PCN Clinical Pharmacist

• Clinical medication reviews for patients both in person and via telephone, with single or multiple long term conditions where medicines optimisation is required
• To reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals or intermediate care and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post-discharge and to reduce risk of readmission
• To manage repeat prescription requests, resolving queries where possible within scope of practice. To ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required.
• Implement changes to medicines in line with MHRA alerts, product withdrawal or shortage and other local or national guidance
• To undertake a proactive role in audit and quality improvement implementing recommendations where appropriate.
• Provide independent information to patients regarding medicines and prescribing changes, initiating further support from other healthcare professionals where appropriate
• To identify areas of clinical risk at network level and make recommendations to support the introduction of new working practices that will optimise the quality of prescribing and make more efficient use of network resources.
• Work with the practice to ensure full compliance with Care Quality Commission standards for safe and effective care

Essential

• Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree, which is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) + 1 year pre-registration training.
• Demonstrates an understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice.
• Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management
• Awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-terms conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice

Desirable

• Non medical prescriber status
• Membership Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA)
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Essential

• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Able to gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/motivate/persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers

Desirable

• Experience of working in primary care / general practice
• In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
• An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing. Analyse and interpret complex prescribing information and present information in a clear way
• Able to plan, manage, monitor and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions