Job summary
Employer heading
Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
This post is a part-time, 15 hours per week, 12 months fixed term contract.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and dynamic pharmacists, to join our successful and well-respected ICB Medicines Optimisation Team. You will be part of a large team that works hard to drive forward the ICB’s medicines optimisation agenda.
The Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists are an established team working within the practices, enjoying excellent working relationships with all involved at the practice and at ICB level. The role will also involve working closely with the ICB office-based team to support Medicines Optimisation project development and evaluation.
Applicants must be a pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and be able to demonstrate continuing professional development. You must demonstrate how your experience and skills meet the criteria listed in the Job Description in order for your application to be shortlisted
The applicant will need to be able to cover GP practices across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area.
For further details and to discuss the role please contact Michelle Jones ([email protected])
Main duties of the job
The role includes working closely with GP practices, promoting safe, evidence-based, patient focussed care, undertaking a variety of medication related clinical projects, as well as assisting GP practices to manage their prescribing budget.
Applicants should have strong communication skills including report writing and presentation skills and experience of working with clinicians and influencing prescribing. Excellent organisational skills are essential as is effective time management and successful project delivery. Candidates will be expected to be able to analyse, interpret and present complex information and identify solutions to complex problems.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to creating an inclusive organisation that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community; from people of all ages, disabled people, all genders, people from ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with diverse gender identity and expression, people from all religions and beliefs and other diverse characteristics, and we have processes in place to ensure that all applications are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
· To assist practices to develop a pattern of prescribing that is optimised for quality, minimises risk, is evidence based, financially sustainable and meets regulatory requirements
· At practice level lead in the implementation of local and national policies relating to medicines management
· Promote and positively influence the use of the BNSSG formulary within BNSSG GP practices to encourage cost-effective evidence-based prescribing.
· Challenge prescribers about the appropriateness of their prescribing to bring it in-line with local and national guidelines, and BNSSG formularies.
· Undertake implementation of the ICB medicines management strategy at practice level
· Responsible for working with practices to manage their practice prescribing budget, using various data sources
· Analyse and interpret highly complex data (ePACT data, financial reports and trial data) for the relevant GP practices and report prescribing trends which may need to be investigated.
· Develop and implement data collection systems that will provide accurate and timely data.
· Present information and issues, explaining highly complex issues, to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
· Take action to tackle prescribing practices that are identified as not of optimum quality, not evidence-based or not financially sustainable.
· Develop audits to critically evaluate the prescribing and utilisation of medicines.
· Facilitate change in those practices that are under-performing against prescribing targets
· Work with designated GP practices t to agree a short-term, medium term and long-term work plan, using initiative to managing workload and meet ICB and practice deadlines.
· Be a point of contact as expert knowledge to answer day-to-day queries related to prescribing and medicines management from GPs and other healthcare professionals
· To carry out any other duties related to improving the prescribing process within practices.
· To conduct patient medication reviews where appropriate including, face-to-face consultation
· Use expert clinical knowledge to identify pharmaceutical care issues for patients, such as identifying unnecessary or ineffective therapy, unmet pharmaceutical needs, monitoring requirements, incorrect dosing or times of administration, contraindications, side-effects and complications arising from polypharmacy or drug interactions
· Assess and identify problems with concordance including practical issues with taking medications for patients, e.g. manual dexterity, visual impairment, cognitive impairment, swallowing difficulties, ordering and collection of prescriptions. Liaise with other healthcare professionals to find appropriate solutions
· Take a lead in the coordination of training & development as delegated by line manager
· Contribute to the short and medium term business plans, achieving quality outcomes
The post holder will be required to maintain constructive and collaborative relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
Person specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
Essential criteria
- Bachelor / Master of Pharmacy Degree
- Clinical Post-graduate qualification or equivalent experience
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Experience of working in primary care, secondary care or ICB setting post qualification
- Good understanding of the NHS structure and how this impacts primary care.
- Budget management knowledge
- Good knowledge and understanding of audit methodology.
- Demonstrable experience working with clinicians, challenging clinicians and influencing change
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to use own initiative
- Wide-ranging and comprehensive pharmaceutical, therapeutic and clinical knowledge
- Knowledge of medicines optimisation issues affecting primary care, including NICE, local Formularies, local guidance development, patient group directions and legal frameworks relating to medicines.
Desirable criteria
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Experience of successfully delivering and managing projects
- Experience of delivering training or education sessions to various staff groups.
- Knowledge of GP practice computerised prescribing systems
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
- Clearly and succinctly communicates with GPs, prescribers, allied health care professionals and patients using well-developed interpersonal, verbal, written and presentation skills to impart complex information and data.
- Can demonstrate developing facilitation, negotiating and influencing skills
Analytical
Essential criteria
- Well-developed Critical appraisal skills with the ability to communicate findings appropriate to the audience
- Good analytical and problem solving skills
- Ability to analyse and interpret financial/ budgetary / prescribing information such as ePACT data
- Working knowledge of Microsoft office with intermediate keyboard skills to write reports, documents and present data
Planning Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills, and an ability to prioritise time-sensitive projects and to work to deadlines
Autonomy
Essential criteria
- Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
Equality & Diversity
Essential criteria
- The promotion of equality of opportunity and good working relations (providing practical leadership)
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Michelle Jones
- Job title
- Principal Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0117 9841689
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