Clinical Pharmacist in Workington

We are seeking an experienced pharmacist to take the lead role in our Medicines Hub in Workington. The hub was established following the merger of five Workington practices, bringing together all medicines-related resources into one dedicated, collaborative team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team of virtual pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and medicines administrators.
• Work closely with and be supported by both the Workington Lead GP and the Medicines Lead GP.

About us

North Cumbria Primary Care Limited is an innovative not for profit social enterprise, established to create a network of practices which sustains and supports the development of general practices across the local area. In Workington we are a one Practice PCN, meaning we are able to work effectively to address the needs of our local population. We are a cohesive practice with a friendly working environment. We work clinically across three sites, closely situated in the middle of Workington. This includes our recently extended site of Orchard House with its 10 new state-of-the-art clinical rooms, our chronic disease hub site, and ANP-led Primary Care Centre. We operate a total triage system to provide better access for our patients and are committed to continuous improvement. We also have an ANP-led minor injuries service. Our home visiting service is well established, working closely with our frail and elderly assessment team, personalised care team, and our partners across the healthcare system. As a training practice we support Trainee ACPs, Student Nurses, and GP Trainees and would be very keen to support an incoming GP to develop as a GP trainer. The practice serves a population of over 33,000 patients and has a committed clinical and non-clinical team of GPs, Advanced Nurse/Clinical Practitioners, Paramedic, Practice Nurses, HCAs, Frailty Team, Personalised Care Team, Reception and Admin Team.

Job responsibilities

• Leadership of the Hub: You will lead a team of virtual pharmacists, pharmacist technicians, medicines administrators and be supported by both the lead GP for Workington and the medicines lead GP for Workington. You will lead the continuous quality improvement in the hub- safety, outcomes and experience. You will lead the continuous improvement of processes in the hub so our patients get a great service. You will work with the lead GPs to target areas of improvement for example reducing opiate, hypnotic and Gabapentinoid prescribing and improving antibiotic stewardship.
• Oversight of and contribution to the day-to-day operational delivery: Keep a daily oversight of the medicines workflow prioritising resources as needed. Undertake clinical medication reviews. Help in reconciliation of medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes. Signing prescriptions if able to do so. If not yet able to be willing to do the training (supported) to develop this competence. Provide advice and expertise to the wider practice and PCN teams. Provide medicines support and advice to our frailty and care home team as required. Keep an overview of safety to include clinical areas such as high-risk drug monitoring, anticholinergic burden scores etc. and process areas such as prescription errors or delays.
• Continuous quality improvement: The post holder will provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services. Organise teaching and training for the medicines and wider team as needed. Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved. In practice this means reviewing CQC searches and other sources of prescribing data on at least a monthly basis and take action on gaps identified e.g. in DMARD or DOAC monitoring. Keep an overview of medicines policy and update when needed. Follow the existing Workington Medicines Manual to ensure standardisation of process and reduce variation for example in drug and disease monitoring and how to reauthorise medication. Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the practice team. Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance. Monitor practice prescribing against the local health economy's guidance, benchmarks and formulary e.g. RAG list and make recommendations to GPs for medicines that should be prescribed by hospital doctors- red drugs or subject to shared care- amber drugs.

The successful applicant will be part of a larger team and be able to demonstrate:

• Collaborative Working Relationships: Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care. Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations. Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team. Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary. Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality. Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality. Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships. Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams. Liaises with external pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/Optimisation to benefit from peer support. Liaise with Network member GP Practices and staff as well as other healthcare professionals working across North Cumbria as needed for the collective benefit of patients.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist, demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• Experience and awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
• May hold or be working towards an independent prescribing qualification.
• Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
• Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines.

Leadership

• Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace.
• Demonstrate understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision.
• Engages with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and involves PPGs in development of the role and practices.
• Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service.
• Reviews yearly progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
• Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals.
• Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.

Management

• Demonstrate understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service.
• Demonstrate understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation.
• Demonstrate understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol.
• Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management.
• Demonstrate ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team.

Education, Training and Development

• Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service.
• Demonstrates understanding of the mentorship process.
• Demonstrates ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from more experienced colleagues.
• Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside senior clinical pharmacist to identify areas to develop.
• Participates in the delivery of formal education programmes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice.
• Ensures appropriate clinical supervision is in place to support development.
• Enrolled into review and appraisal systems within the practice.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

The post-holder must always comply with the Practices Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System. The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The post-holder should always respect patient confidentiality and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites in the town, and to attend meetings etc hosted by other agencies. The post-holder will have contact with body fluids i.e., wound exudates; urine etc while in clinical practice.

Person Specification

• Possess a professional appearance and manner.
• To have drive, enthusiasm and initiative.
• Self-motivated.
• Flexible approach.
• Positive thinker.
• Ability to challenge constructively.
• Able to work under pressure.

Knowledge

• Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice.
• Specialist knowledge of medicines management systems and processes.
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge in more than one field.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years post-graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• Specialist knowledge of medicines management systems and processes.
• Proficient with EMIS Web clinical system and Docman.

Qualifications

• Degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
• Member of or working towards (through foundation) RPS Faculty membership.
• Completed the CPPEP or working towards this (if not held will be required to undertake the course).
• Hold or be working towards a prescribing qualification.

Skills

• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing.
• Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and can refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
• Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.
• Evidence of excellent administration and organisational skills.
• Work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Be able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when working with others.
• A conscientious approach and commitment to working in an adaptable and flexible manner.
• Good communication skills.
• Able to cope with stressful situations.

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.

£46,631.41 to £50,965.90 a year Dependant on experience, Various hours available.