Clinical Pharmacist - Expressions of Interest

We are inviting Expressions of Interest from Clinical Pharmacists who would like to work within our Primary Care Network multidisciplinary team to support medicines optimisation, safer prescribing and long term condition management at Huntcliff Surgery. This is an opportunity to register your interest in an upcoming ARRS funded Clinical Pharmacist role. Session numbers and responsibilities may be shaped around candidate experience, Independent Prescriber status and service need.

The postholder would work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support repeat prescription reauthorisation, transfer of care medicines management, structured medication reviews and prescribing safety processes. Candidates will work directly with patients to assess and manage medicines related needs, promote self-care and contribute to long term condition management. The Clinical Pharmacist will work within the PCN Pharmacist Team under appropriate clinical supervision and leadership. Candidates who have completed the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway are preferred. Where this has not yet been completed, we will provide structured support and supervision to enable successful completion. Support toward Independent Prescriber qualification will be provided where appropriate and aligned with ARRS requirements and service need. This is an Expressions of Interest advert for a potential ARRS funded Clinical Pharmacist opportunity at Huntcliff Surgery and does not guarantee an immediate vacancy.

Main duties of the job

• Structured Medication Reviews
• Medicines optimisation and polypharmacy management
• Repeat prescribing and reauthorisation processes
• Transfer of care medicines reconciliation
• Long term condition medication clinics
• Prescribing safety audits and quality improvement activity
• Patient facing clinics (face to face, telephone, domiciliary, and remote where appropriate)
• Medicines advice and support for practice staff and patients
• Supporting reduction in medicines related hospital admissions

Scope of duties will be matched to experience and qualifications.

At Huntcliff Surgery, we are an approachable, compassionate team delivering safe, high quality, patient centred care in an inclusive and respectful way. Our mission is to ensure that patients receive the optimum level of care available - care that is safe, effective and personal. We support the needs of our patients while promoting self-reliance and preventing illness, maintaining the traditional values of family medicine and providing a friendly, personalised service.

Our Values in Action

• Compassion: noticing when people need help, listening well and offering reassurance.
• High Standards: preparing properly for tasks, following procedures, and taking pride in doing things well.
• Respectfulness: speaking calmly, being considerate of others, and treating people fairly.
• Welcoming Behaviour: greeting people by name, keeping communications clear, and being supportive and accessible.

We are looking for someone who naturally works in a way that reflects these values.

Job responsibilities

As a Clinical Pharmacist, the post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop and run processes for repeat prescription reauthorisation, management of medicines on transfer of care and systems for safer prescribing. They will work directly with patients to assess and treat conditions, manage long-term conditions as well as promote self-care. They will be part of a group of Primary Care Network (PCN) Clinical Pharmacists working under the supervision and mentoring of a Clinical Pharmacist Manager. Candidates who have completed the accredited 18-month Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway are preferred. Where this has not yet been completed, we will provide structured support and supervision to enable completion. The CPPE pathway does not need to be completed if the pharmacist meets a HEE (Health Education England) exemption such as completion of Clinical Diploma.

Primary Responsibilities

• Patient facing Clinical Medication Review: Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients within the practice, care homes and/or domiciliary visit to proactively manage polypharmacy and produce recommendations for senior clinical pharmacist, nurses and/or GP on prescribing and monitoring.
• Management of common/minor/self-limiting ailments: Managing caseload of patients with common/minor/self-limiting ailments while working within a scope of practice and limits of competence.
• Medicine information to practice staff and patients: Answers relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines.
• Telephone medicines support: Provide a telephone help line for patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines.
• Management of medicines at discharge from hospital: To 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.
• Repeat prescribing: Produce and implement a repeat prescribing policy within the practice. Manage the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process by reviewing patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines reaching review dates and flagging up those needing a review.
• Service development: Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components.
• Medicines quality improvement: Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice team.

Collaborative Working Relationships: Participates in the Primary Care Network Multidisciplinary Team. Liaises with ICB colleagues including ICB pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit in surgeries. Foster and maintain strong links with all services across the PCN and neighbouring networks.

Professional Development: Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Working towards or holding an independent prescribing qualification.
• Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist.
• Have experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.

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.