Clinical Pharmacist in Harrogate

Strayside Health (formed by the merger of East Parade and Park Parade Surgeries) are excited to invite applications for a practice employed Clinical Pharmacist. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and growing practice dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care. The role joins our experienced pharmacy team made up of two clinical pharmacists, two senior pharmacy technicians and a medicines manager who work closely alongside our GP's. The current team already has excellent links with the local hospital, community pharmacies, care homes and other practice pharmacists in the area, so you would be truly part of a larger team working for better patient care. We are looking for between 15 and 30 hours per week either based fully in the practice or a proportion working from home.

Main duties of the job

• Applications are welcome from Clinical Pharmacists ideally with one to two years experience of working in a GP practice. Exceptional candidates who are newly qualified will also be considered for this role.
• Independent prescribers and CPPE desirable.
• The role includes undertaking medication reauthorisation, managing polypharmacy, supporting patients with long-term conditions, providing expert medicines advice to clinicians and patients, contributing to medicines safety and clinical governance, and responding to medication-related queries from practice staff and patients.

About us

We are situated conveniently close to the centre of Harrogate, offering easy access to local amenities and transport links. The purpose built premises are fully air-conditioned, providing a comfortable and pleasant working environment year-round. We are proud to offer our employees membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, along with a health cash plan scheme including an Employee Wellbeing Support & Health Service, a confidential service designed to help you deal with personal & professional problems that could be affecting your home life, work life or general wellbeing.

Job responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient‑facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using your expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.
• Be a prescriber, or complete training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the general practice team.
• Be responsible for the care management of patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy.
• Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines.
• Through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self‑care.
• Act as the point of contact for medicine related matters, establishing positive working relationships.
• Consult patients within defined levels of competence and independently prescribe acute and repeat medication.
• Receive and resolve medicines queries from patients and other staff.
• Provide medication review services for patients.
• Deliver hypertension (and potentially other long‑term condition) clinics and prescribe accordingly.
• Review medications for newly registered patients.
• Provide advice and answer medication related queries from patients and staff.
• Take part in clinical audit.
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children.
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements on behalf of the organisation.
• 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.
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes.
• There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.

Person Specification

• 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 (for example, the CPPE clinical pharmacist training pathways).
• Hold or be working towards a GPhC independent prescribing qualification.
• An appreciation of the nature of general practice and the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing.
• Experience of pharmacy services in primary care.
• Therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence‑based healthcare.
• Experience of working autonomously.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs.
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes.
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet.
• Problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity.
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals.
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure.
• Effective time management (planning and organising).
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
• Good clinical system IT knowledge (SystmOne).
• Flexibility to work outside core office hours eg one early morning or evening clinic per week.

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.