Clinical Pharmacist inBarnsley inBarnsley PUBLISHED 18 NOV 2024

Barnsley Primary Care Network is looking to recruit additional Clinical Pharmacists to further develop medicines optimisation services across the network, working alongside experienced colleagues as part of a multi disciplinary team.

This post offers candidates the opportunity to develop their skills to become involved in patient facing activities such as chronic disease management, medication reviews, supporting the management of medicines at transfer of care and improving systems for safer prescribing. You will be working alongside experienced primary care clinical pharmacists and will become part of the future primary care skill mix.

Locations for this role is yet to be confirmed, will be based across practices in the Barnsley Borough.

Interviews will be taking place on Wednesday 11th December.

BHF are fully committed to ensuring equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as this is embedded in our values. We are also a committed employer under the Disability Confident Scheme. Therefore, should you wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments or assistance you might need in the application or interview process, please contact a member of the HR team at and we will be happy to help.

Please note that interviews may take place prior to the advert closing as and when suitable applications are received. If a suitable candidate is appointed the role may close early, therefore please do not hesitate to submit your application

Candidates will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience of influencing others and conducting clinical medication reviews.

A full induction programme will be offered as well as ongoing training and supervision both within the PCN and working alongside Clinical Pharmacists in the Medicines Optimisation Team at Barnsley ICB. We will support candidates to develop their role, including for example becoming an independent prescriber.

The post holder will develop leadership skills on quality improvement and clinical audit as well as managing some aspects of QOF.

This role requires motivation and passion to deliver an excellent service within primary care.

For further duties of the role please refer to the attached job description.

About us

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

To provide prescribing advice and support to the practice(s), on all medication issues.

To advise the practice on the implications of prescribing and admission/referral data provided by the ICB.

To implement change in prescribing behaviour, where required, in order to promote quality, rational, safe and cost-effective prescribing.

To promote prescribing in line with national, and ICB guidelines and policies.

To identify and advise on any areas of clinical risk connected with prescribing.

To undertake medication reviews and therapeutic specific medication reviews of patients with chronic diseases to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly, people in care homes, those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD and asthma) and people with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP Stop Over Medication Programme)

To work directly with patients on medication issues to ensure patients take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care

To provide leadership on person centred medicines optimisation (including ensuring prescribers in the practice conserve antibiotics in line with local antimicrobial stewardship guidance) and quality improvement, whilst contributing to the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENT CARE (including monitoring, diagnostics + investigations)

To support all practice staff on all medication issues

To update patients medication records post hospital discharges and outpatient appointments, and advise the GP of all issues that may arise

To implement all monitoring requirements as detailed in agreed shared care protocols.

To be responsible for ensuring recall systems are in place and working and for the correct monitoring of amber drugs and those included in the Shared Care Local Enhanced Service.

To deal with medication queries, especially those that require follow up and problem solving techniques.

To participate/run medication review clinics or chronic disease management clinics as agreed with the practice.

To reduce waste, minimise risk and improve the repeat prescribing process.

To ensure prescription security by introducing best practice guidelines

To resolve all practice EPS issuesqueries and ensure that the practice maximises the benefits of EPS.

GENERAL PRACTICE SUPPORT

To practice and promote cost-effective, safe, evidence based prescribing.

To identify prescribing issues within the practice, bring these to the attention of the Lead GP and, develop an appropriate strategy, implement the strategy and monitor progress

To monitor practices prescribing for known areas of increased clinical risk, and advise the practice on appropriate measures to minimise such risk.

To ensure that all major MHRA drug alerts are acted upon within practices over a suitable timeframe and to advise and implement any medication changes that occur as a result

To work closely with the Barnsley Place Medicines Optimisation Team to monitor and advise practices regarding their prescribing costs.

To monitor, prescribing costs of specific drugs or therapeutic areas as agreed with the GP practice.

COMMUNICATION

To be the first point of contact for patients, secondary/tertiary care, community pharmacists, ICB, staff, Nursing/Care home staff and other healthcare professionals and patients who have queries relating to medication and repeat prescriptions.

ADMINISTRATIVE AN CLERICAL DUTIES

To maintain comprehensive and accurate records of work undertaken for the Practice Pharmacist projects and activities

To be able to use MS Office programmes necessary for the role

To be able to use the searching and administrative capabilities of the GP clinical systems.

To be able to evidence activity and demonstrate outcomes as agreed by the practice.

To manage time effectively to ensure all targets are met.

To carry out any other associated tasks required to develop this role in the future as requested by the PCN.

INFORMATION SUPPORT AND RECORD KEEPING

To keep an accurate record of all activity undertaken within practices.

To ensure all patient interventions are recorded on the practice computer in accordance with the working procedures developed with the practice.

To be responsible for keeping accurate retrievable records of all formal queries, data collection exercises, and audits.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

To supervise and train practice receptionists undertaking the generation of repeat prescriptions and to explain and inform them of any prescribing changes being carried out.

Be willing to undertake any training required for the role e.g. the CPPE Primary care pharmacy education pathway

To providing training to practice clinical/administration staff on any medicines management issues as agreed by the practice.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATION: FREEDOM TO ACT

To be responsible for the organisation, planning and managing own time, within a broad agenda set by the identified the practice.

To demonstrate professional accountability and responsibility.

To recognise professional and personal limitations.

To observe Health and Safety regulations.

To observe the principles of clinical governance.

COLLABORATIVE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Participate in the PCN MDT

Foster and maintains strong links with all services across the PCN

Explore the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships

Attend Barnsley Place Medicine Optimisation Team meetings (monthly)

Liaise with colleagues including the ICB Medicines Optimisation Team on prescribing matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit

Liaise with colleagues in the Barnsley Place Medicines Optimisation Team to benefit from peer support

Work with primary care to ensure practices are compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved

To support public health campaigns and to provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Liaise with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients, key relationships include (but are not limited to):

Patients and their representatives

GPs, nurses and other practice staff

Social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physician associates and paramedics

Community pharmacists and support staff

Barnsley place Medicines Optimisation Team including pharmacists and technicians

Locality/GP prescribing lead

Locality Managers

Community nurses and other allied health professionals

Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation

ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountable to the Accountable Clinical Director of Barnsley PCN and to the Clinical Directors of the Neighbourhood Networks

PROFESSIONAL

Maintain registration of General Pharmaceutical Council

Maintain professional indemnity insurance

Be part of a professional clinical network, working alongside the Barnsley Place Medicines Optimisation Team

Undertake continual personal and professional development to keep up to date with relevant clinical practice

Access regular clinical supervision

Review yearly progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others

Demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keep up to date with relevant clinical practice

Participate in the delivery of formal education programmes