Job Description

1. Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the newly formed Sea City Partnership for keen and committed individuals to join our friendly team to develop medicines optimisation services within our practices.

The post holder will play a key role in improving safe and cost-effective prescribing, enhancing patient outcomes, reducing health inequalities, and supporting public health initiatives.

They will work within their professional boundaries as part of a multi-disciplinary team across the practices and will take responsibility for areas of chronic disease management within the practice. Undertaking clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy, especially older patients, patients in residential care homes and those with multiple co-morbidities.

The post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff with regards to prescription and medication queries. They will provide support to the prescriptions team, dealing with acute and repeat prescription queries. They will participate in medicines reconciliation on transfer of care. They will develop systems for safer prescribing, providing expertise in clinical medicines advice while addressing both public and social care needs of the patients in our practice.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership on medicines optimisation, antibiotic stewardship and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.

The post holder will ensure that the practice integrates with community and hospital pharmacy teams to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage workload. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and passion to deliver excellent service within general practice

We will welcome applications from all sectors of Pharmacy, and you will be fully supported with a comprehensive induction and mandatory enrolment in the Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway provided by CPPE if you have not already completed this.

The post holder will be supported to develop their role to become a non-medical prescriber, if that qualification is not already held.

If you have the drive, motivation and enthusiasm to work with us and other agencies to improve the quality of care to patients and be at the forefront of developing an exciting Health Service Provider we would love to hear from you and receive your application.

2. Mission Statement

We aim to provide all of our patients with high quality, person-centred, accessible, integrated care in a safe, responsive and courteous manner. In order to do this we will:

Provide a service which puts patient safety, care and wellbeing at the heart of all we do.

Convey compassion in all that we do, assessing and responding to need.

Respect all, show courtesy, seek to understand, treat all fairly, value each person as a unique individual and support the vulnerable.

Act with integrity and be accountable for our actions.

Continuously learn and improve, adapting to change and building on achievements to develop our services.

Promote best practice encouraging continuous professional development of all members of the Practice Team and valuing the contribution of each team member.

Nurture a culture which is innovative, inclusive, open and mutually supportive.

3. Key Responsibilities

The focus of the post holder's work will depend on the qualifications, skills and experience of the individual and the needs of the Practice both of which may develop over time. Therefore, the potential duties are outlined below:

3.1 Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.

3.2 See (where appropriate) patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicine optimisation is required (e.g. Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Diabetes). Review the on-going need for each medicine, a review of monitoring needs and an opportunity to support patients with their medicines taking ensuring they get the best use of their medicines (i.e. medicines optimisation).

3.3 Be a prescriber, or work towards completing training to become a prescriber

3.4 Be responsible for the care management of patients with specific chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews 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 Program).

3.5 Provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the organisation and to help in tackling inequalities.

3.6 Provide patient facing clinics and telephone consultations for those with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines in the practice. Ensure that patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care within an appropriate period of time e.g. pathology test results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions, long term condition reviews.

3.7 Provide leadership on person-centered 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.

3.8 Through structured medication reviews, support patients to take their medications to get the best from them, reduce waste and promote self-care.

3.9 Develop relationships and work closely with other pharmacy professionals across the wider health and social care system. Linking to the community pharmacies around complex patients and prescribing complexities. Advise on alternatives if medications not available.

3.10 Take a central role in the clinical aspects of shared care protocols, clinical research with medicines, liaison with specialist pharmacists (including mental health and reduction of inappropriate antipsychotic use in people with learning difficulties), liaison with community pharmacists, and anticoagulation.

3.11 Answers relevant medicine?related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines.

3.12 To reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals or intermediate care and upon admission to care homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes.

3.13 Support the medicines managers and prescription team in the repeat prescribing process by reviewing patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines reaching review dates ensuring patients are booked in for necessary monitoring tests where required. Resolve medicines queries from patients and other staff.

3.14 Review and reconcile medications for newly registered patients.

3.15 Improve the quality and effectiveness of prescribing through clinical audit and education, to improve performance against NICE standards and clinical and prescribing guidance.

3.16 Develop yourself and the role through participation in clinical supervision, training and service redesign activities.

3.17 Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so, and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events.

3.18 Responsibility for the management of medicines risk stratification tools on behalf of the practice. Working with patients and the primary care team to minimise risks through medicines optimisation

3.19 Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlight issues and risks to support decision-making. Conduct clinical audits and quality improve projects or work with colleagues such as GP registrars, practice managers etc. Present results and provide leadership on suggested changes.

3.20 Identify national and local policy and guidance that affects patient safety through the use of medicines, including MHRA alerts, product withdrawals and emerging evidence form clinical trials.

