PCN Clinical Pharmacist

About Us The Confederation, Hillingdon CIC works with General Practice and other healthcare providers to deliver its vision for “Hillingdon to deliver the best primary care outcomes for patients in the whole of London”. We are a not‑for‑profit community interest company. The Confederation works to develop and support individual GP practices, PCNs and neighbourhoods and their changing needs. We deliver excellent clinical services ourselves both at scale and complementary to General Practice. We are the provider representative voice for local General Practice into the wider NHS and other partners. We are ‘of the NHS’ but independent, innovative and transformational. Job Summary As a Clinical Pharmacist, the post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop and run processes for repeat prescription reauthorisation, management of medicines on transfer of care and systems for safer prescribing. They will work directly with patients to assess and treat conditions, manage long‑term conditions and promote self‑care. They will be part of a group of Primary Care Network (PCN) Clinical Pharmacists working under the supervision and mentoring of a Clinical Pharmacist Manager. You will be expected to complete the accredited 18‑month Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway provided by CPPE as part of training and support to obtain an Independent Prescriber Qualification. The pathway does not need to be completed if the pharmacist meets a Health Education England exemption such as completion of a Clinical Diploma. Primary Responsibilities Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients within the practice, care homes and/or domiciliary visits to proactively manage polypharmacy and produce recommendations for senior clinical pharmacist, nurses and/or GP on prescribing and monitoring. See (where appropriate) patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicine optimisation is required (e.g. Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Diabetes). Clinics are conducted face‑to‑face, via telephone, home visits and, in the future, possibly video consultations. Undertake clinics for patients or develop one‑to‑one relationships to de‑prescribe where necessary and offer clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement. Review the ongoing need for each medicine, monitoring needs and support patients with medicine adherence to ensure optimal use of their medicines. Make appropriate recommendations to GPs for medicine improvement. Produce recommendations for clinicians on prescribing and monitoring. Work with care home staff to improve safety of medicine ordering and administration. Manage caseload of patients with common/minor/self‑limiting ailments within a scope of practice and limits of competence. Signpost to community pharmacy and refer to GPs or other healthcare professionals where appropriate. Provide patient‑facing clinics and a telephone helpline for questions, queries and concerns about medicines. Answer relevant medicine‑related enquiries from GPs, practice staff, other healthcare teams and patients. Suggest and recommend solutions and provide follow‑up to monitor the effect of changes. Conduct telephone medicine support and provide a helpline for patients with medicine queries. Audit the use of medicines commonly associated with unplanned hospital admissions and readmissions, identifying opportunities for improvement. Implement changes to reduce prescribing of high‑risk medicines to vulnerable patient groups. Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, rectifying unexplained changes and ensuring patients receive needed medicines. Set up and manage systems to ensure continuity of medicine supply to high‑risk groups (e.g. medication compliance aids or care home residents). Ensure patients are referred to appropriate healthcare professionals within an appropriate period (e.g. pathology results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions, long‑term condition reviews). Produce and implement a repeat prescribing policy within each PCN practice. Manage repeat prescribing reauthorisation by reviewing patient requests and medicines reaching review dates. Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required. Identify cohorts of patients at high risk of medicine harm through pre‑prepared practice computer searches, considering patient‑ and medicine‑related risks. Advise on development and implementation of new services with medicinal components (e.g. treatment pathways and patient information leaflets). Undertake clinical audits of prescribing directed by GPs, provide feedback and implement changes with the practice team. Implement changes to medicines arising from MHRA alerts, product withdrawals and national guidance. AUDIT practices for compliance with NICE technology assessment guidance. Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved. Collaborative Working Relationships Participate in the Primary Care Network Multidisciplinary Team. Liaise with CCG colleagues, including CCG pharmacists, on prescribing matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefits in surgeries. Foster and maintain strong links with all services across the PCN and neighbouring networks. Explore collaborative working opportunities and initiate and sustain such relationships. Recognise the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role in patient care. Communicate effectively to gain cooperation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals and organisations). Recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleagues when necessary. Integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams. Liaise with other stakeholders for the collective benefit of patients: patients and their representatives, GP, nurses and other practice staff, community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social prescribers, first‑contact physiotherapists, physician associates, paramedics, community nurses and allied health professionals, hospital prescribing staff, and the medicines management team. Person Specification Essential Criteria Mandatory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). MSc in pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent. Minimum of 2 years post‑qualification experience. Understand the nature of GPs and general practices. Understand primary care prescribing concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improvement. Immunisation status (Hep B). Desirable Criteria Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Specialist knowledge from postgraduate diploma level training or equivalent experience. Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining an independent prescribing qualification. In‑depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of evidence‑based healthcare principles. Seniority Level Entry level Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Health Care Provider Industries Hospitals and Health Care #J-18808-Ljbffr