Clinical Pharmacist in Chelmsford

GP Healthcare Alliance have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Pharmacist to join our Primary Care Network (PCN) team of Allied Healthcare Professionals working within general practice in Rayleigh. GP Healthcare Alliance, a federation of GP practices in Castle Point and Rochford, is hosting an innovative service to recruit an enthusiastic and committed, full-time clinical pharmacist to join Rayleigh Primary Care Network.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. They will perform medicines reconciliation on transfer of care and implement systems for safer prescribing, providing expertise in clinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs of patients in the PCN. The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role. They will take responsibility for areas of medicines optimisation within the PCN and undertake structured clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement (QI) and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services at practice and PCN level. The post holder will work with all sectors of pharmacy across the health system and its member practices to improve population health, demonstrating improvement in patient outcomes and working to reduce health inequalities across the PCN contributing to improving the efficiency of general practice and delivering a best-in-class service.

The post holder will provide support to practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries, ensuring integration with community and hospital pharmacy to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare, and help manage GP workload.

About us

Rayleigh and District Primary Care Network (PCN) is made up of 6 surgeries who have 56,437 registered patients. Our vision is to work in partnership with our colleagues and patients to provide the best primary care services in the community.

Why join us?

• Join a dynamic and supportive network of local GP practices committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care.
• Be part of a forward-thinking team that embraces new ideas and technologies to improve patient care.
• Work in a collaborative and nurturing environment where your professional growth is encouraged.
• Make a real difference in the lives of our patients and the wider community.
• Work as part of a wider multidisciplinary clinical team made up of clinical pharmacists, paramedics, nurse associates, pharmacy technicians and many more!

All of our PCN staff are employed by GP Healthcare Alliance (GPHA). GPHA values staff and can offer:

• NHS pension;
• A supportive and friendly working environment;
• Flexible working hours;
• Peer support;
• Support with training and development;
• 38 days annual leave per year, including bank holidays (pro rata);
• Reimbursement for parking and travel expenses for attending meetings/off site sessions.

Job responsibilities

The post holder is a clinical pharmacist, who acts within their professional boundaries, supporting and working alongside a team of Health Care Practitioners within general practice and PCN. The post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. They will perform medicines reconciliation on transfer of care and implement systems for safer prescribing, providing expertise in clinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs of patients in the PCN.

The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role. They will take responsibility for areas of medicines optimisation within the PCN and undertake structured clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy. The post holder will provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement (QI) and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services at practice and PCN level.

The post holder will work with all sectors of pharmacy across the health system and its member practices to improve population health, demonstrating improvement in patient outcomes and working to reduce health inequalities across the PCN contributing to improving the efficiency of general practice and delivering a best-in-class service.

The post holder will provide support to practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries, ensuring integration with community and hospital pharmacy to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare, and help manage GP workload.

Key responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and implement searches to identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines.
• Providing a mixture of telephone and face-to-face clinical medication reviews with patients.
• Clinical medication reviews for patients with single or multiple long-term conditions where medicines optimisation is required.
• To reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals or intermediate care and working with patients and community pharmacies to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post-discharge and to reduce risk of readmission.
• To be involved in multidisciplinary clinical meetings within the PCN.
• To manage repeat prescription requests, resolving queries where possible within scope of practice.
• To ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required.
• Implement changes to medicines in line with MHRA alerts, product withdrawal or shortage and other local or national guidance.
• To maintain full and complete records of all patient contacts using appropriate clinical templates and coding.
• To undertake a proactive role in audit and quality improvement implementing recommendations where appropriate.
• Provide independent information to patients about medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
• To identify areas of clinical risk at network level and make recommendations to support the introduction of new working practices that will optimise the quality of prescribing and make more efficient use of network resources.
• To monitor network practices prescribing against the local health economy and make recommendations for GPs or amend within scope of practice, based on findings.
• To maintain own clinical and professional competence and be responsible for own continuous professional development.
• Work with practices to ensure full compliance with Care Quality Commission standards for safe and effective care.

Communication

Communicate effectively with other team members. Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication. Enthusiastic about health promotion and lifestyle change.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in annual appraisal which will include staff multi-source feedback (MSF) and patient survey.
• Supporting the practice staff and responding to requests for advice and assistance from the practice reception, secretarial and nursing staff.
• Attend prescribing, palliative care, virtual ward round, clinical and practice meetings.
• Provide additional enhanced services to the practices that meet the needs of the practices patient population and maximise the income streams to the practice.
• Undertake additional training where necessary to provide these enhanced services.
• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g., prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health, and safety, annual QOF/IIF Assessment of the network.
• Meet timescales/deadlines for audits and written returns to ensure that the Practice meets quality standards and receives the designated funding (e.g., Quarterly Enhanced Services returns, annual QOF/IIF audit etc.).

Service improvement

Be aware of and assist in current clinical audit. Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives. Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets.

Quality

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients. Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems. Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care. Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team. Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms. Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook. Be able to manage your own time effectively.

Information processes

Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate. Maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous electronic patient records on SystmOne. Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attend annual updates and mandatory training as required.
• Highlight any gaps in knowledge/training needs to their line manager to allow them the opportunity to offer support to fulfil the duties of this post.
• Act in a manner that safeguards children and/or vulnerable adults as applicable to the role.
• Work in line with organisational policies and procedural guidelines.
• Ensure that consultations are undertaken safely in line with the organisations health and safety policies.
• Ensure that patient identifiable information and smart cards are transported in line with the information governance policy.
• Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded promptly in the patients notes on SystmOne.
• To ensure the safety of patients, relatives, and colleagues and to report all incidents and near misses in line with the risk management policy.
• To remain up to date with all mandatory training.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding adult and children guidance to ensure that those at risk of abuse/suffering abuse are identified and the necessary process to protect them is followed.
• To meet responsibilities as an employee as set out in the organisations corporate and clinical policies.
• To always maintain confidentiality.

This JD is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities but rather an outline of the main areas of responsibility. The role is likely to evolve to meet the changing needs of the service.