Primary Care Network Clinical Pharmacist

Job summary

We areseeking a PCN pharmacist with previous experience of working in primary care todevelop and manage Medicines Optimisation services within general practice. Youwill be working with a very supportive large pharmacy team of 40 pharmacistsand 5 Pharmacy Technicians. The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role. They will take responsibility forareas of chronic disease management within practices and undertake clinicalmedication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff with regards to prescriptions and medication queries. They will help support the repeat prescribing system, medicines reconciliation, and support systems for safer prescribing. They will be expected to provide expertise in clinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs of patients.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership on Medicines Optimisation and manage some aspects of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and Enhanced Services. They will ensure that practices integrate with community and hospital pharmacy to facilitate effective communication across different healthcare settings. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and passion to deliver excellent service within general practice.

About us

The Islington GP Group Limited, trading as Islington GP Federation (IGPF), is owned by Islington GPs. It is a rapidly growing organisation representing the interests of general practice in Islington. It is an established leader in the provision of new and integrated healthcare, including supporting the new Primary Care Networks and developing quality improvement capabilities in general practice. Its range of services include I:HUB, community ENT, community gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists, the NCL COVID support service, long term condition management optimisation, proactive screening and evaluation trials, and a range of general practice support propositions. IGPF is host to Islingtons Training Hub.

IGPF works very closely with strategic, commissioning and provider partners, including the local clinical commissioning group, NHS England, Healthy London Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals, such as Whittington Health, the local authority, third sector organisations and patient representation groups. It plays an important role in the development of the health and care landscape across Islington, and within its North Central London (NCL) regional footprint.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient facing activities

Structured Medication reviews

Frail elderly patient with problematic Polypharmacy, renal and/ or hepatic impairment Patients on high risk medicines STOPP/START identified patients Revolving door Hospital admissions LTC: Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma, COPD contraception Learning Disability reviews Rheumatoid arthritis reviews Musculoskeletal pain management, osteoarthritis Ongoing care of defined conditions, eczema, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Contribute to multimorbidity reviews and multidisciplinary reviews

Management of common/minor/self- limiting ailments

Managing caseload for patients with common/minor/self-limiting ailments while working within a scope of practice and limits of competence. Signposting to community pharmacy and referring to GPs or other healthcare professionals where appropriate

Repeat prescribing

Produce and implement robust systems for repeat prescribing Support the management of repeat prescribing reauthorization process by reviewing complex patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines overdue a review Coordinate with patients and community pharmacies as appropriate

Management of medicines at discharge from hospital

To reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes Perform a clinical medication review, produce a post discharge medicines care plan including dose titration and booking of follow up tests and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge

Risk Management and Patient Safety

Responsible for high risk drug monitoring Responsible for design, development, and implementation of system searches to identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines. Increase quality and safety of prescribing through mechanisms such as audit and PDSA cycles Implement drug withdrawals and alerts MHRA aimed at improving medicines safety

Medicine information to practice staff and patients

Deal with all medication queries from From patients, community pharmacy, secondary care From admin staff From clinicians Act as a source of medicines information for the practice team and patients ( around doses, side effects, adverse events, possible alternatives for out of stocks)

Care Quality Commission

Provide leadership to the general practice teams to ensure practices are compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved. Undertake risk assessment and management and ensure compliance with medicines legislation.

Public health

To contribute to public health campaigns, including u vaccinations, and adult immunisation programmes

Cost saving programs

Promote evidence based, cost effective prescribing Lead on compliance with medicines formulary

Training

Provide education and training to primary healthcare team on procedures around medicines as appropriate

Medicines quality improvement

Identify medicine-related areas of care (including using software tools) to improve patient safety and use of medicines. Conduct medicine-related audits, significant event audit and complaint review. Contribute to medicine-related complaint response letters as appropriate Lead on use of TARGET toolkit for antimicrobial stewardship. Lead on stopping over-medication of people with a learning disability, autism, or both (STOMP) and people with dementia.

Medicines safety

Identify national and local policy and guidance that affects patient safety using medicines, including MHRA alerts, product withdrawals and emerging evidence form clinical trials. Manage the process of implementing changes to medicines and guidance for practitioners.

Behavioural Competencies andskills for the role:

Expert Professional Practice

Demonstrates general pharmaceutical skills and knowledge in coreareas Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertiseand direct service provision as an individual Demonstrates ability to use skills in a range of routinesituations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifiesdeviations from the normal pattern and can refer to seniors or GPs whenappropriate Can follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisationalpolicies/procedures and codes of conduct Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines andsupporting adherence as per NICE guidance

Collaborative working relationships

Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisationand their role to patient care Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain theco-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peercolleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations CCGs) Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriatecolleague(s) when necessary Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG Pharmacists onprescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit Liaises with other GP Practices and staff as needed for thecollective benefit of patients

Leadership

Demonstratesunderstanding of the pharmacy role in governance and can implement thisappropriately within the workplace Demonstratesunderstanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision Demonstratesability to improve quality within limitations of service Reviews lastyears progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within prioritiesset by others Demonstratesability to motivate self to achieve goals

Management

Demonstrates understanding of the implications of nationalpriorities for the team and/or service Demonstrates understanding of the process for effective resourceutilisation Demonstrates understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standardsof practice Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk managementissues according to policy/protocol Follows professional and organisational policies/proceduresrelating to performance management Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service deliverywithin the team

Education, Training and Development

Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role modelto members in the team and/or service Demonstrates self-development through continuous professionaldevelopment activity Participates in the delivery of formal education programmes

Key working relationships

Patients GP, nurses, and other practice staff Members of the Medicines Management team including pharmacists, technicians,and dieticians Locality / GP prescribing leads and clinical directors Community nurses and other allied health professionals Community pharmacists and support staff Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicinesoptimisation

Codes ofConduct

Pharmacistsmust comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set by the General PharmaceuticalCouncil and Islginton GP Federation

EqualOpportunities

Islington GPFederation is committed to an equal opportunities policy that affirms that allstaff should be afforded equality of treatment and opportunity in employmentirrespective of sexuality, marital status, race, religion/belief, ethnicorigin, age, or disability. All staff are required to observe this policy intheir behaviour to fellow employees.

Confidentiality

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence regardingany patient/client information that they may have access to, or accidentallygain knowledge of, in the course of their duties.

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidenceregarding any information relating to the work of Islington GP Federation andits employees. You are required not to disclose any confidential informationeither during or after your employment, other than in accordance with therelevant professional codes.

Health and safety/ Risk Management

Islington GP Federation expects all staff to have a commitment topromoting and maintaining a safe and healthy environment and be responsible fortheir own and others welfare.

Thepost-holder must always comply with the Federation and Practices Health andSafety policies, by following agreed safe working procedures and reportingincidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

Travel

Thepost-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites (whereapplicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent) Specialist knowledge acquired through post- graduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining an independent prescribing qualification

Professional Registration

Essential

Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Desirable

Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience. In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare. Basic understanding of General Practice, primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences ( patients) Demonstrate ability to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions. Good IT skills Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and can refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines Work effectively independently and as a team member

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