Clinical Pharmacist (28 hours per week)

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen to join Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh Practice; who have an excellent reputation as friendly, hardworking and high achieving accredited training practices. The Practice has been rated Good by CQC, with consistent, positive GP patient survey results which demonstrate the strong patient centred customer focus and efficiency of the teams.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, patient-focused Clinical Pharmacist to join our friendly and progressive GP practice for 28 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering high-quality prescribing and medicines optimisation services while providing professional support and clinical expertise across our pharmacy function.

We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, including school hours, condensed hours and other family-friendly working patterns.

The role

As our Clinical Pharmacist, you will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, supporting patients to achieve the best outcomes from their medicines and ensuring safe, effective, evidence-based prescribing across the practice.

You will provide professional leadership and clinical oversight to the pharmacy team, helping to develop services and workflows. Operational and employment management responsibilities will remain with the Practice Manager and Business Manager.

Main duties of the job

Main duties and responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities

• Conduct structured medication reviews and medicines optimisation for patients with long-term conditions and complex prescribing needs.
• Provide expert clinical advice on prescribing and medicines management to GPs, nurses and other practice staff.
• Support safe, cost-effective and evidence-based prescribing across the practice.
• Review and action medication-related correspondence.
• Identify and resolve medication-related issues, improving patient safety and treatment outcomes.
• Undertake medication reviews for care home residents and housebound patients where appropriate.
• Prescribe independently within competence and scope of practice (where qualified as an Independent Prescriber).
• Support patients with medication queries and provide education to improve adherence and understanding.
• Assist in the management of prescribing alerts, medicines safety updates and national guidance.
• Contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives and prescribing projects.

About us

Organisation: Bovey Tracey & Chudleigh Practice

Reports to: GP Partners

Responsible to: Practice Manager

No direct budgetary responsibility, although an awareness of cost implications and the effective use of resources is required.

Job responsibilities

THE BOVEY TRACEY AND CHUDLEIGH PRACTICE

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title

Clinical Pharmacist

Base

Riverside Surgery, Bovey Tracey and Tower House Surgery, Chudleigh. Will need to travel and work at both surgeries (one surgery each day)

Pay

Negotiable depending on experience

Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is part of an exciting transformation programme to develop a new model of care, addressing our ambition to deliver person-centred, coordinated care across the practice population. GP practice technicians work within a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, based within a GP practice, and support the delivery of safe, effective and efficient systems for medicines optimisation, repeat prescribing, reducing medicine waste and maximising patient outcomes.

GP Practice Clinical Pharmacists work under the superision of GPs and are registered healthcare professionals that are responsible and accountable for their own accurate and safe practice. As a GP Practice Clinical Pharmacist, you will receive ongoing training and development about all aspects of practice based prescribing and effective administration and will support the practice in providing medication reviews and achieving Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

The Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice model is to develop and utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care so it can proactively help patients stay safe, well and out of hospital as well as supporting efforts to reduce the demands on general practice.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional Pharmacy oversight

Provide professional support and guidance to the practice pharmacy team.

Help coordinate medicines management activities and prioritise workload where appropriate.

Support the training and development of pharmacy staff.

Promote best practice and consistency in medicines optimisation processes.

Work collaboratively with the Practice Manager and Business Manager regarding service development and workforce planning.

Support the implementation of new prescribing initiatives, protocols and quality improvement projects.

Service development

• Contribute to the development of pharmacy-led services that improve patient care and practice efficiency.
• Support achievement of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), IIF and other contractual requirements.
• Maintain awareness of local and national prescribing guidance and implement changes where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with community pharmacies, PCNs, secondary care providers and the wider NHS.

PROFESSIONAL

• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
• To work within the regulatory requirements, codes and guidance of the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Punctual and professional.
• Demonstrate highly effective communication skills with patients, carers, practice colleagues and other healthcare professionals and groups.
• To lead by action and inspire others; to promote confidence and trust in patients and uphold the reputation and image of the Practice.

ADMINISTRATION

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the Practice team.
• Ensure appropriate expenses are made accurately and submitted via Practice Index.
• Ensure all necessary paperwork and registration documentation are completed and submitted to the Practice Manager.
• Postholder has a legal responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, other relevant information and any risk or safety related issues within the Practice in the interests of staff, patients and contractors.
• Aware of responsibilities under the Health Act 2008 Code of Practice for the Prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

Job Types: Part-time

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Wellbeing policy for medical and dental appointments
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work location: In person

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Master's Degree in Pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent).

Desirable

• Independent Prescriber qualification.
• Completion of, or working towards, the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within primary care, general practice or a related clinical setting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong knowledge of medicines optimisation and prescribing governance.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills.
• Full UK Driving licence
• Effective communicator able to communicate complex and highly sensitive information (oral and written)
• Ability to work within a team, be part of and to create a positive culture and atmosphere for patients and staff.

Desirable

• Experience supporting or supervising pharmacy staff.
• Experience using SystmOne (S1).
• Knowledge of QOF and Primary Care Network services.
• Prescribing audit and quality improvement experience.
• Awareness of GP budget-management and funding systems to enable GP clinical pharmacist services to assist delivery of Federation and NHS priorities and requirements for financial balance and quality.
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for the improvement of prescribing.