Lead Pharmacist

Job description Job responsibilities

Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesProvide leadership across the network pharmacy team, supporting Cluster Lead Pharmacists and ensuring the clinical supervision, mentorship and competency development of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.Provide clinical oversight and work closely with the PCN management team, practices and care coordinators to ensure the effective delivery of Structured Medication Reviews, Medicines Optimisation services and the requirements of the Clinical Pharmacist role.Meet regularly with Cluster Lead Pharmacists and practice pharmacy teams to review service delivery, performance, workforce development and improvement opportunities.Lead and facilitate Pharmacy MDT meetings, supporting the development of network-wide skills, knowledge sharing and training initiatives.Lead on high-quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing in line with evidence-based practice, national and local guidance, relevant legislation and CQC requirements.Develop and oversee a centralised Medicines Management Work Plan and rota, ensuring services are responsive to the differing needs of member practices.Provide expert advice, direction and support on medicines management issues across the network.Initiate and lead service development activities that support innovation, high-quality prescribing and improved patient outcomes.Drive service development, shaping models of care that support national policy, local population needs and long-term sustainability.Oversee the evaluation of service performance, outcomes and impact to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.Support and lead prescribing-related audits, quality improvement programmes and service evaluation activities.Work collaboratively with community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and wider health and social care partners to support integrated working and improve patient care.Influence prescribing behaviour across multidisciplinary teams, including GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals.Patient CareUndertake Structured Medication Reviews within practices, remotely or through domiciliary visits where appropriate.Support patients to improve concordance with treatment and optimise health outcomes.Run specialist review clinics within areas of competence and training.Act as a Non-Medical Prescriber in accordance with professional standards, policies and guidance.Work collaboratively with Community Pharmacists to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient services.Medicines ManagementIdentify, develop and implement prescribing plans with the network pharmacy team.Develop prescribing guidelines and formularies and support their adoption across practices.Promote safe repeat prescribing through protocol development, audit and feedback.Monitor prescribing budgets, support cost-effective prescribing and minimise medicines waste.Maintain accurate and appropriate clinical records.Utilise the full functionality of Electronic Prescription Services (EPS).Participate in medication safety initiatives, including incident reporting, medication error reporting and adverse drug reaction reporting.Actively participate in local clinical governance arrangements and identify prescribing issues requiring action.Support public health initiatives relating to medicines use, including antimicrobial stewardship.Support delivery of strategic medicines management objectives and future service developments.Education, Training and Workforce DevelopmentAnalyse and present information to support service development and influence prescribing trends.Deliver education and training sessions to GPs, practice staff, healthcare professionals and patient groups.Maintain an ongoing programme of continuing professional development and participate in annual appraisal processes.Engage in professional supervision and network learning opportunities.Provide clinical supervision to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.Deliver formal and informal teaching, training and support to colleagues and multidisciplinary team members.Provide support and mentorship to Cluster Lead Pharmacists, ensuring they are equipped to fulfil their leadership responsibilities.Policy, Research and AuditDevelop and implement Patient Group Directions where appropriate.Lead and develop clinical audit work relating to local priorities, NICE guidance and national programmes.Analyse, interpret and communicate audit findings, medicines management alerts and prescribing pathway changes.Support research, service evaluation and quality improvement activities across the network.Clinical Governance and Professional ResponsibilitiesParticipate in primary healthcare team meetings and organisational development activities.Provide data and reports to support service planning, development and performance monitoring.Collect and analyse data as part of clinical and organisational audit processes.Follow organisational policies relating to risk management, incident reporting, patient safety and health and safety.Provide senior clinical oversight and governance assurance to ensure compliance with professional, contractual and regulatory requirements, including Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.Maintain a personal professional development plan and participate fully in appraisal processes.Seek patient satisfaction and multi-source colleague feedback as part of professional development and quality assurance processes.Manage complaints appropriately and support learning from complaints, incidents and feedback.Information GovernanceEnsure familiarity with relevant clinical systems and electronic patient records.Comply with all information governance, data protection and data security requirements.Utilise clinical systems effectively to support patient care, service delivery and reporting requirements.Other ResponsibilitiesMaintain confidentiality of all patient, staff and organisational information.Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work.Take reasonable care for the health, safety and welfare of themselves and others.Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the post.