PCN Clinical Pharmacist

NHS; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in High Wycombe is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist to work within a supportive team. You will manage medication optimization and conduct clinical reviews to improve patient outcomes. The role offers flexible hours and is currently a fixed-term contract with potential for extension. Applicants should possess a Masters in Pharmacy and be registered with GPhC, with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Competitive salary and conducive working environment await successful candidates.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years post registration experience in a hospital, community or general practice setting.
• Experience of undertaking medication or medicine use reviews.
• Experience with multidisciplinary work.

Responsibilities

• Clinically assess and treat patients using expert knowledge of medicines.
• Manage caseload of common/minor ailments.
• Provide telephone and patient-facing medicines support.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Clinical audit experience

Ability to work independently

Knowledge of medicines management

Education

Masters Degree in Pharmacy

Registered with GPhC

Postgraduate Diploma & Qualification

Job description

Cygnet PCN is seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Clinical Pharmacist to join our GP practice network in HighWycombe.

The PCN is made up of four GP practices (DesboroughandHazelmereSurgery,KingswoodSurgery, PriorySurgery andTowerHouseSurgery),providingservicesforapproximately46000patients. Thepracticeshaveastronghistoryofworkingtogetherandhavebeaingmakingsignificantstridestowardsintegratedworking.

Wearelookingforanindividualto developandmanageallaspectsofmedicationmanagement,supportingtheGPsatthePractices.

ThesuccessfulcandideswillbepartofasupportivenetworkofClinicians,SocialPrescribers,PracticeManagersandexcellentalministrativesacrossallthePracticesthatmakeuptheCygnetPCN.Thisisevolvingrolewithhuge scopefordevelopment.

FulldetailscanbefoundintheJobDescriptionandPersonSpecification.

Workingarrangementscanhaveflexibleforthesuccessfullindividuals.Fullandparttimehourswouldbeconsidered.Thepostiscurrentlyafixedtermcontractof12monthsworkingatDesborough&HazlemereSurgeries,butthereisapossibilitythatisouldbeextended.

Informalenquiriesandvisitsarewelcome.Pleaseapplyvia contraindylkswebsitpreviousapplicantsneednotapply.

Main duties of the job

The ClinicalPharmacist(s)worksaspartoofamedisciplinaryteamwithinGeneralPracticeinpatientfacingroleto clinically assessand treatpatientsusingtheirexpertknowledgeofmedicinesforspecific diseaseareas.

Thepostholderwillaintegratepartoftheteam,andaspartofawidercommunitygroupsandtheir multidisciplinaryteams.

Theypresulterswillbeprescribers,ortrainingtobeccomeprescribers.Theytremsponsibilityforthecaremanagementofpatientswithchronicdiseaseandundertakeclinicalmedicationreviews.

Theywillprovide specialistexpertiseintheeuseofmedicineswhilsthelpingaddressboththepublic healthand socialcareneedsofpatientsandhelp tackleinequalities.

ClinicalPharmacistswillprovidelederanceonpersoncenteredmedicinesoptimisationandqualityimprovement,whilstcontributingtoqualityandoutcomesframeworkandenhancedservices.Throughstructuredmedicationreviews,clinicalpharmacistswillsupportpatientswiththeirmedicines,reducewasteandpromoteselfcare.

ClinicalPharmacistswillhavealeadershiproleinsupportingfurtherintergrationwithwideerwarecare teams,tothehelpimprovepatientoutcomes,ensurebetteraccess tohealthcareandtohelpmanagetheGeneralPracticeworkload.The role has the potential to significantly improvequalityof careandsafetyforpatients.

Allclinicalpharmacists willbepartoffies networkand will have access to appropriate clinicalsupervision.

About us

The Cygnet Primary Care Network is an established Network serving46000patientsacross4GPPracticesinHighWycombe,alarge,diverstetowninBuckinghamshire.

Yeewillbecarepinadteam,alreadyconsistingofexperiencedGPs,supportedbyorganizedNurses/HealthCareAssistants,managementandadministrativeteamsas wellasParamedics,SocialPrescribers,PharmacyTechnicians andotherClinicalPharmacists.

Thereisafriendlyatmosperatallytsyestablishedatallsites,alongwithacan'd eswork ethic.Theresanoorandwellestablishedteaminplace,withlowstaffturnoverrate.

AllstaffareinvitedtohaveinputintodevelopmentandsmoothrunningofthePCN.

Job responsibilities

ThefollowingarethecoreresponsibilitiesofthePCNclinicalpharmacist.Theremaybeoccasionalsarequiremen to carryoutothertasks.Thiswillbedependentuponfactorsuchast,workloadandstaffinglevels:

Seepersonthereappropriatetalietreatmentmultimddligproblemwheremedicineoptimizationisrequired(e.g.COPD,asthma.

Reviewongoingneedforthewhealrinccimudtnownerment.

Patient facing clinical medication review

Undertakeclinicalmedicationreviewswithpatientsandproduce recommendatiesto seniorclinpharmacists,nursesand/orsGPonprescribingandmonitoring.

Undertakeclinicalmedicationreviewswithpatientsandproducerecommendatiesto thesenclinicalpharmacists,nurses or GPsonprescribingandmonitoring.Workwithcarehome stafftoimprovesafetymeds orderingand administration.

