Clinical Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation Lead in Sedgefield

Skerne Medical Group has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Clinical Pharmacist to join our practice team. The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting the Practice in implementing effective and safe medicine management within the practice, identifying areas for improvement, and initiating and managing change. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and passion to deliver excellent service within general practice. The role is varied, fast paced but rewarding. Working in collaboration as part of a supportive team you will be confident in managing and prioritising your own workload.

Main duties of the job

• The successful candidate will provide medication review services to patients through face to face or telephone/video consultation appointments, domiciliary visits and in residential and nursing homes, and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care.
• You will work closely with GPs, nurses, advanced practitioners, pharmacy colleagues, administrative teams and the wider multidisciplinary team to improve patient outcomes, support medicines safety, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, improve access to care and strengthen medicines optimisation across the organisation.

About us

Skerne Medical Group is a rural practice registered with the Care Quality Commission. The practice provides services to around 17,000 patients from three locations: Harbinson House in Sedgefield, Carroll House in Trimdon Colliery and Beveridge House in Fishburn. We are a well-established training practice providing high standards of patient focused care. Our practice team consists of 7 GP Partners, 4 Salaried GPs and 3 Clinical Practitioners who are supported by an extensive experienced nursing team along with a full complement of management and administrative staff who all play a part in striving to provide the best possible healthcare for our patients.

Job responsibilities

• Responsible for support to the Practice in implementing effective and safe medicine management within the practice, identifying areas for improvement, and initiating and managing change.
• To support the implementation of change, including negotiation and delivery of training, to maximise cost-effective prescribing and to improve the quality of patient care.
• Provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement.
• To support the practice in achieving its goals in respect of quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.
• Responsible for encouraging the development of better medicines optimisation understanding throughout the practice and promote good practice in line with both national and local guidance.
• To provide medication review services to patients through face to face or telephone/video consultation appointments, domiciliary visits and in residential and nursing homes, and to deliver pharmaceutical care plans that maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care.
• Take appropriate action and update patients medical records in relation to medication changes and recommendations following receipt of hospital discharges letters and other Secondary Care correspondence including, but not limited to, outpatient reviews.
• Assist Practice with the appropriate monitoring and management of their prescribing budgets and incentive scheme.
• To prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the clinical team and all other relevant health professionals in the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.
• To help plan, develop and support the introduction of new working processes within the practice to optimise the quality of prescribing and improve efficiency.
• To ensure appropriate systems in place for medicines reconciliation for all patients transferred out of and back into the practice.
• To undertake patient medication reviews that will help patients get the best out of their medicines by identifying unmet pharmaceutical need and assist in improving access and service efficiency whilst aiming to reduce waste medicines.
• Present at patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines.
• Manage daily prescribing queries and repeat prescription systems (our practice uses SystmOne).

Person Specification

• Excellent clinical knowledge and ability to apply to practice.
• Ability to work without supervision.
• Ability to facilitate change.
• Provide specialist advice to other clinicians.

Experience

• Good understanding of Primary Care.
• Experience of undertaking medication reviews.

Qualifications

• Completion of degree in Pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Independent prescriber or willing to work towards qualification.
• Completed or working towards CPPE primary care pharmacy education pathway.

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.