Experienced Prescribing Pharmacist London

We are a well-established, popular and friendly practice at the heart of the local community in Hendon, London NW4 and are seeking an experienced Prescribing Pharmacist to join our forward-thinking clinical team. We are a training and teaching practice based on a single, practice-owned site, with approximately 12,000 patients and a full range of clinical and non-clinical team members. We are a major contributor to a successful and supportive PCN, have an active group of Patient Champions, are QOF high achievers and are rated GOOD by CQC, with some outstanding points of note.

We are looking for an experienced pharmacist who is an Independent Prescriber and is confident in managing patients with long-term conditions and complex medication needs. A particular interest and experience in diabetes management would be highly desirable and would be considered a significant advantage. The successful candidate will work closely with our GPs, nursing team and wider multidisciplinary team and will have the opportunity to play an important role in the ongoing development of medicines management and long-term condition care within the practice. We offer flexible working hours and are keen to find the right experienced pharmacist to complement our existing clinical team. Benefits include staff car parking, NHS Pension, and the opportunity to work as part of a well-established, forward-thinking, professional team with a good standing within Barnet and beyond.

Main duties of the job

• Clinical medication reviews and medicines optimisation
• Management of patients with long-term conditions
• Prescribing and medication changes within clinical competence
• Supporting the management of patients with diabetes, including medication optimisation and treatment reviews
• Structured Medication Reviews
• Polypharmacy and complex medication reviews
• Supporting QOF and other clinical targets
• Reviewing patients following hospital discharge and changes to medication
• Working collaboratively with GPs, nurses, HCAs and other members of the primary care team
• Providing clinical advice and support regarding medicines and prescribing

About us

St. Georges Medical Centre is a well-established, friendly and forward-thinking GP practice based in Hendon, North West London. We care for approximately 12,000 patients from a single, practice-owned site and have a broad multidisciplinary team of GPs, nurses, HCAs, pharmacists and administrative staff. We are a training and teaching practice, a strong contributor to our local Primary Care Network, and are committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care. We are QOF high achievers, rated Good by CQC, and have an active group of Patient Champions who support a range of community and wellbeing initiatives. We offer a supportive, professional working environment with a strong emphasis on teamwork, service development and continuous improvement.

Job Description

The post holder will work closely with GPs, nurses, HCAs, pharmacists and other members of the practice team to provide high-quality, safe and effective medicines management and clinical care. The role will include managing patients with long-term conditions, undertaking structured medication reviews, medicines optimisation and independent prescribing within the post holders clinical competence. We are particularly interested in appointing a pharmacist with experience or a strong clinical interest in diabetes, who can contribute to the management and optimisation of treatment for patients with Type 2 diabetes and other associated long-term conditions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake patient-facing clinical medication reviews and Structured Medication Reviews.
• Independently prescribe, amend and discontinue medication within their recognised scope of competence.
• Manage patients with long-term conditions in accordance with evidence-based guidance and agreed practice protocols.
• Provide particular support for the management of patients with diabetes, including medication reviews, treatment optimisation, monitoring and appropriate follow-up.
• Review patients taking multiple medications and identify opportunities to reduce inappropriate polypharmacy.
• Review patients with complex medication regimes and those at increased risk of medicines-related harm.
• Support the practice in achieving high standards of prescribing quality and medicines safety.
• Review medication following hospital admission, outpatient appointments and other transitions of care.
• Undertake medication reconciliation following hospital discharge.
• Identify and resolve prescribing discrepancies and medicines-related problems.
• Provide advice and support to GPs, nurses and other members of the clinical team on medicines-related matters.
• Support repeat prescribing processes and deal with appropriate medication queries from patients and healthcare professionals.
• Review monitoring requirements for medicines and ensure appropriate investigations and follow-up are undertaken.
• Support patients in understanding their medicines and encourage adherence and shared decision-making.
• Refer patients appropriately to GPs or other healthcare professionals where issues fall outside the pharmacists clinical competence.

