PCN Clinical Pharmacist

NHS; St Helens; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Newton and Haydock Primary Care Network is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist to work across GP practices in St Helens. This role involves conducting medication reviews, improving prescribing practices, and working within a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality patient care. Candidates should have a Masters in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Benefits

Access to CPPE education pathway

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Able to plan, manage, and review medication for long-term conditions.
• Experience in primary care is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medication reviews for patients with chronic conditions.
• Improve prescribing practices and manage polypharmacy.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care.

Skills

Clinical knowledge

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Education

Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm)

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council

Job description

Job summary

Newton and Haydock Primary Care Network LTD. has an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Pharmacist to work across GP practices in their Primary Care Network (PCN). We recognise the value that pharmacists can bring to our practices and our patients and we look forward to growing our PCN pharmacy team. Our aim is to provide exemplary patient care; finding innovative solutions in general practice to deliver the best care we can to our patients.

We are seeking enthusiastic and forward-thinking pharmacists to join our like-minded PCN. The post-holder will be responsible for the medication and medicines reviews for surgery patients, care home residents and other high-risk patients. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, advising and supporting colleagues in line with local and national guidance, to promote high quality, safe and cost-effective care for patients. You will become part of a group of PCN Clinical Pharmacists working under the supervision of the Lead PCN Clinical Pharmacist and GP Clinical Supervisor.

Primary care and/or care home experience would be an advantage, however, is not essential. Flexibility, enthusiasm and good clinical knowledge are essential. Successful candidates will be supported in terms of clinical learning and professional development through access to a GP clinical supervisor, other clinical pharmacists and enrolment onto a formal education pathway delivered through CPPE (if not already completed).

Main duties of the job

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role
• Conduct structured medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Provide clinical medicines expertise to both patients and general practice team
• Improve prescribing practices across the Primary Care Network
• Improve service and quality through mechanisms such as audits and PDSA cycles
• Interface with community and hospital colleagues to help resolve medication-related issues

About us

Newton & Haydock Primary Care Network: About Us

Newton and Haydock Primary Care Network consists of 4 NHS GP practices in Newton-le-Willows and Haydock, across several sites. The Network enables NHS staff to work across the practices to help deliver services to 50,000 patients.

The Practice Sites:

• Newton Medical Centre, 1 Belvedere Road, Newton le Willows
• Newton Community Hospital Practice, Bradleigh Road, Newton le Willows
• Patterdale Lodge, Legh Street and High Street, Newton le Willows
• Vista Road Surgery, Newton le Willows
• Haydock Medical Centre, Woodside Road, Haydock
• Dr Rahil's Surgery, Old Whint Road, Haydock

Details Date posted

06 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience AFC band 7 equivalent

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

W0010-25-0001

Job locations

Haydock Medical Centre

Woodside Road

Haydock

St. Helens

Merseyside

WA11 0NA

Newton Medical Centre

1 Belvedere Road

Newton-le-willows

Merseyside

WA12 0JJ

Patterdale Lodge Medical Centre

Legh Street

Newton-le-willows

Merseyside

WA12 9NA

Vista Road Surgery

Vista Road

Newton-le-willows

Merseyside

WA12 9ED

Doctors Surgery

Old Whint Road

Haydock

St. Helens

Merseyside

WA11 0DN

Newton Community Hospital

Bradlegh Road

Newton-le-willows

Merseyside

WA12 8RB

Job description Job responsibilities

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Patient facing Medication Review Clinics

• Conduct face-to-face, telephone, domiciliary and virtual (where appropriate) clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with chronic conditions
• Proactively identify and manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Review the on-going need for each medication, ensuring monitoring needs are performed and an opportunity to support patients achieve better health outcomes
• Reduce inappropriate polypharmacy and wasteful prescribing
• Make appropriate recommendations

Medicines Information

• Answer relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines.
• Suggest and recommend solutions using clinical knowledge and trusted pharmaceutical sources

Medicine Reconciliation

• Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post-discharge.

