Senior Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist

at  NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board

Job Summary The post holder will provide medicines optimisation support to the partnership programmes, Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices across Bradford district and Craven. In conjunction with all team members, the post holder will build strong relationships with other teams and with external stakeholders including local acute and community Trusts, the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, local authorities, PCNs and GP practices as part of the local system workstreams, in order to support and promote quality improvement in prescribing in line with national and local guidance. Main Duties The post holder will provide experienced pharmaceutical knowledge to multiple healthcare system programmes that achieve the system vision of happy, healthy at home. This may include: Providing clinical direction to decision making committees and groups, such as the Act as One clinical programme boards, prescribing committees and groups Supporting the maintenance of the local joint medicines formulary and co-ordination of the communication of medicines commissioning decisions to key stakeholders, including integration into all relevant IT systems Working effectively with the whole Medicines Optimisation Team, to influence the development and co-ordination of effective delivery of the Medicines Optimisation commissioning plans.
Supporting fellow medicines optimisation team staff members and the Senior Heads of Medicines Optimisation in the delivery of governance regarding all aspects of medicines and the wider pharmaceutical agenda. Undertaking risk management processes, including providing advice for investigations, and ensuring compliance with medicines legislation Responsibility for ensuring commissioning decisions have been accurately recorded and presented in a format that will support accurate interpretation thereafter, to allow potential subsequent presentation of an audit trail as evidence of decision making and how that decision was considered. Working in accordance with Information Governance requirements and safeguarding procedures, primarily on computer, on a daily basis. Attending and contributing to a variety of partnership, GP practice, trust and ICS meetings as required to undertake the role.
This may involve travel across West Yorkshire. Helping to ensure that NPSA/CMO/MHRA drug and medicines management safety alerts are considered and actioned as appropriate within agreed timescales. Communication The post holder is expected to: Develop an effective network and build strong and trusted relationships with key stakeholders such as in order to ensure effective implementation of the medicines optimisation strategy and programme and to support any work streams that involve medicines optimisation. Use these networks and relationships in order to improve communication between primary, secondary and intermediate care to promote seamless care.
Liaise with hospital doctors and consultants on the development of local guidelines for implementation in primary care and secondary care. Respond to needs and difficulties faced by practices in trying to improve patient outcomes within financial and time constraints. Prepare evidence based resources and information to support the Medicines Optimisation team and all other relevant health professionals in the implementation of evidence based, rational and cost-effective prescribing. Contribute medicines related content for inclusion in communications and newsletters.
Analytical and Judgement Skills Use of expert clinical knowledge to interpret and present highly specialised information on very complex and often contentious medicines related information. This will include the provision of advice, shaping local application and require both succinct and detailed communication of decisions to enable GP Practices and hospital provider organisations to meet the commissioned responsibilities as required by medicines legislation and the NHS constitution. Accurately analyse and interpret highly complex prescribing data provided by both internal and external business intelligence partners. This will include the production and presentation of reports for discussion, feedback and performance monitoring to GP practices, individual prescribers, hospital and other colleagues on the clinical quality and cost effectiveness of prescribing linked to budget management.
Leadership responsibilities: The post-holder may be required to: Deputise for senior members of the medicines optimisation team, including the Head of Medicines Optimisation where appropriate. Line manager other members of the Medicines Optimisation Team. Undertake the training and development of medicines optimisation pharmacist and technician colleagues. Provide day to day clinical support for medicines optimisation colleagues, where required.
Planning and Organisation The post-holder will be expected to: Plan own day to day workload to include priority meetings and project work Assist the Head of Medicines Optimisation with the identification, assessment, planning and development of future projects. Lead and co-ordinate various medicines related meetings and projects across the Bradford District and Craven area. Service Development and Delivery The post holder will be expected to: Contribute to the development and delivery of medicines optimisation, concentrating on improving patient outcomes from medications. Implement policies and procedures and agreed action plans at place level, monitor the effect of changes made and ensure that any benefits are maintained in the longer term.
Assist in the development of local or system wide policies Research and Audit The post holder may be expected to: Undertake and interpret the results of medicines related audit, communicating results and any necessary actions to GP Practice, individual prescribers, hospital providers or system programmes Develop and support audit and research regarding medicines, including from initiation through to processing. Managing Resource The post holder will be expected to: Work alongside the Head of Medicines Optimisation to monitor prescribing budgets and advise corrective action where necessary. To work to ensure best value for money and avoidance of waste in relation to medicines. Contribute to the reduction in fraud related to medicines consistent with the post holders position in the organisation.
Develop functional knowledge on how to use integrated prescribing decision aids to support GP practices software to assist and accelerate implementation of medicines commissioning decisions in primary care. Analyse practice-prescribing data using RAIDR, ePact2, Optimise Rx, PrescQIPP and GP clinical systems as appropriate in order to promote rational cost-effective prescribing to GPs and non-medical prescribers. Education and Training Education and training responsibilities include: Providing support and training to colleagues in the Medicines Optimisation Team, organisation staff, GP practices and other healthcare staff on prescribing and pharmaceutical issues such as governance, commissioning medicines, risk management and controlled drugs as required. Maintain and develop personal professional competence and expertise, keep up to date with medical and therapeutic evidence, agree objectives and a personal development plan and participate in the appraisal process.
General The post holder will: Treat people with dignity and respect. Maintain a high standard of professional and personal conduct. Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The post holder must be aware of and committed to the equality and diversity policies of the organisation.
Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices. Ensure compliance with all mandatory and statutory training relevant to the post. Be familiar with and adhere to the safeguarding policies, procedures, and guidelines for both children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect. This must be in conjunction with the Multi-agency Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults at risk of abuse or neglect Multi- Agency Policy, Protocols and guidelines.
Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported appropriately. Be aware of and adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the principles of data security and data protection. Follow a professional Code of Conduct, where relevant to the post.
Participate in the organisational appraisal process. Be expected to undertake ongoing professional and personal development in line with the responsibilities of the post. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post.
It may be subject to change in accordance with developing organisational and service needs and wherever necessary, will follow appropriate consultation with the post holder. The post holder may be directed to complete other duties according to organisational requirements. These duties will always be reasonable and commensurate with the skills of the post holder and level of the post

Please refer the Job description for details