Job Description

Company Overview

Vertis Health is a community-based healthcare service that supports NHS patients within South Worcestershire. We leverage local clinical expertise and efficient administrative pathways to enhance patient accessibility and convenience.

Summary

The post holder is a clinical pharmacist working within Worcester City PCN and its general practice teams. Acting within their professional boundaries, they will support the safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing of medicines, optimising medicines use, improving patient outcomes and lead medicines-related initiatives.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role, the post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff on prescription and medication queries, undertake medicines reconciliation following transfer of care and implement systems for safer prescribing. They will conduct structured medication reviews (particularly for high-risk patients and those with complex polypharmacy) and ultimately to run clinics to support chronic disease management.

The pharmacist will oversee the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process, contribute to quality improvement by implementing evidence-based prescribing changes. They will collaborate with commissioning organisations and wider PCN team to support the delivery of the Quality Prescribing and Medicines Service (QPMS), Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES), Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and Local Enhanced Service (LES) at both practice and PCN level.

This role will be reviewed at least annually, and the job description may be updated to reflect the evolving needs of the organisation.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Undertake structured medication reviews (face-to-face or remotely), focusing on high-risk groups such as care home residents, housebound patients and patients with polypharmacy or complex chronic conditions

Reconcile medicines following hospital discharge, ensuring continuity of therapy and safe handover with community pharmacists

Implement MHRA alerts, drug withdrawals and evidence-based guideline changes within the practice or across the PCN

Support chronic disease management clinics (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, asthma, COPD, osteoporosis, mental health)

Contribute to multi-morbidity reviews - QOF domains and register improvements

Support prescription management processes including reviewing requests for repeat prescriptions, medicines reaching review dates, ensuring drug monitoring is being done

Provide medicines information and prescribing advice to practice staff

Collaborate with community and hospital pharmacy colleagues to align services (e.g. Discharge Medicines Service, New Medicine Service)

Identify high-risk patient cohorts through computer searches (e.g. AnalyseRx) to reduce harm and prevent avoidable admissions

Participate in audits, quality improvement initiatives and local medicines optimisation schemes (e.g. QPMS, DSQS, QIPP)

Support where changes in evidence require changes in prescribing across the patient population, e.g. drug withdrawals and MHRA alerts, aimed at improving medicines safety

Provide primary support to general practice staff and patients with regards to prescription and medication queries, answering relevant medicine related enquiries (e.g. doses, side effects, adverse events, alternative formulation, out of stocks)

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

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

Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) - Desirable

May hold or be working towards an Independent Prescribing qualification

May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification or certification

Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and chronic conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice

Successful candidate will be required to enrol on the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) programme, if not previously completed

If you are passionate about improving patient care through your expertise, we invite you to join our mission at Vertis Health. Apply today and be part of a team that makes a difference!

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: 46,148.00 per year

Expected hours: No more than 37.5 per week

Education:

Bachelor's (required)
Experience:

post graduate pharmacy: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: B0158-25-0073