Clinical Pharmacist (Prescribing)NHS

Job summary

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. This is not a remote position and the post-holder will be required to work from the practice premises. This post would suit someone who may wish to work 15 hours a week within school-hours such as 9.30am to 2.30pm three days a week.

Main duties of the job

Act as an independent prescriber within scope of practice, managing acute and repeat prescribing and providing face-to-face or telephone consultations for patients. Offer expert medicines advice, promote self-care and improve medication adherence.

Undertake clinical and structured medication reviews, focusing on patients with long-term conditions, polypharmacy, frailty, care home residents, learning disabilities, autism, COPD and asthma. Support medicines optimisation and reduce medicines-related harm.

Complete medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, outpatient appointments, care transitions and new patient registrations, ensuring accurate records and safe prescribing.

Lead on medicines optimisation, antimicrobial stewardship, medication safety and cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing. Contribute to QOF, enhanced services and quality improvement initiatives.

Develop and maintain safe repeat prescribing, recall and monitoring systems, particularly for high-risk medicines. Authorise repeat prescriptions where appropriate.

Work collaboratively with GPs, nursing teams, community pharmacies, hospitals and wider healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes, access and service efficiency. Support shared care, anticoagulation management, vulnerable patients and appropriate signposting to services.

Participate in clinical supervision, professional development and continuous improvement activities.

Job description

The following are the core responsibilities of the clinical pharmacist. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

• Practice as an independent prescriber, prescribing acute and repeat medication working within scope of practice and working with and alongside the practice team
• Carry out face-to-face and telephone consultations with patients with minor illnesses, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas
• Improve patient and carer understanding of confidence in and compliance with their medication
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
• Be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities -in particular frailty, COPD and asthma- and people with learning disabilities or autism -through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme-
• Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the organisation and to help in tackling inequalities
• Provide leadership on person-centred medicines optimisation -including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance- and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services
• To provide medication review services with patients in the practice and during domiciliary visits to the local nursing home. Additionally, through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care
• Have a leadership role in supporting further integration of general practice with the wider healthcare teams -including community and hospital pharmacy- to help to improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help to manage general practice workload
• Provide expert advice and clinical support to patients presenting with self-limiting conditions, promoting self-care and appropriate use of healthcare services.
• Support and promote cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing in line with local and national guidance.
• Review, action and monitor medicines-related safety alerts, ensuring timely implementation of required actions and maintaining patient safety.
• To reconcile medicines following patients discharge from hospital or clinic appointments
• Undertake medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, outpatient appointments and other transitions of care to ensure accurate and safe prescribing
• Reconcile and process medication changes resulting from correspondence received from secondary care and other third-party healthcare providers.
• Conduct medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for newly registered patients, ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of prescribed medicines.
• Implement and continuously improve robust repeat prescribing processes to promote safe, effective and efficient prescribing.
• Provide specialist expertise in medication monitoring, establishing and embedding recall systems to ensure patients receive appropriate and timely monitoring of high-risk medicines.
• Undertake structured and targeted medication reviews, particularly for patients with complex needs, polypharmacy or high-risk medications.
• Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols, clinical research with medicines, liaison with specialist pharmacists -including mental health and reduction of inappropriate antipsychotic use in people with learning difficulties-, liaison with community pharmacists, and anticoagulation
• Authorise repeat prescriptions within scope of practice, ensuring prescribing remains clinically appropriate and safe.
• Be part of a professional clinical network and have access to appropriate clinical supervision. Appropriate clinical supervision means:
• Each Clinical Pharmacist must receive a minimum of one supervision session per month by a senior clinical pharmacist
• The Senior Clinical Pharmacist must receive a minimum of one supervision session every three months by a GP clinical supervisor
• Each Clinical Pharmacist will have access to an assigned GP clinical supervisor for support and development
• A ratio of one Senior Clinical Pharmacist to no more than five junior Clinical Pharmacists, with appropriate peer support and supervision in place
• Identify patients suitable for repeat prescribing programmes and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to optimise prescribing arrangements.
• Develop and implement safe prescribing systems for vulnerable patient groups, supporting medication adherence and reducing medicines-related risks.
• Support clinicians in the management of patients with drug and alcohol dependency, contributing to safe and effective treatment plans.
• Signpost patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional or service to ensure timely access to care and support.
• Support the achievement of Quality and Outcomes Framework QOF indicators through proactive patient identification, medication optimisation and clinical interventions.
• Contribute to the delivery of medicines optimisation initiatives, improving patient outcomes, safety and the quality of prescribing across the practice.

About us

We are a friendly, forward-thinking and high-achieving GP practice where patient care is at the heart of everything we do. We are looking to recruit a part-time Prescribing Clinical Pharmacist to join our supportive and diverse team under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and wants to play a key role in improving the patient journey.

We believe our team are our strongest assets, and as such we strive to provide a positive and supportive working environment. We offer membership of the generous NHS Pension Scheme, occupational sick pay after 12 months employment, and we also provide access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

Our Mission Statement:

Providing the best possible healthcare services within the scope of our resources in a caring, confidential and courteous environment.