Senior Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist

Job summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and dynamic pharmacist to join our small, friendly and professional team. The role will provide medicines optimisation support to a range of local and ICS clinical programmes, Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices across Bradford District and Craven. In conjunction with all team members, you will build strong relationships with other teams in the local system and the ICS alongside stakeholders and colleagues in the local acute and community Trusts, local authorities, PCNs and GP practices. You will support the local Act as One system clinical workstreams, such as diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular health in order to support and promote quality improvement, reduction in variation, best value prescribing and improvement in patient outcomes in line with national and local guidance.

Main duties of the job

You will support the development and maintenance of a variety of clinical prescribing guidelines, using evidence-based resources and information, and co-ordinate communication of medicines commissioning decisions to key stakeholders. You will work closely with clinicians and programme managers across a number of different clinical specialities, providing specialist medicines input to clinical workstreams and projects. You will also provide clinical leadership and support for medicines optimisation and primary care colleagues.

The ideal candidate will have good knowledge of NHS initiatives, policy and developments as well as the legal, governance and ethical framework within which pharmacists, primary care organisations, provider trusts, and commissioners work. Experience of pharmacy services across a wide range of settings such as primary care, hospital, secured environments and/or community pharmacy are desirable

In order to undertake the role, you will be able to demonstrate skills and specialist knowledge acquired through post graduate study. You will be accountable for your own professional actions, will train and develop colleagues, work independently as well as within teams and through the support of pharmacy technicians, other pharmacists and dietitians, will organise your own workload and that of your colleagues in the Medicines Optimisation Team. Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical and interpersonal skills are essential.

About us

The Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, within the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, are responsible for planning and buying healthcare services for local people.

We are a vibrant and responsive organisation with strong clinical leadership and have set ourselves clear objectives and priorities. We work closely with our staff, local people and partners to achieve our visions of reducing health inequalities and enabling the people of Bradford District and Craven to enjoy better health. By joining us, you can be part of an open, supportive and innovative team, working alongside our colleagues across West Yorkshire.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and welcome applications for everyone irrespective of disability, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The post holder will provide medicines optimisation support to the partnership programmes, Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices across Bradford district and Craven.

In conjunction with all team members, the post holder will build strong relationships with other teams and with external stakeholders including local acute and community Trusts, the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, local authorities, PCNs and GP practices as part of the local system workstreams, in order to support and promote quality improvement in prescribing in line with national and local guidance.

Main Duties

The post holder will provide experienced pharmaceutical knowledge to multiple healthcare system programmes that achieve the system vision of happy, healthy at home. This may include:

Providing clinical direction to decision making committees and groups, such as the Act as One clinical programme boards, prescribing committees and groups

Supporting the maintenance of the local joint medicines formulary and co-ordination of the communication of medicines commissioning decisions to key stakeholders, including integration into all relevant IT systems

Working effectively with the whole Medicines Optimisation Team, to influence the development and co-ordination of effective delivery of the Medicines Optimisation commissioning plans.

Supporting fellow medicines optimisation team staff members and the Senior Heads of Medicines Optimisation in the delivery of governance regarding all aspects of medicines and the wider pharmaceutical agenda.

Undertaking risk management processes, including providing advice for investigations, and ensuring compliance with medicines legislation

Responsibility for ensuring commissioning decisions have been accurately recorded and presented in a format that will support accurate interpretation thereafter, to allow potential subsequent presentation of an audit trail as evidence of decision making and how that decision was considered.

Working in accordance with Information Governance requirements and safeguarding procedures, primarily on computer, on a daily basis.

Attending and contributing to a variety of partnership, GP practice, trust and ICS meetings as required to undertake the role. This may involve travel across West Yorkshire.

Helping to ensure that NPSA/CMO/MHRA drug and medicines management safety alerts are considered and actioned as appropriate within agreed timescales.

Communication

The post holder is expected to:

Develop an effective network and build strong and trusted relationships with key stakeholders such as in order to ensure effective implementation of the medicines optimisation strategy and programme and to support any work streams that involve medicines optimisation.

Use these networks and relationships in order to improve communication between primary, secondary and intermediate care to promote seamless care.

Liaise with hospital doctors and consultants on the development of local guidelines for implementation in primary care and secondary care.

Respond to needs and difficulties faced by practices in trying to improve patient outcomes within financial and time constraints.

Prepare evidence based resources and information to support the Medicines Optimisation team and all other relevant health professionals in the implementation of evidence based, rational and cost-effective prescribing.

