Practice Pharmacist in Prescot

Longton Medical Centre is looking for an enthusiastic clinical pharmacist to join our expanding team. We are a well-established training practice with a growing list size of approximately 9400 patients. Our current pharmacy team comprises of 1 pharmacist who is supported by pharmacists employed by our local Primary Care Network (PCN). We also work closely with our Medicines Management colleagues.

The post holder will work alongside other clinicians to provide primary support to practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. They will help manage the repeat prescription system, deal with acute prescription requests, and medicines reconciliation. They will advise on safe prescribing within the practice. They will undertake medication reviews to proactively manage patients including those with complex polypharmacy. Conduct safety audits as per CQC requirements.

The successful candidate will be an independent prescriber and ideally have experience of primary care or working towards independent prescribing. We are looking for someone who wants to join our friendly team and enjoy the benefits of working with supportive colleagues. Training and development opportunities are available for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

• To provide high quality pharmacist support to the practice team members and patients in the practice.
• To deal with all suitable prescription queries from community pharmacies, third party medication/supply companies and hospitals/other NHS organisations that cannot be dealt with by members of the Reception Team.
• To provide support, advice and guidance to all members of the practice team.
• To review repeat medications and address concerns where appropriate.
• Reconciling medication on hospital letters to that contained in the patients medical record, raising queries with other clinical staff as necessary, ensuring patients receive appropriate medication.
• Reduce inappropriate poly-pharmacy and wasteful prescribing through medication review.

The surgery has 2 GP partners, 4 salaried GPs, 2 Practice Nurses, Healthcare Assistant and a team of ARRS staff both on and remote working. We have a team of administration staff supporting the Practice Manager. The surgery is a training practice with a registered population of 9400 and increasing and high QOF achieving.

Job responsibilities

• Initiate and develop protocols in specialist areas appropriate for a practice pharmacist and lead in their implementation.
• Manage own workload to meet the needs of the practice.
• Manage available resources (time, manpower) to ensure an efficient and effective service.
• To undertake and provide expertise in clinical medication reviews as deemed appropriate.
• Manage practice formularies to improve the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of prescribing.
• With the agreement and support of practices GP partners, to develop, lead and manage clinics which would improve patient healthcare and access.
• Provide prescribing advice to the practice team for temporarily unavailable medications, suggesting alternatives.
• Responsible for keeping accurate documentation in patient records.
• Supervise and manage other staff as appropriate.

Leadership

• Identify and support practice development plans.
• Advise the practice team of any circumstances that give cause for concern in relation to patient care.
• Influence and implement changes to clinical practice, improving prescribing practice through educational support for all prescribers within the practice.
• Work autonomously, managing own working within agreed national and local guidelines.
• Provide medicines information and training to Practice healthcare professionals and admin staff.
• Support the educational process for specialist practitioner students and assist with GP registrars, student nurses and other students who require experience in General Practice.
• Work as part of the practice team, supporting practice colleagues as appropriate.

Clinical

• Work autonomously by providing pharmacist support in the management of patients' medication.
• Support the practice in undertaking medication reviews as appropriate supporting targets for these reviews in the practice - QOF and practice incentive scheme.
• Review and manage High Risk Drug Monitoring and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring processes within the practice.
• Contribute to reductions in medicine related patient incidents and significant events and work to ensure patients obtain the best outcome from their medication.
• Encourage the use of electronic patient medication facilities including the use of the electronic prescription service and patients ordering medications online.
• Conform to health and safety and control of infection regulations.
• Contribute to multimorbidity reviews and multidisciplinary reviews.
• Act in accordance with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC) Code of Professional Conduct.
• Act as a source of medicines information for all of the practice team and patients.
• Maintain legible timely and concise documentation and input clinical information to the practice computer database.
• Recognise own limitations and seek advice from General Practitioners and others as required.
• Work closely with Primary Care Network (PCN) colleagues especially members of the Medicines Management Team seeking peer support as required and ensuring work is apportioned appropriately and duplication minimised.
• Be the point of contact in the Practice to liaise with the Primary Care Network (PCN) Pharmacy Team to plan workload together.
• Be alert to potential child or adult abuse and undertake training as directed/required.

Training and education

• Maintain own specialist practitioner competencies by undertaking specialist courses and education.
• Keep up to date with current developments in primary care prescribing and ensure changes recommended by NICE and other organisations are discussed in the practice and changes are implemented as required.
• Undertake risk management in clinical practice.
• Provide education to patients and carers either with individuals or in groups.
• Identify training needs to line manager.
• Keep up to date with informatics developments relating to the position especially those affecting the clinical information system.
• Take part in performance appraisal and compilation of personal development plans as required by the practice and the GPHC.

Research and audit

• Identify, apply and disseminate research findings relating to professional role and working environment.
• Audit own practice for individual quality assurance purposes and ensuring all relevant targets are met.
• Increase quality and safety of prescribing through mechanisms such as audit and PDSA cycles.
• Identify and undertake audit and research projects to evaluate and enhance current service provision.

Communication

• Communicate sensitively and appropriately with patients and/or their carers, involving patients and their carers in decision making.
• Liaise with colleagues in community pharmacy to align support for medicines.
• Communicate with all members of the wider health care team; primary, secondary, community and voluntary.
• Work to identify and initiate changes to clinical practice.
• Discuss with the practice team any circumstances that give cause for concern in relation to patient care.
• Initiate and lead general and individual specialist team meetings.

Knowledge, training and experience

• The post holder will be registered with the GPHC and hold qualifications required of a pharmacist working in a primary care environment.
• A prescriber or on a prescribing course.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Evidence of professional updating. CPD GPhC records up to date.
• IT skills. Car driver.

Person SpecificationQualifications

• Essential: Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Proof of revalidation.
• Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
• Hold an independent prescribing qualification or working towards.
• Desirable: Member of or working towards (through foundation) RPS Faculty membership.
• May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification.

Experience

• Essential: Dealing with the public/patients on a one to one basis.
• Working in accordance with the GPHC Code of Professional conduct.
• Evidence of appropriate knowledge base.
• Desirable: General Practice/Primary care experience/clinical diploma.
• Line Management.

Knowledge and skills

• Essential: Excellent Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Infection control.
• Able to use a computer/I.T.
• An understanding of current NICE Cheshire and Merseyside formulary guidance.
• Working to the latest GPHC competency framework.
• Up to date knowledge of the British National Formulary (BNF).
• Up to date on changes relating to medications and prescribing.
• Understanding of QOF.
• Awareness of national service framework guidelines.
• Desirable: Flu vaccinating.
• Awareness of national service framework guidelines.
• Experience of EMIS Clinical System, Docman, Outlook and Word.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Longton Medical Centre
Address: 451 Warrington Road, Rainhill, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 4LL, United Kingdom