3.21 Supporting the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved.

3.22 Monitor practice prescribing against the local health economy's RAG list for medicines that should be prescribed by hospital doctors (red drugs) or subject to shared care (amber drugs).

3.23 Provide updates on important prescribing messages to improve prescribers' knowledge and work with the team to develop and implement other techniques known to influence implementation of evidence -- such as audit and feedback.

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

3.25 Contribute to clinical governance agenda for the practice and undertake audits to improve service quality of care.

4. Wider responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Clinical Pharmacist has the following wider responsibilities:

4.1 Support the delivery of QOF, MOIS incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives.

4.2 Deliver training, mentoring and guidance to other clinicians, junior members of the pharmacy team and practice staff on medicine issues.

4.3 Working in partnership with pharmacists and clinicians at local hospitals, improve the safety and quality of prescribing after discharge from hospital admissions and attendance.

4.4 Work with community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists and other stakeholders in the medicines supply chain to improve patient experience and manage incidents.

4.5 Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children.

4.6 Undertake all mandatory training and induction programs.

4.7 Attend a formal appraisal with your manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed.

4.8 Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

4.9 Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility

The above is not exhaustive. The postholder may from time to time be required to undertake other activities commensurate with the expected levels of responsibility and scope of the role, within levels of attained competence. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels, annual leave cover.

5. Corporate responsibilities (common to all our team members)

All staff at

Southampton Sea City Partnership

have a duty to conform to the following:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

A good attitude and positive action towards Equality Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) creates an environment where all individuals can achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons - it improves operational effectiveness; it is morally the right thing to do and it is required by law.

Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.

Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued, and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.

Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)

This organisation is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities for staff to maintain their health, wellbeing and safety.

The post holder is to manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients and monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.

All personnel have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for themselves, their team and others and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.

All personnel are to comply with the:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,

Environmental Protection Act 1990,

Environment Act 1995,

Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999

Coronavirus Act 2020

Other statutory legislation which may be brought to the post holder's attention.

Confidentiality

The organisation is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality.

It is essential that, if the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained, all staff must protect patient information and provide a confidential service.

Quality and Continuous Improvement (CI)

To preserve and improve the quality of this organisation's outputs, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work.

The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the organisation to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice and to discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care.

Southampton Sea City Partnership

continually strives to improve work processes which deliver healthcare with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement where everyone counts, and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.

Staff should interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.

All staff are to contribute to investigations and root cause analyses whilst participating in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary case reviews.

Induction

At

Southampton Sea City Partnership

, you will be required to complete the induction programme, and the Practice management team will support you throughout the process.

Learning and development

The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake in and complete mandatory training as directed by your Line Manager and/or HR. It is an expectation for this post holder to assess their own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.

The post holder will undertake mentorship for team members and disseminate learning and information gained to other team members to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g., courses and conferences). The post holder will provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.

Collaborative working

All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working and understand their own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time. Staff are to prioritise their own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.

Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments and the post holder is to work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working and work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Effective communication is essential, and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner. All staff should delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence. Plans and outcomes by which to measure success should be agreed.

Managing information

All staff should use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in the planning, implementation and monitoring of care and presenting and communicating information. Data should be reviewed and processed using accurate SNOMED/read codes to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.

Service delivery

Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure. The post holder must adhere to the information contained within the organisations policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are always adhered to.

Security

The security of the organisation is the responsibility of all personnel. The post holder must ensure they always remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager. Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks with anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured. Likewise, password controls are to be maintained and are not to be shared.

Professional conduct

All staff are required to dress appropriately for their role.

Leave

All personnel are entitled to take leave. Line managers are to ensure all their staff are afforded the opportunity to take a minimum of 5 weeks (pro-rata) leave each year and should be encouraged to take all their leave entitlement. Additionally, public/bank holidays will be calculated on a pro-rated basis dependent on the number of hours worked.

Person Specification Essentials

Qualifications:

MPharm or equivalent and registered with the GPhC as a Pharmacist. Proof of relevant professional and educational qualifications, coupled with details of any training. Willing to be enrolled in, or have qualified from, an approved 18-month training pathway or equivalent that equips them to be able to practice and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting such as PCPEP. Hold, be working towards, or willing to undertake an independent prescribing qualification.

Experience

An appreciation of the nature of general practice and the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing Minimum of two years working as a pharmacist demonstrated within a practice portfolio. An appreciation of the new NHS landscape, including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners.
Job Type: Part-time

Expected hours: 30 per week

Benefits:

Company pension Cycle to work scheme Employee discount Free flu jabs Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking
Experience:

Clinical pharmacy: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person