Experienced Clinical Pharmacist General Practice

Job description Job responsibilities Employer: Bharani Medical CentreLocation: Slough, BerkshireWorking arrangements: Flexible / remote or hybrid working consideredContract: Initially preferably self-employed, with potential for future salaried employmentHours: Flexible, to be agreedJob summaryBharani Medical Centre is seeking an experienced, confident and motivated Clinical Pharmacist to join our established general practice team.We are looking for a pharmacist who has previous experience working in NHS general practice and is comfortable managing a broad range of clinical and medicines-related responsibilities with a high degree of professional independence.The role will focus on clinical correspondence management, medicines optimisation, long-term-condition reviews, QOF performance and patient safety monitoring.The successful candidate will be familiar with general practice systems, particularly EMIS Web and Ardens, and confident identifying, prioritising and actioning medicines-related clinical tasks within their scope of competence.We offer flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of remote working where appropriate. We would ideally like to engage a pharmacist on a self-employed basis initially, with the possibility of progressing to a fixed-term or permanent salaried position as the role develops.Main duties and responsibilities1. Clinical correspondence and medicines managementThe post-holder will take responsibility for managing allocated clinical correspondence and associated medicines-related actions.Responsibilities will include: Reviewing hospital discharge summaries, outpatient letters and other clinical correspondence. Identifying and actioning medication changes arising from hospital or specialist care. Undertaking medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge. Updating medication records, repeat prescribing arrangements and relevant clinical information within EMIS Web. Arranging appropriate medication reviews, blood tests and monitoring where indicated. Identifying prescribing discrepancies, medication interactions and potential patient safety concerns. Escalating complex clinical decisions or non-medicines-related matters to the appropriate GP or clinician. Using Anima Documents and associated practice workflows to manage clinical correspondence efficiently. The pharmacist will be expected to manage routine medicines-related correspondence independently within their professional competence, while recognising when GP input is required.2. QOF and long-term-condition managementThe post-holder will proactively review QOF registers and identify patients requiring clinical review, treatment optimisation or follow-up.This will include supporting the management of patients with: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, including medication optimisation, treatment targets and appropriate clinical monitoring. Hypertension, including blood pressure reviews and antihypertensive optimisation. COPD, including inhaler therapy, medication reviews and appropriate monitoring. Asthma, including medication optimisation, inhaler technique and treatment reviews. Other long-term conditions where medicines optimisation and pharmacist-led reviews can contribute to improved patient care. Responsibilities will include identifying gaps in care, contacting patients where appropriate, conducting structured medication reviews, arranging relevant investigations and updating clinical records.The pharmacist will be expected to work to current NICE guidance, local prescribing guidelines and agreed practice protocols.3. Patient safety and high-risk medicines monitoringA key responsibility will be proactively managing prescribing safety searches and high-risk medication monitoring.This will include: Reviewing practice patient safety searches and medicines-related CQC assurance lists. Identifying patients prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) who require appropriate safety monitoring. Reviewing patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including renal function, dosing, weight and other relevant monitoring requirements. Ensuring appropriate blood test monitoring is undertaken for high-risk medication. Reviewing potential prescribing risks, drug interactions and contraindications. Identifying patients overdue for safety monitoring and arranging appropriate follow-up. Documenting interventions, outstanding actions and escalation appropriately. The pharmacist will work proactively to ensure that relevant medicines safety requirements are met and that identified clinical risks are addressed in a timely manner.4. Medicines optimisation and prescribing improvementThe post-holder will undertake targeted medicines optimisation work in accordance with local and national prescribing priorities.Responsibilities will include: Reviewing patients identified through local medicines optimisation schemes and prescribing improvement searches. Undertaking gabapentinoid reviews, including assessment of ongoing indication, effectiveness, adverse effects, dependency risk and opportunities for appropriate dose reduction. Reviewing prescribing in patients with chronic kidney disease, including renal dose adjustments, medication safety and potentially nephrotoxic medicines. Identifying inappropriate prescribing, polypharmacy and potentially harmful medication combinations. Supporting cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing where clinically appropriate. Conducting structured medication reviews and making appropriate recommendations or changes within professional competence and prescribing authority. Monitoring and reporting progress against agreed medicines optimisation targets. 5. Patient-facing clinical reviewsThe pharmacist will undertake patient consultations, remotely or face to face as appropriate, to support: Medication reviews and medicines reconciliation. Long-term-condition management. High-risk medication monitoring. Treatment optimisation and adherence support. Patient education regarding medicines, side effects and appropriate monitoring. Follow-up of patients identified through clinical searches. Where the pharmacist is an independent prescriber, prescribing decisions may be undertaken within their area of competence and agreed clinical governance arrangements.Pharmacists without independent prescribing qualifications will be expected to make appropriate clinical recommendations and refer prescribing decisions to an authorised prescriber.6. Minor illness managementWhere suitably trained and competent, the pharmacist may also support the assessment and management of common minor illnesses and self-limiting conditions.This would be an additional desirable component of the role, rather than its primary focus.7. Clinical systems and digital workingThe successful candidate will be expected to use clinical systems effectively, including: EMIS Web for clinical records, prescribing and medicines reconciliation. Ardens templates, clinical searches and disease management tools. Anima Documents for clinical correspondence. Accurx and other approved communication systems where appropriate. The pharmacist should be comfortable working with clinical searches, interpreting patient lists and independently progressing appropriate actions.8. Clinical governance and professional responsibilitiesThe post-holder will: Maintain professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Work within their professional competence and prescribing authority. Follow relevant NICE guidance, local formularies and agreed clinical protocols. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records. Recognise and escalate clinical risks appropriately. Contribute to audit, quality improvement and prescribing safety initiatives. Participate in appropriate clinical supervision, peer discussion and continuing professional development. Comply with information governance, safeguarding and patient confidentiality requirements. Working arrangementsThe position offers flexibility in both working hours and location, subject to clinical requirements, information governance and service needs.Remote working may be considered for appropriate elements of the role, particularly clinical correspondence, prescribing safety searches, medicines optimisation and remote medication reviews.There may be opportunities for a combination of remote and on-site working.We would ideally like to commence the arrangement on a self-employed or contractual basis, subject to the appropriate engagement arrangements being agreed.There is potential for the role to develop into a fixed-term or permanent salaried position depending on service requirements and mutual agreement.About Bharani Medical CentreBharani Medical Centre is an established general practice serving approximately 18,000 patients across three nearby sites in Slough.We are supported by an experienced multidisciplinary team and place a strong emphasis on clinical quality, collaborative working, population health management and the effective use of digital systems.We are looking for a pharmacist who can take ownership of defined areas of clinical work, work proactively and make a meaningful contribution to prescribing quality, long-term-condition management and patient safety.