Medicines Management

• Work with the practices to develop and implement ways to improve monitoring of high-risk medication such as anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and DMARDs, etc
• Monitor practice prescribing against local guidelines and formulary recommendations

Medicine safety

• Work with practices and the medicines management team to implement changes to medication that result from CAS/MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, and other local/national guidance
• Develop and implement systems to identify cohorts of patients most likely to be at risk of unplanned admissions and readmissions from medication

Collaborating Working Relationships

• Work collaboratively with the PCN team
• Develop relationships and work closely with community, hospital and MMT pharmacy colleagues and the wider health system
• Liaise with other stakeholders for the collective benefit of patients
• Attend relevant network and practice meetings

Education and Training

• Provide specialist education to pharmacy colleagues, nursing staff and GPs on aspects of medicines optimisation
• Demonstrate self-development through continuous professional development
• Support antimicrobial stewardship

Practice Targets

• Support practices to deliver on IIF, QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services
• To be aware of the prescribing budget and identify and action areas for cost improvement
• Work with practices and the PCN team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved

Other

This Job Description is not exhaustive and may change as the post develops, but such change will not take place without consultation between the post holder and his/her manager.

There is a need to travel between sites, therefore ability to drive and uses own car is an advantage.

Job description Job responsibilities

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Patient facing Medication Review Clinics

• Conduct face-to-face, telephone, domiciliary and virtual (where appropriate) clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with chronic conditions
• Proactively identify and manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Review the on-going need for each medication, ensuring monitoring needs are performed and an opportunity to support patients achieve better health outcomes
• Reduce inappropriate polypharmacy and wasteful prescribing
• Make appropriate recommendations

Medicines Information

• Answer relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines.
• Suggest and recommend solutions using clinical knowledge and trusted pharmaceutical sources

Medicine Reconciliation

• Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post-discharge.

Medicines Management

• Work with the practices to develop and implement ways to improve monitoring of high-risk medication such as anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and DMARDs, etc
• Monitor practice prescribing against local guidelines and formulary recommendations

Medicine safety

• Work with practices and the medicines management team to implement changes to medication that result from CAS/MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, and other local/national guidance
• Develop and implement systems to identify cohorts of patients most likely to be at risk of unplanned admissions and readmissions from medication

Collaborating Working Relationships

• Work collaboratively with the PCN team
• Develop relationships and work closely with community, hospital and MMT pharmacy colleagues and the wider health system
• Liaise with other stakeholders for the collective benefit of patients
• Attend relevant network and practice meetings

Education and Training

• Provide specialist education to pharmacy colleagues, nursing staff and GPs on aspects of medicines optimisation
• Demonstrate self-development through continuous professional development
• Support antimicrobial stewardship

Practice Targets

• Support practices to deliver on IIF, QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services
• To be aware of the prescribing budget and identify and action areas for cost improvement
• Work with practices and the PCN team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved

Other

This Job Description is not exhaustive and may change as the post develops, but such change will not take place without consultation between the post holder and his/her manager.

There is a need to travel between sites, therefore ability to drive and uses own car is an advantage.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent).
• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council.

Desirable

• Postgraduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Independent prescriber or working towards.
• Completed/Enrolled onto the CPPE Primary Care Pathway.

Experience Essential

• Good all-round clinical knowledge and practical skills.
• Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review medication for patients in core areas, including long term conditions.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences.
• Works effectively independently and as part of a team.
• Please refer to the supporting documents attached to this application, for full person specification.

Desirable

• Experience of working within primary care

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent).
• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council.

Desirable

• Postgraduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Independent prescriber or working towards.
• Completed/Enrolled onto the CPPE Primary Care Pathway.

Experience Essential

• Good all-round clinical knowledge and practical skills.
• Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review medication for patients in core areas, including long term conditions.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences.
• Works effectively independently and as part of a team.
• Please refer to the supporting documents attached to this application, for full person specification.

Desirable

• Experience of working within 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Newton & Haydock Primary Care Network

Address

Haydock Medical Centre

Woodside Road

Haydock

St. Helens

Merseyside

WA11 0NA

Employer's website

https://www.newtonhaydockpcn.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Newton & Haydock Primary Care Network

Address

Haydock Medical Centre

Woodside Road

Haydock

St. Helens

Merseyside

WA11 0NA

Employer's website

https://www.newtonhaydockpcn.com/ (Opens in a new tab)