Clinical Pharmacist

Job summary

The successful candidate will work closely with GPs, practice nurses and the wider practice team. The post will focus on structured medication reviews, supporting patients with chronic diseases, improving prescribing quality and helping the practice deliver its quality-improvement priorities.

The role will be based at the practice and will involve a combination of patient-facing clinical work, prescription-related work, audit, education and service improvement.

Main duties of the job

The pharmacist will be expected to take an active role in quality improvement, which may include:

• Reviewing prescribing data and identifying areas for improvement.
• Developing and implementing agreed prescribing changes.
• Supporting medication-safety initiatives.
• Reviewing antimicrobial prescribing.
• Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy.
• Improving medication adherence and patient understanding.
• Supporting the practices QOF and enhanced-service work.
• Sharing learning with the multidisciplinary team.
• Contributing to audits and monitoring the effect of agreed changes.

About us

Chopwell Primary healthcare centre is a small, friendly and forward-thinking GP practice serving around 2,500 patients in Chopwell/Gateshead outer west. We are seeking an enthusiastic and clinically focused Clinical Pharmacist to join our multidisciplinary team for one day per week on a one-year fixed-term contract.

This is an excellent opportunity for a pharmacist who wishes to contribute to medicines optimisation, chronic disease management, quality improvement and the development of safe, effective prescribing within general practice.

Job responsibilities

Undertake structured medication reviews and clinical medication reviews

Review patients with complex polypharmacy, particularly older people and those with multiple long-term conditions

Support the management of patients with chronic diseases

Identify and address medication-related problems, adherence issues and medicines wastage

Respond to medication queries from patients and healthcare professionals

Support patients to obtain the best outcomes from their medicines

Review and manage repeat prescribing in accordance with practice policies

Support patients recently discharged from hospital with medication reconciliation and follow-up

Contribute to safe and effective prescribing and medicines optimisation

Promote antimicrobial stewardship in line with local guidance

Support the practice with prescribing audits, clinical audits and quality-improvement projects

Contribute to relevant QOF and enhanced-service activity

Liaise appropriately with community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and other healthcare professional

Contribute to the development and implementation of shared-care arrangements, where appropriate

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records

Ensure that any clinical activity is undertaken within professional competence, local protocols and agreed supervision arrangements

Escalate clinical concerns promptly to the appropriate GP or clinician

the postholder may prescribe within their competence and agreed scope of practice

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical council

Experience

Essential

• Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Appropriate clinical experience as a pharmacist.
• Experience of conducting medication reviews.
• Knowledge of safe prescribing and medicines optimisation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues.
• Ability to maintain accurate clinical records.
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and information governance.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification, or willingness to work towards this where appropriate.
• Experience working in general practice, primary care or a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of managing chronic disease and complex polypharmacy.
• Experience of prescribing audits, QOF or quality-improvement projects.
• Experience of working with community and hospital pharmacy colleagues.
• Familiarity with EMIS