Prescriber and involves working closely with GP practices and care home staff to improve medication management processes. Flexibility in hours is offered, with a commitment to professional development and competitive benefits, including NHS pension. Ideal candidates will have a pharmacy degree and at least two years of relevant experience.

Benefits

Annual leave

NHS Pension

Employee assistance program

Support for continuous professional development

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as a pharmacist.
• Experience in medicines management for elderly care.
• Ability to work independently and organize workload.

Responsibilities

• Conduct annual structured medication reviews for care home residents.
• Develop efficient repeat prescribing systems.
• Improve medicines management processes in care homes.

Skills

Independent Prescriber

Excellent communication

Knowledge of medicines management

Strong negotiation skills

Data processing skills

Education

Pharmacy degree (Masters level or equivalent)

Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council

Tools

SystmOne Clinical system

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

We are looking for a qualified clinical pharmacist, with an IP qualification to complete medication reviews, support medication management for people living in care home, complete covert medication plans and to provide expert knowledge and advice to the care home team, care home staff and residents, as GP practice teams.

Main duties of the job

We are looking to recruit a Care Homes Pharmacist who will work within the Care Homes Clinical Team in Rushcliffe with the support of our well established PCN pharmacy team.

The National Care Home Direct Enhanced Service (DES), and good practice requires, annual medication reviews which will be a priority for this role. The role will require you to complete structured medication reviews, covert medication plans, work with care homes to support and improve their medicines management processes and provide an expert resource for the team, the care homes and GP practice clinicians.

As a clinical pharmacist, the post-holder must be an Independent Prescriber and be prepared to enroll on the CPPE pharmacists in general practice training pathway if not already completed.

In the main this role will be office based, but there will be times, you will need to visit a care tome to have face to face discussions with the resident and/or care home staff.

In Rushcliffe PCN we have a highly skilled team of PCN pharmacists working in the 11 Rushcliffe GP practices, and this role will also link with the PCN lead pharmacist as well as the practice pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

The 22.5 hours per week can be flexible across Monday to Friday.

About us

In return we offer a friendly, supportive working environment which demonstrates a commitment to providing supervision, learning and continuous professional development, together with a competitive salary package, annual leave and other benefits including NHS Pension and an employee assistance program.

PartnersHealth LLP was formed on 2nd October 2015 by the GP Partners of the General Practices in Rushcliffe in recognition and response to the changing NHS landscape. It is constituted as a membership organisation, a partnership of partnerships. Our vision is to continue to care for our patients and our community by creating a sustainable provider of modern general practice.

A more exhaustive list of job responsibilities and the necessary skills, experience and qualifications can be found in our Job Description and Person Specification. Please note you will need to meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification to be considered for the role.

For an informal discussion please contact Liz Harris, Care Home Team Lead via email at [e-mail] to arrange a telephone conversation.

Closing date - 11th January 2026

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION: Rushcliffe PCN Care Home Pharmacist

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To lead and support the work of the Primary Care Network to ensure that all care home residents receive an annual Structured Medication Review as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric assessment

To be the first point of contact for medicines related queries for care homes across Rushcliffe Primary Care Network.

To improve medicines management in Nursing and Residential care homes, working in partnership with all appropriate agencies and staff

To work with general practice and community pharmacy to develop efficient repeat prescribing / dispensing systems to support care home prescribing across the whole sector

To support the Lead PCN pharmacist with the management of the COVID programs and vaccines as required.

To support the development of quality initiatives that address identified prescribing and medicines management issues, including those that cross interfaces

To support the implementation of medicines related elements of national policy declarations relating to care homes

To support the care homes sector, including residential and nursing care and Housing with Care units, with medication review of patients as required

To work with colleagues to establish and develop good medicines management systems across the care homes sector.

1 Main Duties and Responsibilities

To assist the PCN care homes team and wider MDT with care home-related medication queries

Work to introduce systems across providers in both primary and secondary care to ensure accurate medicines reconciliation for care home patients when moving across the interface

Work with community pharmacy on the development of robust systems for the delivery of repeat and acute medication needs to care homes including appropriate use of repeat dispensing services

Keep records of reviews and issues arising to identify trends. Feedback identified prescribing issues to support the care homes team in developing quality initiatives and action plans.

Liaise as required with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to keep up to date with current guidance concerning medicines use in care homes. Identify any issues that may ensue and work to address them.

Liaise with care home staff as necessary to ensure accurate exchange of information and clarification of queries regarding medicines to facilitate safe handling, storage, administration and destruction of medicines

Respond efficiently to the unpredictable demands of the care home sector environment with regard to requests for assistance from staff and patients

Liaise with personnel form NUH regarding admission and discharge of patients from and to their care home.

Keep up to date with weekly news pertaining to prescribing and medicines issues and extract key information for dissemination to the primary healthcare team across the provider arm

Work effectively and flexibly as part of the Care Homes Team

Work effectively with the PCN pharmacy team across all practices within the PCN.