Patient facing domiciliary clinical medication review

Undertakeclinicalmedicationreviewswithpatiandproducecommendatiesto thesenclinicalpharmacists,nursesandGPsons prescribingandmonitoring.Attendantandjanreesiodsdicuusecase conference.

Management of common/minori/self-limiting ailments

Manage caseload ofpatistherecommon/minor/self-limitingailmentswhileworkingwithissingpracticeand limitscompetence.

Signposttocommunitypharmacyandrefer to GPs orotherhealthcareprofessionleswhereappropriate

Patient facing medicines support

Provide patient facing clinics for those with medicines queries

Telephone medicines support

Provide telephone help line for patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines.

Medicine information to practice staff and patients

Answerrelevantmedicine-related enquiries from GPs,Sotherpractice staff,Ootherhealthcare teams(e.g.community pharmacy)and patientswith queries aboutmedicine. Suggestandrecommendsolutions.

Provide follow up for patients to monitor the effect ofany changes.

Unplanned hospital admissions

Review the use of medicines most commonly associated withunplanned hospital admissions and readmissions through auditand individualpatient reviews.

Put in place changes to reduce prescribing of thesemedicines to highrisk patient groups.

Management of medicines at discharge from hospital

Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals,intermediate careand into care homes,includingidentifying and rectifyingunexplained changesandworking with patients and community pharmacists toensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge. Set up andmanage systems to ensure continuity of medicines supply to highrisk groupsof patients.

Signposting

Ensurepatientsare referred tothe appropriate healthcare professionalfor the appropriate level of care within an appropriate periodof.

Repeat prescribing

Produce and implement a practice repeat prescribingpolicy.

Manage the repeat prescribing reauthorization process by reviewing patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines reaching review dates and flagging up those needing a review. Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required.

Identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines through pre-prepared practice computer searches. This mightincluderisks that are patient related, medicine related, orboth.

Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components.

Information Management

Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlightissues and risks to support decision-making.

undertakenclinical audits of prescribing in areas directedby the Accountable Clinical Director(ACD)forthenetwork, feedback resultsandimplement changes in conjunction with the ACD.

implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance.

Implementation of local and national guidelines andformulary recommendations

monitor practice prescribing against the local health economys RAG list and make recommendations to GPs for medicines that should beprescribed by hospital doctors(coden red drugs) or subject to sharedcare(amber drugs).

Assist practices in seeing and maintaining a practice formulary that is hosted on the practices computer system. Auditing practices compliance against NICE technology assessment guidance. Provide newsletters or bulletins on important prescribing messages.

Education and Training

Provide education and training to primary healthcare teamon therapeutics and medicines optimization.

Care Quality Commission

Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved.

Public Health

Support public health campaigns. Provide specialist knowledge

General within the practice

a. To work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities

b.to work with your line manager to access regular clinical supervision, to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present

c. To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

d. to contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

e. To attend a formal appraisal with your manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

f. To contribute to public health campaigns (e.g.flu clinics) through advice or direct care.

g. To maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the clinical pharmacist may be requested to:

a. Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives.

b. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

c. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

PersonSpecification

Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Registered with GPhC.
• Specialist knowledge through a Postgraduate Diploma & Qualification.
• Evidence of recent CPD.
• Independent Prescriber status or a commitment to undertake the course.

Experience

• At least 2 years post registration experience in a hospital, community or general practice setting.
• Experience of undertaking medication or medicine use reviews, and patient counselling.
• Experience of working with clinicians and multidisciplinary/multi-agency work.
• Experience in undertaking clinical audit.
• Experience of facilitating change to improve clinical practice.
• Experience of delivering training sessions to varied groups.

Knowledge and Skills

• Effective interpersonal, communication (both written and oral) presentation and influencing skills.
• Ability to work with a range of clinical and non-clinical personnel as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate medicines and service related information to decision makers at all levels and have advice challenged.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with a high degree of motivation for long periods.
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines, often with frequent interruptions and urgent requests.
• Ability to define, collate, analyse and interpret data.
• Ability to communicate information to patients and careers in an appropriate manner, using well developed empathy skills.
• Ability to deal with occasionally distressing or emotional circumstances, including contact with terminally ill patients and their carers or relatives.
• Knowledge of issues regarding the protection of vulnerable adults and children, frail elderly and those with dementia.
• Knowledge of medicines management issues across primary, acute and domiciliary care settings including strategies for the improvement of prescribing.
• Understanding and appreciation of National and local policies which impinge on primary care prescribing.
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance and how these apply in the broader arena.
• Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities.
• Capacity to be innovative and develop the role of a practice pharmacist.
• Ability to motivate people and facilitate change.
• Able to utilise databases and information technology, including word processing, spreadsheets and presentation packages effectively.
• Accepts responsibility for own work with freedom to take action based on own interpretation of broad clinical professional policies.
• Understanding of the current issues facing primary care teams.
• An understanding of prescribing budgets and financial information.

Personal Attributes

• Professional approach to work demonstrating excellent interactive patient skills. Guided by professional code, accountable and responsible for own professional actions.
• Able to work under pressure and prioritise task to ensure urgent work is completed on time.
• Able to engage rapidly with existing stakeholder and networks.
• Builds credibility (personal and organisational) and rapport quickly.
• Able to communicate effectively and engage with individuals from other agencies, including patients and the public.

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner if required.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.

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 (formerlyknown as CRB)to check for any previous criminal convictions.