Diabetes and Long-Term Condition Management

The successful candidate will be encouraged to take an active role in the care of patients with diabetes. Depending on experience and competence, this may include:

• Reviewing patients with Type 2 diabetes.
• Optimising oral and injectable diabetic medication.
• Reviewing cardiovascular and renal risk factors associated with diabetes.
• Monitoring medication effectiveness, side effects and adherence.
• Supporting achievement of individualised HbA1c and other treatment targets.
• Reviewing blood results and other clinical monitoring.
• Supporting patients with lifestyle and medicines-related education.
• Working collaboratively with GPs, nurses and other clinicians in the management of more complex patients.
• Supporting the practice in meeting relevant QOF and locally commissioned diabetes indicators.

The post holder must work within their own professional competence and refer appropriately where specialist or medical input is required.

Medicines Optimisation and Prescribing

The post holder will:

• Promote safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing.
• Apply national and local prescribing guidance where appropriate.
• Support implementation of medicines alerts, safety communications and prescribing guidance.
• Identify patients who may benefit from changes to medication or additional monitoring.
• Support appropriate antimicrobial stewardship.
• Review high-risk medications and associated monitoring.
• Contribute to initiatives designed to improve prescribing quality and reduce medicines-related harm.
• Work with community pharmacies, secondary care providers and other healthcare professionals to resolve medicines-related issues.

Quality and Clinical Governance

The post holder will:

• Contribute to the achievement of QOF and other contractual or locally commissioned clinical targets.
• Participate in clinical audits and quality-improvement work.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records using the practice clinical system.
• Work in accordance with practice policies, clinical protocols and information-governance requirements.
• Report and contribute to the investigation of significant events, prescribing errors and patient-safety incidents where appropriate.
• Participate in clinical meetings and multidisciplinary discussions as required.
• Maintain appropriate professional registration and fulfil continuing professional development requirements.

Communication and Teamworking

The post holder will:

• Work as an integral member of the practice multidisciplinary team.
• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
• Provide clear explanations to patients regarding medication changes, benefits, risks and monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, HCAs, pharmacists, administrative staff, community pharmacists and secondary care teams.
• Develop effective working relationships across the practice and wider Primary Care Network.

Professional Responsibilities

The post holder must:

• Be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Hold a recognised Independent Prescribing qualification.
• Practise in accordance with GPhC professional standards.
• Work within their individual scope of competence and seek appropriate support when required.
• Maintain appropriate professional indemnity arrangements.
• Maintain continuing professional development relevant to the role.
• Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Confidentiality

The post holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers, practice staff and other healthcare organisations. All information must be treated in the strictest confidence and managed in accordance with data protection legislation, NHS information-governance requirements and practice policies.

Safeguarding

The post holder must be aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and must undertake appropriate safeguarding training in accordance with their role.

Health and Safety

The post holder is required to comply with the practices health and safety policies and take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of colleagues, patients and visitors.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

St. Georges Medical Centre is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing an inclusive working environment. The post holder is expected to treat patients, colleagues and visitors with dignity and respect at all times.

Flexibility

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the main responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. Duties may develop over time in response to changes within the practice, primary care and the wider NHS. Any significant changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent
• Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Qualified Independent Prescriber
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Experience

• Significant post-registration experience as a pharmacist
• Experience of undertaking clinical medication reviews
• Experience of medicines optimisation and managing complex medication regimes
• Experience of independent prescribing within own scope of competence
• Experience of managing patients with long-term conditions

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

• Strong knowledge of medicines, prescribing and medicines optimisation
• Ability to assess patients and make appropriate evidence-based prescribing decisions
• Ability to recognise the limits of own clinical competence and refer appropriately
• Good understanding of medication monitoring requirements and medicines safety
• Ability to interpret relevant clinical information and blood-test results
• Good understanding of the management of common long-term conditions
• Knowledge of local and national prescribing guidance
• Understanding of antimicrobial stewardship

Desirable

• Strong knowledge and practical experience of diabetes management
• Knowledge of current guidance relating to Type 2 diabetes
• Understanding of cardiovascular and renal risk management in patients with diabetes

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.