Work on individual projects relating to prescribing as required, for example: development and delivery of training packages and development of Medicines Policy protocols, procedures and policies.

To implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.

To ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives

The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the residents and care home managers within Rushcliffe receive assistance in accessing health care interventions by signposting to the most appropriate person to provide care

To participate in the weekly care home rounds and the MDT as appropriate

Make recommendations regarding patient management in accordance with Local and National guidelines relating to the management of the older population.

To assist in developing an evidence base for health needs led service planning, delivery and commissioning.

Work with the Care Home Lead and GP leads in developing the strategic and operational management of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Service.

To participate in the development and delivery of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service across Rushcliffe

To support the Lead PCN clinical pharmacist, with the management of COVID vaccines to support National programs and on behalf of Rushcliffe PCN. This will included signing in and out of vaccine into the fridge, management of documentation to support the program, and ensuring the cold chain is maintained.

To establish and improve professional standards of care in the management of residents within care homes by developing partnerships with key stakeholders

Demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work effectively alerting any risks and benefits when developing services and practice in new areas.

To undertake research and service development.

Utilising and interpreting data, to support service improvement for care homes and primary care, as well as understanding the demands on urgent and emergency services to reduce avoidable activity where possible. Data and local intelligence will be utilised to develop and influence new ways of working to improve patient care, the resilience of primary care and system partners.

The post holder will promote new ways of working promoting the use of digital technology, for example remote consultations and MS Teams MDTs

The post holder will be required to evidence the impacts of the post and provide data monitoring to further shape the role and delivery of the Care Home DES within Rushcliffe

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and to participate in the review and appraisal process.

To adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times.

To reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision.

2 Professional/Clinical Responsibilities

To make amendments to patient records, written and/or computer, as appropriate to ensure agreed changes to therapy are actioned in a precise and systematic fashion

Develop appropriate systems for the assessment of improved medicines management including evaluation of cost savings, reduction of medication errors and reduction of hospital admissions

Carry out clinical medication review for patients in care homes, other relevant facilities, and for other patients as appropriate. Assist staff in identifying those patients who would benefit from pharmaceutical intervention.

Liaise and communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and/or carers, who on occasions may be resistant to change, on subjects which are often of a very sensitive nature, on all aspects of good medicines management with the objective of optimising patient outcomes

Liaise with PCN, community and CCG pharmacists, community nurses, hospital pharmacists other healthcare staff and Social Care as required to ensure changes are implemented smoothly. Work with appropriate team members to facilitate seamless admission and discharge in respect of medicines

Provide highly specialised medicines management support including prescribing information, advice and guidance to ensure effective, appropriate, cost-effective and safe prescribing to all prescribers, other healthcare professionals and support staff in the care homes sector including residential homes, nursing homes and Housing with Care facilities

Assist prescribers in managing the implementation of NICE guidance and other local or national guidance and the introduction of new therapies

Identify specific patient, or patient group, related prescribing problems or issues and to provide highly specialised advice, guidance and support on the appropriate course of action

Formulate solutions to complex prescribing issues where conflicting opinions may exist

3 Collaborative Working Relationships

Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care

Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)

Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team

Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary

Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality

Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality

Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships

Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams

Liaises with PCN colleagues including PCN Pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit

Liaises with PCN pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support

Liaises with other GP Practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to

GP, nurses and other practice staff

Other healthcare professionals including CCG pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, optometrists, dentists, health and social care teams and dieticians etc

Locality / GP prescribing lead

Locality managers

Community nurses and other allied health professionals

Community and hospital pharmacy teams

Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation

4 Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Completion of an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist, demonstrated within your practice portfolio.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Skills

• Clear communicator with excellent writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts
• Good computer and data processing skills with a knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• A good understanding of the legal framework for prescribing and the national NHS medicines Quality agenda including QIPP, NICE, Medicines Act and Misuse of Drugs legislation
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Understanding of evaluating and measuring prescribing performance.
• Experience working with SystmOne Clinical system
• Strong communication and negotiation skills

Other Job Requirements

• Enthusiasm for working with elderly people in community settings
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• Willingness to travel within locality
• Use of own vehicle to travel between GP practices, care homes and CCG offices
• Ability to be flexible and adjust to a changing health care environment

Experience

• At least 2 years post registration relevant experience
• Knowledge of medicines management issues relating to primary care
• Experience in medicines in elderly care
• Knowledge of current NHS policies/processes and structures relating to prescribing and medicines
• Experience of undertaking of medicine reviews, prescribing and deprescribing
• Knowledge and experience of completing covert medication plans
• Experience of managing vaccination and process.

Education/Qualifications

• Pharmacy degree (Masters level or equivalent)
• Currently registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Completed CPPE

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.