clinical pharmacist Middlesbrough, England
Job description
Job Description JOB DETAILS Job Title: Primary Care Network Clinical Pharmacist Reports to: PCN Clinical Director & Practice Prescribing Leads Location: Eston PCN Practices Salary Scale /Grade: Band 7/ 8a depending on experience / qualifications Hours: Full-time / Part-time (Flexible) 2. JOB PURPOSE Support general practitioners and the wider Primary Care Network workforce by providing expertise in medicines to increase access, improve care and health outcomes for patients. Working in a team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians the clinical pharmacist will have a key role in supporting delivery of the structured medication review and optimisation requirements of the Primary Care Network as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. This is an evolving role and will start by working within the Primary Care Networks GP practices developing services related to medicines.
Ultimately the clinical pharmacist will work as part of the Primary Care Networks multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role. Training and support will be provided in order for the post holder to develop the skills and competencies required to fulfil all aspects of the role. 3. KEY RESULT AREAS Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.
Be a prescriber, or training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the multi-disciplinary team across a Primary Care Network, take responsibility for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake structured medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy and high risk medications. Work with patients to self-manage their well-being and long term conditions, through optimising medicines. For example, once trained run structured medication review clinics evaluating individual patients with complex medication needs, agree treatment changes, seeing patients in clinic appointments / home visits and discussing treatment changes with patients, carers and community pharmacists. To reconcile medicines at interfaces of care, most commonly discharge from hospital.
To include, identifying and rectifying any unexplained changes, completing clinical medication review and arranging follow up such as follow up tests, dose titration and medication supply where appropriate. Contribute to reducing medicines related hospital admissions and readmissions by proactively targeting structured medication reviews at patients identified as being at greatest risk. Specifically to include those with severe frailty, elderly in Care Homes and in receipt of domiciliary care. Clinical pharmacists will have a leadership role in supporting further integration of general practice with the wider healthcare teams (including community and hospital pharmacy) to help improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage general practice workload.
Actively work with CCG to optimise quality of prescribing Conduct clinical audit as part of the multidisciplinary team and ensure implementation of any agreed actions. Lead the practice on implementing quality improvement in prescribing e.g. devise improvements to repeat prescribing systems, improve patient safety or improved adherence to NICE recommendations. Develop relationships and work closely with other pharmacists across networks, hospital and community pharmacy and the wider health system.
Contribute to clinical education of other healthcare professionals. Implement of drug alerts e.g. MRHA and drug withdrawal / supply issues affecting patients. CHANGES AND OBLIGATIONS This job description is intended as a guide to the duties and responsibilities of the post, and should not be regarded as a complete list of those requirements under the written statement of the main terms and conditions of employment.
The contents may be amended from time to time, subject to developing service needs, although such amendments would occur following appropriate consultation with the post holder. It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all health and safety legislation and Health and Safety policy. Also to attend any training requirements both statutory and mandatory in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Health and Safety Regulations in the Workplace 1992. 6.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Communication & relationship skills Communicate with Clinical director, GPs, nurses, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, practice staff, patients, carers and community pharmacists. In the case of patients required to predominantly communicate with elderly patients and their carers, who have physical and/or mental disabilities and complex needs. Communicate sensitively and constructively with health care practitioners whose individual or groups performance may be being challenged / questioned Need to be able to communicate in hostile and antagonistic environments and situations. Knowledge, training & experience Masters degree in Pharmacy (or equivalent pre 2000) +Pre-registration year + Specialist knowledge gained through post graduate diploma in clinical pharmacy / therapeutics or equivalent level of knowledge / qualification.
Registered member of General Pharmaceutical Council Evidence of on-going commitment and undertaking of continuing professional development to maintain advanced theoretical and practical therapeutic knowledge Registered independent prescriber. (Desirable) Minimum of 3 years post registration experience in primary, community or secondary care pharmacy. Proven verbal and written communication skills. Ability to plan and work independently.
Understanding of the data protection act and patient confidentiality, clinical governance, information governance and caldicott requirements Good interpersonal skills . 3. Analytical & judgemental skills . In relation to drug treatments of individual patients required to consider highly complex drugs / regimens, patient/social factors, co-morbidity and evidence based practice in order to make informed judgement on appropriate course of action / recommendation for care plan.
Planning and organisation skills Complex work schedule with need to run several pieces of work concurrently and in several practices. 5. Physical Skills Needs keyboard skills and the ability to drive. 6.
Responsibilities for patient/client care Undertake medication reviews of individual patients. This involves generating a pharmaceutical care plan to improve care, outcomes and reduce risks in relation to medicines usage. Implementation of the care plan will involve a complex interaction with patients, social care professionals, GPs, community pharmacists, nurses and secondary care staff. 7.
Responsibilities for policy and service development implementation Responsible for implementation of GP practice policies. Propose policy changes within practice. 8. Responsibilities for information resources Records personally generated information.
Deals with sensitive / confidential information related to patients and staff. 9. Responsibilities for research and development Frequent requirement to feed KPIs in to NHS England pilot evaluation. Freedom to act Accountable for own professional actions.
Bound by national guidelines and medicines legislation. 13. Physical effort Light physical effort. Visit patients in own homes.
Ability to drive. 14. Mental effort Frequently required to concentrate for prolonged periods in reviewing clinical and medicines information, reports and documents. May be frequently interrupted to deal with requests.
15. Emotional effort May work occasionally with distressed patients and carers who are struggling to cope with their medicines. 16. Working conditions Occasional unpleasant working conditions e.g.
odour on home visit Prolonged periods working at computer / VDU Clinical Pharmacist Band 7/8a
