PCN Clinical Pharmacist

Job summary

We are looking for a dynamic, forward thinking clinical pharmacist to lead this work in the PCN and to join a team that is open to new ways of working and maximising the value of primary care in partnership with patients, other healthcare professionals and social care. We believe the introduction of a full time PCN Clinical Pharmacist is fundamental not only in the challenge of optimising the use of medicines but also in the journey of behavioural change with patients and the public

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act within their professional boundaries, supporting andworking alongside a team of Health Care Practitioners within general practiceand the PCN. Providing primary supportto general practice staff, with regards to prescription andmedication queries. Perform medicines reconciliation on transfer ofcare and implement systems for safer prescribing, providing expertise inclinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs ofpatients in the PCN. The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinaryteam in a patient-facing role. Taking responsibility for areas ofmedicines optimisation within the PCN and undertake structured medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy.Provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation, quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomesframework and enhanced services at practice and PCN level. Working with all sectors of pharmacy across the health system to improvepopulation health. Demonstrating improvement in patient outcomes and working toreduce health inequalities across the PCN contributing to improving theefficiency of general practice and delivering a best in class service, the postholder will be supported to develop their role , this will include becoming andoperating as a non-medical prescriber.

About us

New Cross Alliance is a small but very committed and driven Primary Care Network. Consisting of 3 practices, all geographically close and based in Ilford, we have a population of circa 35,000 patients. We feel we are in tune with the need to recognise and work effectively with the concept of population health management and recognise the importance of the newly emerging primary care roles in this context. We are conscious of the need to change current traditional ways of working and begin to benefit from the concept of the patient seeing the right healthcare professional to get the most appropriate support and guidance. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the area of medication usage where significant gains can be made by introducing pharmacist leadership into any strategies the PCN will pursue in this area of care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PrimaryDuties and Areas of Responsibility

Patient facing Long-term condition Clinics

See (where appropriate) patients with single or multiplemedical problems where medicine optimisation is required ( COPD, asthma).Review the on-going need for each medicine, a review of monitoring needs and anopportunity to support patients with their medicines taking ensuring they getthe best use of their medicines ( medicines optimisation). Make appropriaterecommendations to GPs for medicines optimisation or actions as appropriate andcommensurate with individual level of skill and competence.

Patient facing Clinical Medication Review

Undertake structured clinical medication reviews withpatients and make appropriate recommendations to GPs for medicines optimisationor actions as appropriate and commensurate with individual level of skill andcompetence.

Patient facing care home medication reviews

Undertake structured clinical medication reviews withpatients and make appropriate recommendations to GPs for medicines optimisationor actions as appropriate and commensurate with individual level of skill andcompetence. Work with care home staff to improve the safety of medicinesordering and administration.

Patient facing domiciliary clinical medication review

Undertake structured clinical medication reviews withpatients and make appropriate recommendations to GPs for medicines optimisationor actions as appropriate and commensurate with individual level of skill andcompetence. Attend and refer patients to multidisciplinary case conferences.

Patient facing medicines support

Provide patient facing clinics for those with questions,queries and concerns about their medicines as appropriate and commensurate withindividual level of skill and competence.

Telephonemedicines support

Provide a telephone help line for patients with questions,queries and concerns about their medicines, as appropriate and commensuratewith individual level of skill and competence.

Medicine information to practice staff and patients

Answer relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, otherpractice staff, other healthcare teams ( community pharmacy) and patientswith queries about medicines. Suggesting and recommending solutions. Providefollow up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes.

Unplanned hospital admissions

Review the use of medicines most commonly associated withunplanned hospital admissions and readmissions through audit and individualpatient reviews. Put in place changes to reduce the prescribing of thesemedicines to highrisk patient groups.

Management of medicines at discharge from hospital

Reconcile medicines following transfer of care including:discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, includingidentifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients andcommunity pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need postdischarge.

Set up and managesystems to ensure continuity of medicines supply to highrisk groups ofpatients ( those with medicine compliance aids or those in care homes).

Signposting. Ensure that patients are referred to theappropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care within anappropriate period of time pathology results, common/minor ailments, acuteconditions, long term condition reviews etc.

Risk stratification

Identification of cohorts of patients at high risk of harmfrom medicines through pre-prepared practice computer searches. This mightinclude risks that are patient related, medicine related, or both.

Servicedevelopment

Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development andimplementation of new services that have medicinal components ( advice ontreatment pathways and patient information leaflets).

Information management

Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlightissues and risks to support decision making at PCN and GP Practice Populationlevel.

Medicines quality improvement

Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directedby the GPs and PCN, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunctionwith the practice team at practice and PCN level.

Medicines safety

Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts,product withdrawal and other local and national guidance.

Implementation of local and national guidelines andformulary recommendations

Monitor Network prescribing against the local health economysRAG list and make recommendations to GPs for medicines that should beprescribed by hospital doctors (red drugs) or subject to shared care (amberdrugs). Assist practices in seeing and maintaining a practice formulary that ishosted on the practices computer system. Auditing practices complianceagainst NICE technology assessment guidance. Provide practice and PCN levelinformation to contribute to the safe and efficient use of medicines.

Education and Training

Provide education and training to primary healthcare team(s)on therapeutics and medicines optimisation.

Care Quality Commission

Work with the general practice teams to ensure the PCN iscompliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved.

Public health

Support public health campaigns. Provide specialist knowledge on all publichealth programmes available to the general public. Support the PCN to improveand manage population health, focusing on reducing health inequalities andincreasing healthy life expectancy.

Collaborative Working Relationships

Recognise the roles of other colleagues within theorganisation and their role in patient care.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Good IT skills and literacy Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations

Desirable

Previous experience of working in primary care, within a GP practice Experience of working with GP prescribing systems, other clinical systems, and Microsoft Office Evidence of conducting medication reviews

Qualifications

Essential

Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council CPPE completed Be a prescriber, or working towards or intending to become one within 2 years of start date

Desirable

Post-graduate Clinical Diploma

Skills & Competencies

Essential

Able to manage allocated resources (time, equipment, base location) Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information and data Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to recognise personal limitations and work with professional competencies Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy law and ethics, and current legislation surrounding medication-use

Desirable

Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities An appreciation of concepts associated with primary care prescribing including rational, cost-effective and quality improvement Able to plan, manage, monitor and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information and prescribing data

---