Clinical Pharmacist

To be responsible for implementing an effective medicine management system within the practice, including cost-effective prescribing, working as an independent prescriber, providing advice and support for both patients and colleagues. In addition, the post-holder will also support the multi-disciplinary team, in line with the strategic objectives of the practice.

Main duties of the job

The following are the core responsibilities of the clinical pharmacist.

• Practice as an independent prescriber working within scope of practice
• Carry out face-to-face and telephone consultations with patients with minor illnesses
• Provide medication review services with patients in the practice and during domiciliary visits to the local nursing home
• Provide advice and support for patients with self-limiting conditions
• Encourage cost-effective prescribing within the practice
• Review all safety alerts ensuring the required actions are taken
• Reconcile medicines following patients' discharge from hospital or clinic appointments
• Review medications for newly registered patients
• Implement and embed a robust repeat prescribing system
• Provide subject matter expertise on medication monitoring, implementing and embedding a system
• Carry out targeted medication reviews for high-risk patients
• Re-authorise medication for repeat prescribing within scope of practice
• Identify patients suitable for repeat prescribing, liaising with the relevant clinicians as required
• Review and implement safe prescribing systems for vulnerable patients, improving compliance
• Actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional
• Assist with QOF targets

About us

The Meads are a friendly, multi-disciplinary team led by a team of 3 GP Directors and a Business Manager. The Practice administration is managed by a Practice Manager supported by an Operational Lead. A practice nursing team of three is supported by two healthcare assistants, and the wider team comprises a paramedic, advanced clinical practitioner, and a clinical pharmacist working remotely.

The team works from a purpose-built surgery in Sittingbourne, easily accessible to major road links. An accredited GP Training practice, we are keen to support and encourage clinicians from all disciplines to develop their interests alongside our traditional General Practice ethos, taking forward our plans for expansion in an area of regeneration.

Job responsibilities

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

• Attend practice meetings, including Business, Clinical Review, MDT and others as required
• Partake in audit as directed by the management lead
• Provide education on medicines for the clinical team
• Review the latest guidance ensuring the practice conforms to NICE, CQC etc.
• Act as the practice point of contact for all medicines-related matters, establishing positive working relationships
• And other delegated duties appropriate to the post

Delivering a quality service

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the GPhC. Produce accurate, contemporaneous, and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures. Prioritise, organise, and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality, providing supervision as appropriate to the administration and reception teams.

Deliver care as an individual and team according to NSF, NICE guidelines, and evidence-based care, assessing effectiveness of care delivery through peer review, benchmarking, and formal evaluation. Implement and review the application of evidence-based practice in medicines management. Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.

Monitor the performance of the nursing team in accordance with local policies. Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable children and adults, substance abuse, and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate. Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.

Teamworking

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working. Delegate appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of nurses. Support clinical team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care. Participate in research programmes. Contribute clinical pharmacy view to practice management. Set specification and quality required from nursing admin support.

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients. Contribute to the Register of Risk, providing risk assessment as necessary. Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety, and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Ensure safe storage, rotation, and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines.

Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice. Use technology and appropriate software packages as an aid to day-to-day operations. Review and process data using accurate read codes in order to ensure easy accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes. Adhere to statutory and practice requirements for Information Governance including confidentiality and Freedom of Information Act. Collate, analyse, and present clinical data and information to the team using appropriate charts and/or graphs to enhance care.

Learning and development

Disseminate learning and information to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g., courses and conferences). Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate. Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families, and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.

Communication

Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment. Communicate effectively with other agencies/partners. Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, and preferred ways of communicating, including those receiving bad news. Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues. Participate in practice team meetings, updating on medicines management. Produce written documents that evidence the contribution of the nursing team to the practice priorities.

Equality and Diversity

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity. Support people who need assistance in exercising rights. Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies. Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care, and refuse care. Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care.

Person Specification

Skills

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• Competent in the use of GP Clinical Systems (Emis Web)
• Ability to promote best practice regarding all pharmaceutical matters
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow policy and procedure

Experience

• Minimum of two years working as a pharmacist
• Experience in managing pharmacy services in primary care
• Broad knowledge of General Practice

Qualifications

• GPhC Registered Pharmacist
• Minor Ailments certification
• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated
• Forward thinker
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure

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.