Clinical Pharmacist in Norwich

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Clinical Pharmacist to join our friendly and forward-thinking GP surgery. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within our multidisciplinary team, providing expert medicines optimisation, supporting patient care, and contributing to the delivery of high-quality primary care services.

The Clinical Pharmacist acts within their professional boundaries, working alongside a team of pharmacists in general practice within the wider PCN. They will improve patients' health outcomes and the efficiency of the primary care team by providing direct, accessible and timely medicines and expertise including face-to-face contact with patients. The post-holder will be an integral part of the general practice team, as well as part of a wider pharmacist network and multi-disciplinary team. This includes being a conduit of patients' medicine information into and out of hospitals. They will work to optimise medication issues to improve patient care and safety, and support clinical staff in the management of patients.

As part of their employment, the post-holder will achieve qualifications from an accredited training pathway, including independent prescribing, equipping the Clinical Pharmacist to be able to practice and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting. The supervision and mentorship network will be provided to support the Clinical Pharmacist.

The Market Surgery is a busy seven doctor practice providing care to over 10,000 patients in and around Aylsham in North Norfolk. Working from purpose-built premises, located a short walking distance from the centre of Aylsham, we aim to provide a friendly and efficient service to patients fulfilling all their primary care needs. All our consulting rooms are on the ground floor, we have a dispensary next to the reception area and we have a car park for the use of our patients. The practice is part of North and Waveney Integrated Care Service. We are a training practice for GP Registrars and medical students.

Main duties of the job:

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas, such as HTN and CVD.
• Proactively manage the medication review process within the surgery, taking overall responsibility for ensuring medication reviews are completed in a timely manner, are safe and effective, to include housebound patients and those living in local care and nursing homes.
• Support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care through structured medication reviews.
• Be a prescriber, or completing training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the general practice team.
• Manage patient discharge summaries and hospital letters, ensuring information is accurately transferred and the correct medication prescribed in primary care.
• Complete the CPPE programme (if not already completed).
• Be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme).
• Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the organisation and to help in tackling inequalities.
• Provide leadership on person-centered medicines optimisation and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services.
• Develop relationships and work closely with other pharmacy professionals across the wider health and social care system.
• Act as the point of contact for all medicine related matters, establishing positive working relationships.
• Consult patients within defined levels of competence and independently prescribe acute and repeat medication.
• Manage a caseload of complex patients and potential care institutions and provide advice for the GP management of more complex patients or areas such as addictive behaviours, severe mental illness or end of life care.
• Review the latest guidance, ensuring the organisation conforms to NICE, CQC etc.
• Provide targeted support and proactive reviews for vulnerable, complex patients and those at risk of admission and re-admission to secondary care.
• Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so, and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events.
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., COVID-19 or flu clinics) through advice or direct care.

Person Specification:

Experience:

• Minimum of two years working as a pharmacist demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• An appreciation of the nature of general practice and the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing.

Qualifications:

• GPC registered pharmacist.
• Proof of relevant professional and educational qualifications, coupled with details of any training.
• To be enrolled in, or have qualified from, an approved 18-month training pathway or equivalent that equips them to be able to practice and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting.
• Hold or be working towards a GPhC independent prescribing qualification.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.