Job Description

Develop and manage a medicines management plan and deliver patient services as determined by Network policy and local and national guidance. Maximise cost-effective prescribing and improve the quality of patient care. JOB PURPOSE Provide expertise in clinical medicines review and address public health and social needs of patients in GP practices Reduce inappropriate poly-pharmacy and wasteful prescribing through clinical medication review Reconcile medicines following hospital discharge and work with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines You need post discharge. Contribute to reductions in medicine related hospital admissions and readmissions by supporting patients to get the best outcomes from their medicines and identifying and addressing medicines related issues Interface with community and hospital pharmacy colleagues and develop referral processes between primary care professionals including the promotion of the repeat dispensing service Manage the repeat prescribing re-authorisation process by reviewing requests for repeat prescriptions and medicines reaching review dates Manage patients and health care professionals medicine queries Increase quality and safety of prescribing through mechanisms such as audit and PDSA cycles Manage practice formularies to improve the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of prescribing Support achievement of PQS and QOF targets.



Implement drug withdrawals and alerts e.g. MHRA aimed at improving medicines safety Work with primary care professionals and patients to implement NICE and other evidence based guidelines Run clinics where medicines are the main interventions. Contribute to multi-morbidity reviews and multidisciplinary reviews Provide medicines information and training to Practice healthcare professionals and admin staff Act as a source of medicines information for all of the practice team and patients (e.g. around doses, side effects, adverse events, possible alternatives e.g.



around out of stocks) CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Working with the practice based teams to undertake medication reviews particularly in high risk groups. Improve prescribing practice through educational support for all prescribers within the practices Lead on where changes in evidence require changes in prescribing across patient population e.g. where a drug is withdrawn or indications change Liaise with colleagues in community pharmacies to align support for medicines adherence such as NMS Support improvements in clinical care through practice based audits Prescribing advice to prescribers in practice e.g. temporary non availability of drugs Ensure patient safety when you are transferred between care providers through reconciliation of prescribed medicines It is anticipated that the level of qualification held may vary according to the level of position and the components of the role being carried out Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio Completion of the CPPE pathway.



Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Member of or working towards (through foundation) RPS Faculty membership May hold or be working towards a prescribing qualification May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and long term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice Complete appropriate Continuing Professional Education and Development and remain in good standing with pharmacist registration and regulation bodies. Maintain appropriate professional insurance. Responsibility for administration To provide regular support and feedback to practices on prescribing action plans To update and maintain accurate patient medication records on the practices clinical computer systems, including advice given and action taken. To advise the primary health care team on the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs and other medicines.



If appropriate to organise appraisal reviews for the dispensary staff Communication The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members,patients and carers. Confidentiality: you may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. You may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures.

Health & safety:

The post-holder will implement and lead a full range of promotion and management of their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to): Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Use and monitoring of the correct use of Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning and infection control Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols within the team Active observation of current working practices across the team in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others. Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand-cleansing facilities, wipes etc.



are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Actively identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately. Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business.



Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually) Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards Waste management, including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection Spillage control procedures, management and training Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance Maintenance of sterile environments Correct cleaning of equipment used for near patient testing, such as blood glucose monitoring equipment and smokelysers, using the manufacturers instructions as appropriate Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Equality and diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Personal/Professional development: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice, with such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development as well as taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others. Quality: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve Work effectively with individuals in other agencies Effectively manage own time, workload and resources Communication: The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team: Communicate effectively with other team members,patients and carers Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

Apply practice policies, standards and guidance Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work Additional responsibilities for practice participating in the Dispensing Services Quality Scheme, staff competency recording,development and maintenance of standard operating procedures, and recording and analysis of medication dispensing and prescribing significant events.