Clinical Pharmacist

At Newtons Practice we are committed to providing high quality, patient centred care. We are looking for a Clinical Pharmacist to work alongside and enhance our established and friendly Pharmacy team. We will consider either part-time or full time on a fixed term contract for one year.

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will play a key role in optimising medication use, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring safe and effective prescribing. You will be responsible for delivering structured medication reviews, supporting chronic disease management, and providing expert advice on medicines. The role will also involve working across care interfaces, supporting care homes, and ensuring seamless patient care.

Job responsibilities

Job responsibilities within scope of practice

1. Undertake clinics, diagnose and treat patients, and manage chronic disease areas, including heart failure reviews, structured medication reviews (SMRs), hypertension management, and lipid management.
2. Provide pharmaceutical input for chronic disease management, ensuring to make every contact count.
3. Carry out medicines optimisation reviews for patients in care homes and those with complex conditions.
4. Identify patients requiring a medication review and undertake the review to optimise drug therapy, reduce polypharmacy, and minimise unnecessary waste.
5. Manage long-term conditions through conducting structured Medicine Reviews and Chronic Disease Management clinics.
6. Review and action incoming hospital correspondence, particularly for medicine reconciliation or initiation, and manage medicines from transfer of care.
7. Provide advice on queries from other healthcare professionals.
8. Advise patients of the adverse side effects of medication and potential interactions with other treatments.
9. Support GP practice staff and the wider practice team with medicines and long-term disease advice.
10. Advise on risk management processes related to prescribing and monitoring of specialist drugs.
11. Help improve disease registers to ensure suitable patients are identified and offered treatment and monitoring.
12. Assist GPs with the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process.
13. Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required.
14. Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings related to prescribing topics and engage in training of other healthcare professionals.
15. Undertake clinical audits of prescribing and implement changes in conjunction with the practice team.
16. Contribute to achieving Quality Outcome Frameworks objectives.
17. Prepare evidence-based resources to support the Clinical Pharmacy Team in rational cost-effective prescribing.
18. Support MOIS and other projects outlined annually by the practice and local ICB.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Mandatory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Satisfactory current DBS check.
• Knowledge of GPs and general practice services.
• Knowledge of primary care prescribing, rational prescribing, and strategies for improving prescribing.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and negotiating skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients.
• Ability to use work-based IT programs to deliver high quality care.
• Ability to analyse complex technical information.
• Able to prioritise and identify deviations from the normal pattern.
• Able to recognise limitations and refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Produce timely and informative reports.
• Work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and flexible in approach to patient care.
• Specialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate diploma or equivalent training/experience.
• PCPEP completed.
• Experience of working in a GP practice or Primary Care Network.
• In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge of evidence-based healthcare.
• Ability to plan, manage, monitor, and review general medicine optimisation issues.
• Able to gain acceptance for recommendations and influence compliance.
• Experience of documenting patient care on Emis clinical software or similar.

Experience

• Appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice.
• Understanding of primary care prescribing and strategies for improvement.
• Strong understanding of medicines optimisation, chronic disease management, and prescribing guidelines.
• Understanding of the mentorship process in supporting Pharmacy team colleagues.
• Appreciation of the new NHS landscape and relationships between practices, PCNs, and commissioners.
• Minimum of two years working as a pharmacist demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• Experience in managing pharmacy services in primary care.
• Broad knowledge of General Practice.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and it will be necessary to submit for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.