Clinical Pharmacist in Maidstone

Len Valley Practice is a friendly, forward-thinking GP practice serving the communities of Lenham and Harrietsham. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Clinical Pharmacist to join our supportive multidisciplinary team and play an important role in improving prescribing safety, medicines optimisation and patient care. This role offers a varied and rewarding opportunity for a pharmacist who enjoys working in general practice and values collaborative working.

You will work closely with GP partners, nurses and the wider pharmacy team, supporting medication reviews, responding to prescribing and medicines-related queries, and contributing to safe, effective and cost-conscious prescribing across the practice. The successful candidate will be an integral part of the clinical team, helping to improve systems, support quality improvement activity and enhance patient experience. We offer a welcoming working environment where learning and professional development are encouraged, with opportunities to work towards further training and qualifications in line with service needs.

Main duties of the job

• The Clinical Pharmacist will play a key role in supporting safe and effective prescribing within the practice.
• Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, the post-holder will provide expert medicines advice to patients and clinicians, support medication reviews and respond to prescription-related queries.
• The role includes contributing to medicines optimisation, improving prescribing safety and supporting the management of repeat prescriptions.
• The pharmacist will work closely with GPs, nurses, pharmacy technicians and administrative teams to help resolve medicines issues, support continuity of care and improve patient outcomes.
• The post-holder will also contribute to audit and quality improvement activity, support the implementation of local and national prescribing guidance, and help develop efficient systems and processes relating to medicines management.
• There will be opportunities to support and guide staff involved in prescribing and medicines processes, as well as contribute to the ongoing development of safe, cost-effective and patient-centred prescribing across the practice.

About us

Len Valley Practice is a friendly forward thinking GP surgery based in the historic village of Lenham Kent caring for just over ten thousand patients across Lenham and Harrietsham. The practice is led by five GP partners supported by salaried GPs, GP registrars, a strong nursing team, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, physiotherapy and paramedic practitioners as well as skilled administrative and dispensary staff.

We provide a wide range of primary care services including long term condition management, immunisations, maternity and family planning, minor surgery, health screening and treatment of illness or injury. Rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, the practice is committed to delivering safe effective and patient centred care. We pride ourselves on being an approachable, supportive and community focused organisation with a strong emphasis on teamwork, professional development and delivering high quality care for all.

Job responsibilities

• Responsible for support to the practice with medication reviews, queries and prescribing safety.
• Responsible for supporting the partners in implementing effective medicine management within the practice and identifying areas for improvement and initiating and managing change.
• Dealing with patient medicine and prescription related queries over the phone, in clinic, via letter, email or the practice website including advising and prescribing for minor ailments or clinical areas within competence, acute prescription requests, medication reviews, providing medication advice and resolving technical prescription problems including supply issues and nomad changes.
• Signposting patients to appropriate services and other healthcare professionals including community pharmacists.
• Working closely with GPs to provide medicine related updates and support problem solving.
• Providing a point of contact for the practice for medicines related queries for healthcare professionals and patients.
• Patient facing clinics are not currently required; however, areas of specialist interest that may benefit the practice are welcomed.
• Following legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Reconciliation of medicines from outpatient and discharge letters including liaison with hospital, community and primary care colleagues to ensure continuity of care.
• Working with the pharmacy team and supporting GPs and other practice staff to deliver medicines optimisation agenda, prescribing quality scheme (QOF) and locally commissioned services.
• Encouraging, supporting and implementing adherence to local formulary guidance and cost effective prescribing.
• Reviewing, issuing and converting acute medicine requests into repeat medicines where appropriate.
• Supporting community pharmacists to ensure nomad and batch prescriptions are up to date including confirming stopped or initiated medicines.
• Implementing and monitoring adherence to the repeat prescription policy.
• Supporting the practice pharmacy technician and prescription clerks with repeat prescription processes and medicines management duties.
• Supporting the training and development of team members including prescription clerks and dispensary staff up to NVQ level two and pre-registration pharmacy technician level.
• To have successfully completed the independent prescribing qualification or demonstrate willingness to undertake the course following completion of the CPPE GP pharmacist training pathway.
• Conducting clinical audits as part of the multidisciplinary team.
• Answering medicines information enquiries from healthcare professionals and patients.
• Implementing systems for monitoring medicines use in conjunction with the practice team.
• Contributing to clinical education of other healthcare professionals.
• Providing leadership and support for quality improvement programmes involving medicines.
• Contributing to repeat prescribing safety including monitoring reviews, blood tests and follow up.
• Working with the multidisciplinary team to improve medicines management and safety including updating, writing and ensuring compliance with practice policies.
• Supporting the practice nurse manager with medicines stock lists and safe storage, monitoring record keeping and waste management.
• Working with the medicines optimisation team to support formulary adherence and cost effectiveness.
• Supporting implementation of NICE guidance through audit feedback, formulary management and education.
• Managing MHRA alerts and ensuring appropriate communication and action.
• Communicating effectively with other team members.
• Communicating effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognising individual communication needs and responding appropriately.
• Maintaining confidentiality of patient, staff and practice information at all times.
• Handling information in accordance with practice policies and data protection requirements.
• Ensuring information is only shared with authorised individuals.
• Promoting and maintaining personal and workplace health, safety and security.
• Identifying and reporting risks.
• Using training and equipment safely.
• Maintaining infection prevention and control standards.
• Keeping work areas safe and free from hazards.
• Supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Treating all individuals with dignity, respect and fairness.
• Delivering care in a non-judgemental and patient-centred way.
• Acting in accordance with legislation and practice policies.
• Maintaining professional registration and continuing professional development.
• Participating in training relevant to the role.
• Completing the CPPE general practice pharmacist training pathway and independent prescribing qualification where applicable in line with service needs.
• Participating in annual appraisal and performance review.
• Taking responsibility for personal learning and development.
• Maintaining high standards of care and patient safety.
• Raising concerns relating to quality and risk.
• Reflecting on practice and contributing to service improvement.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies.
• Managing workload, time and resources effectively.

Person Specification

• Registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Masters degree in pharmacy or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in line with professional requirements.
• Experience of working within scope of professional practice and competence.
• Independent prescribing qualification or willingness to work towards.
• Completion of or willingness to undertake the CPPE general practice pharmacist training pathway.
• Experience working in general practice or primary care.
• Knowledge of medicines optimisation, prescribing safety and repeat prescribing processes.
• Experience working as a registered pharmacist.
• Experience of providing medicines advice to patients and healthcare professionals.
• Experience of managing prescription queries and medicines related issues.
• Experience of working within professional and clinical governance frameworks.
• Good understanding of safe prescribing practice and medicines management.
• Experience of medication reviews and medicines optimisation.
• Experience of repeat prescribing systems and workflows.
• Experience of clinical audit and quality improvement activity.
• Experience of working with EMIS Web or other primary care clinical systems.

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.