Clinical Pharmacist

Job description 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 a Primary Care Network (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.Repeat prescribingDevelop and quality-assured improved, safe and efficient repeat prescribing and medication review processes within the practice, and then to evolve and implement changes as required.Focused and structured reviews of repeat prescriptions on an individual basis to improve quality and safety and maximise effectiveness and reduce wastage.Medication review services via clinics in the practice, domiciliary visit and in residential and nursing homes. These may be face-to-face or notes-based reviews.Long-Term Conditions / Chronic Disease ManagementUndertake disease focused medication reviews, particularly of high-risk groups (elderly, renal/hepatic impairment, and to ensure appropriate compliance with national and local guidelines. This will be via pharmacist lead clinics, telephone and office-based notes reviews.Ensure the care for patients taking high risk drugs e.g. DMARDs, anticoagulation, are safe and appropriateTelephone advice to patients with LTCs on specific medicines management issuesBe familiar with, contribute to the development off and work alongside practice ICB long-term conditions pathways to ensure consistency and efficiency of systemsProvide health promotion where appropriate, including flu vaccinations.Acute illness and pharmacist led clinics(within clinical scope and area of competence)The initial assessment of common general practice presentationsWorking through differential diagnosis and identifying serious disease and referring appropriatelySeeing patients with minor illnesses, independently diagnosing and managing the conditionsFollowing patients up with GP mentor support and within boundaries of safety and competencyTelephone advice to patients with acute illness queriesMinor ailment triage, with signposting and educating patients in the use of non-GP services, such as pharmacy lead minor ailments schemes minor eye complaints service, dental services, etc.Hospital Discharge and Outpatient LettersReview and reconcile medicines changes from secondary care organisations, in particular discharge papers and TTOs, to ensure concordance with national and local policies and to ensure optimisation of treatment and reduce inappropriate or wasteful prescribing.Reconcile patients computer records with discharge medication and discuss discrepancies or concerns with hospital doctor/pharmacistEnsure suggested /appropriate actions from hospital discharge/outpatients letters are followed through in practice e.g. follow-up blood tests, up-titration / down titration of medications etc.Ensure patients are informed and aware of any changes to their medicationPractice FormularyManage practice formularies and IT systems to ensure appropriate selection of medication is easy and maximise by prescribers in the practiceIMT and Electronic PrescribingFacilitate the development of electronic prescribing and increase its usageTo update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the patients clinical computer systems, including advice given and action taken in pharmacist clinics/reviews.Safety, Risk and GovernanceEnsure appropriate governance is in place regarding medicines, including leading on the response to any drug safety alerts or changes in clinical guidance.Assist with the development of relevant medicines management guidance and/or policies.Meet regularly with the practice prescribing lead to discuss medication issues.To advise the primary healthcare team on the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs and other medicines, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.Identify and flag up risks with regard to management of medicines including clinical and financial risks.To offer advice and guidance on adverse significant events that involve medication to ensure lessons are learned and appropriate changes made to prevent re-occurrence.To offer advice and guidance on patient complaints that relate to medication/prescribing.Audit and MonitoringTo plan and undertake clinical/prescribing audits to identify areas where improvement is needed, development action plans and implement appropriate changes.To provide regular support and feedback on prescribing action plans.Report regularly to the GP partners on the practice prescribing figures with benchmarking against other local and national data.Analyse practice complex prescribing data to inform GPs and non-medical prescribers on their collective and individual performance.Lead on the identification, implementation and monitoring of medicines management targets and initiatives including QOF, QIPP and CCG prescribing target.Support the implementation of actions resulting from audit findings when necessary.To agree all auditing and monitoring priorities in discussion with the practice.RelationshipsTo provide training in medicines related issues to other members of the practice as appropriate.To consider the skills of the reception team and develop plans for training as necessary to ensure safe and efficient prescribing processes.Medicines Information and AwarenessAnalyse and critically appraise complex information to prepare concise evidence-based summaries/advice to clinicians and nonclinical staff and patients.Prepare evidence-based resources and information to support the health professionals in the implementation of rational cost-effective prescribing.Present add patient group meetings or other appropriate events to give advice on the appropriate use of medicines.Produce patient information leaflets and posters, and run medicine is aware of his projects throughout the year.Raise awareness of out of practice schemes, such as minor ailments and schemes that promote self-care.We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications..