JOB SUMMARY

Groups of GP Practices in City and Hackney have come together to form 8 Primary Care Networks (PCNS) each covering a total population of between 30,000-56,000. The purpose of these PCNs is to enable GP practices to work together in a collaborative way to develop and deliver network-based services that respond to the needs of the local population.
The Clissold Park PCN in City and Hackney is seeking to recruit an experienced PCN Clinical Pharmacist to develop and support medicines optimisation work within the GP practices in the PCN covering a population of approximately 37,000.
The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role. The PCN Clinical Pharmacist will take responsibility for areas of chronic disease management and work proactively with other healthcare professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team across the PCN.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Contribute to the provision of education and training on medicines optimisation and specific therapeutic areas to healthcare professionals within the PCN and to the wider ICB geography, including the PCN pharmacy professional network meetings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PERSON SPECIFICATION)

· Has experience/awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice.
· Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy, as demonstrated within a practice portfolio.
· Holds an independent prescribing qualification, is working towards a qualification or has the intention to complete this in the future.
· Demonstrates an understanding of the role of a clinical pharmacist within primary care and where it fits into and how it complements the practice team and the wider PCN team.
· Accountable for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision.
· Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification describes the characteristics (skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications) that are needed to carry out the duties in the job description.

QUALIFICATIONS

Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent)
Specialist knowledge acquired through post-graduate clinical diploma level or equivalent training/experience (Desirable)
Either has completed the CPPE Pathway or close to the completion or Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining independent prescribing qualification (Desirable)

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 2 years post‐qualification experience
In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence‐based healthcare (Desirable)
Understand the importance of the PCN pharmacist role with NHS structure as a whole and understand the key national and local medicines optimisation priorities relevant to your role.
Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for LTCs (Desirable)
Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients)
Good IT skills
Ability to obtain and analyse complex technical information
Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
Produce timely and informative reports
Work effectively independently and as a team member
Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision
Self-Motivated, positive attitude, adaptable, self-aware and able to gain respect, trust and co-operation quickly

PRIMARY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PCN PHARMACISTS

The PCN Clinical Pharmacist will:
· 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 to support the management of acute and long-term conditions
· be a prescriber, or completing training to become a prescriber, and work with and alongside the general practice team;
· be responsible for the management of patients with long term conditions and undertake clinical medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially the elderly and those with multiple co-morbidities (in particular frailty, COPD, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease) and people with learning disabilities or autism (through STOMP – Stop Over Medication Programme);
· provide specialist expertise in the use of medicines whilst helping to address both the public health and social care needs of patients at the PCN’s practice(s) and to help in tackling inequalities;
· provide leadership in the practice on medicines optimisation systems and processes and quality improvement
· contribute to meeting the Quality and outcomes Framework (QoF) targets, enhanced services and the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) indicators
· through Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), support to improve the patient’s knowledge of their conditions and associated treatments and therefore improve adherence to medication, reduce waste and promote selfcare.
· Have a lead role in supporting integration of general practice with the wider healthcare teams (including community and hospital pharmacy) as part of the pharmacy integration agenda to help improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage general practice workload;
· build relationships and work closely with other pharmacy professionals across PCNs and the wider health and social care system;
· 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 disabilities).

PATIENT FACING ROLE UNDERTAKING FACE TO FACE MEDICATIONS REVIEWS FOR:

· patients with long term conditions on polypharmacy
· housebound patients
· chronic disease management areas identified as a priority area within the PCN
· Review patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicine optimisation is required.
· Review on-going need for each medicine, assess monitoring requirements and support patients to ensure treatment is safe, appropriate and optimised for maximum clinical benefit.
· Discuss recommendations and outcomes with relevant members of the PCN team and provide appropriate and timely follow up.
· Support patients to optimise medicines by providing additional written patient information leaflets, and liaise with community pharmacists about the need for special requirements to aid adherence.