Contribute medicines related content for inclusion in communications and newsletters.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Use of expert clinical knowledge to interpret and present highly specialised information on very complex and often contentious medicines related information. This will include the provision of advice, shaping local application and require both succinct and detailed communication of decisions to enable GP Practices and hospital provider organisations to meet the commissioned responsibilities as required by medicines legislation and the NHS constitution.

Accurately analyse and interpret highly complex prescribing data provided by both internal and external business intelligence partners. This will include the production and presentation of reports for discussion, feedback and performance monitoring to GP practices, individual prescribers, hospital and other colleagues on the clinical quality and cost effectiveness of prescribing linked to budget management.

Leadership responsibilities:

The post-holder may be required to:

Deputise for senior members of the medicines optimisation team, including the Head of Medicines Optimisation where appropriate.

Line manager other members of the Medicines Optimisation Team.

Undertake the training and development of medicines optimisation pharmacist and technician colleagues.

Provide day to day clinical support for medicines optimisation colleagues, where required.

Planning and Organisation

The post-holder will be expected to:

Plan own day to day workload to include priority meetings and project work

Assist the Head of Medicines Optimisation with the identification, assessment, planning and development of future projects.

Lead and co-ordinate various medicines related meetings and projects across the Bradford District and Craven area.

Service Development and Delivery

The post holder will be expected to:

Contribute to the development and delivery of medicines optimisation, concentrating on improving patient outcomes from medications.

Implement policies and procedures and agreed action plans at place level, monitor the effect of changes made and ensure that any benefits are maintained in the longer term.

Assist in the development of local or system wide policies

Research and Audit

The post holder may be expected to:

Undertake and interpret the results of medicines related audit, communicating results and any necessary actions to GP Practice, individual prescribers, hospital providers or system programmes

Develop and support audit and research regarding medicines, including from initiation through to processing.

Managing Resource

The post holder will be expected to:

Work alongside the Head of Medicines Optimisation to monitor prescribing budgets and advise corrective action where necessary.

To work to ensure best value for money and avoidance of waste in relation to medicines.

Contribute to the reduction in fraud related to medicines consistent with the post holders position in the organisation.

Develop functional knowledge on how to use integrated prescribing decision aids to support GP practices software to assist and accelerate implementation of medicines commissioning decisions in primary care.

Analyse practice-prescribing data using RAIDR, ePact2, Optimise Rx, PrescQIPP and GP clinical systems as appropriate in order to promote rational cost-effective prescribing to GPs and non-medical prescribers.

Education and Training

Education and training responsibilities include:

Providing support and training to colleagues in the Medicines Optimisation Team, organisation staff, GP practices and other healthcare staff on prescribing and pharmaceutical issues such as governance, commissioning medicines, risk management and controlled drugs as required.

Maintain and develop personal professional competence and expertise, keep up to date with medical and therapeutic evidence, agree objectives and a personal development plan and participate in the appraisal process.

General

The post holder will:

Treat people with dignity and respect.

Maintain a high standard of professional and personal conduct.

Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the equality and diversity policies of the organisation.

Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.

Ensure compliance with all mandatory and statutory training relevant to the post.

Be familiar with and adhere to the safeguarding policies, procedures, and guidelines for both children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect. This must be in conjunction with the Multi-agency Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults at risk of abuse or neglect Multi- Agency Policy, Protocols and guidelines.

Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported appropriately.

Be aware of and adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.

Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the principles of data security and data protection.

Follow a professional Code of Conduct, where relevant to the post.

Participate in the organisational appraisal process.

Be expected to undertake ongoing professional and personal development in line with the responsibilities of the post.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It may be subject to change in accordance with developing organisational and service needs and wherever necessary, will follow appropriate consultation with the post holder. The post holder may be directed to complete other duties according to organisational requirements. These duties will always be reasonable and commensurate with the skills of the post holder and level of the post.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with primary care prescribers to improve prescribing Demonstrate a knowledge of the changing NHS environment with particular emphasis on issues relating to pharmacy practice and primary care Awareness of local and national health initiatives and guidelines

Desirable

Clinical experience of conducting chronic disease and medication review clinics

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

Specialist knowledge of drug therapeutics and ability to communicate drug information Understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection Act and confidentiality issues including Caldicott Understanding of Medicine Legalisation applicable to primary care Ability to access and interpret prescribing data Computer literate and ability to use practice computer systems ( SystmOne), Word, Excel and PowerPoint systems competently Self motivated, organised and excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrate ability to work independently and within a team, prioritising and delivering agreed objectives The ability to motivate , influence and lead colleagues and staff

Desirable

Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies including interpretation of clinical trials data Ability to travel

Qualifications

Essential

Pharmacy Masters degree or equivalent and registered with the GPhC Post graduate diploma therapeutics/ clinical pharmacy or suitable relevant experience

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