JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Location: Department/Service: Reports to: Salary: Hours: CLINICAL PHARMACIST TBC Fixed Location at a (maximum of 2) GP Practice(s) within Bedfordshire GP Federating Practice GP Lead / Practice Manager 31,072-40,964 per annum, depending on experience 40 hours per week JOB SUMMARY Horizon Health Choices Ltd is an independent healthcare provider that acts to support the NHS in delivering community-based patient services. It is committed to providing high quality care with improved patient choice and clinical outcomes. As a GP Federation of 54 member practices, one of Horizon s core strategic objectives is to support the collaboration of its member practices to deliver efficiencies that increase the resilience of General Practice locally. The post holder for this role, Clinical Pharmacist, will be an experienced clinician, who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their ongoing care. The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop and run processes for repeat prescriptions reauthorisation management of medicines on transfer of care and systems for safer prescribing. The post holder will be supported and mentored by the Senior Clinical Pharmacist, in addition to the practice s GP Lead, with the overarching aim of improving prescribing within their practice(s), ensure cost-effective prescribing through medication reviews and the optimisation of the management of patients with chronic long-term conditions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Being responsible within their allocated GP Practice(s), this role will require the post holder to provide expertise in clinical medicines review and address public health and social needs of patients. More specifically this will include, but will not be limited to, the following duties: Undertake clinical medication reviews and run polypharmacy clinics with patients with multi-morbidities, particularly in high risk groups such as: o The frail elderly o Renal impairment o Hepatic impairment o Substance misuse JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 1 of 6
o Patients on high risk medicines o STOPP/START identified patients Management of medicines of patients discharged from hospital, reconciling and identifying unexplained changes and managing these without referral to a GP. Risk Stratification design, develop and implement SystmOne searches to identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines, and work with patients and the primary care team to minimise risks through medicines optimisation. Improve prescribing practice through educational support for all prescribers within the practice Lead on where changes in evidence require changes in prescribing across patient population e.g. where a drug is withdrawn or indications change Liaise with colleagues in community pharmacy to align support for medicines adherence such as MUR and NMS Support, develop and manage service improvement changes to enhance clinical care through practice based audits and appropriate guidance e.g. NICE. Prescribing advice to prescribers in practice e.g. temporary non availability of drugs Ensure patient safety when they are transferred between care providers through reconciliation of prescribed medicines Undertake any other duties related to medicines and patient care as decided by the GP Practice. Analytical Review patients within specialist clinics, optimizing their medication in line with their symptoms, preferences, spirometry results and other indictors of control. Review medications in order to optimize these for patients with medication queries, those with multiple medications and dispensing patients. Run searches to identify and explore ways in which patients with respiratory disease could be better supported. Run searches to identify and explore ways in which the practice might improve the cost-effectiveness of its prescribing. Planning & Organisational Coordinate and plan the care of patients with specific diseases to ensure that this is optimized and that the practice achieves QOF targets. Coordinate efforts to ensure that the practice improves its cost-effective prescribing, remains within budget and achieves CCG Prescribing Incentive Scheme targets. Review the best deployment of own skills and the best division of own time to best support the interests of patients and the organization and work with the practice management team and clinicians to allow this new role to evolve. Ability to work flexibly alongside our in-house dispensary, if applicable to the practice, to support them with for example SOPs, as required. JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 2 of 6
Patient Care When appropriate: See patients with specific diseases in clinics, reviewing their conditions holistically, optimizing medications and performing the required diagnostics and other investigations as appropriate. Review patient medication queries remotely or by telephone. Review patients with multiple medications in order to optimize these for patients. Use advanced critical thinking and decision-making skills in a clinical context. Participate in group reviews together with GPs of all non-urgent referrals. Ensure that own clinical knowledge and skills are developed and remain up to date. Policy Review new prescribing initiatives and medication policy changes both at a CCG level and nationally and ensure that the practice responds to these appropriately. Propose, implement, manage and evaluate initiatives to improve cost-effective, safe and appropriate prescribing within the practice. Be responsible for identifying risks within the working environment and either resolve these or report them within the practice. Financial & Physical Resources Help to coordinate and deploy practice resources in a cost-effective and sustainable way. Maintain a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Physical Skills Maintain computer skills to a high level, navigating patient notes and running searches as required. Use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to a high level. Deploy clinical skills with confidence to perform required diagnostics and potentially, to give Influenza Vaccines. KEY RELATIONSHIPS The Clinical Pharmacist will have the following key relationships: Internal Patients All clinical staff All dispensary staff Horizon Medical Director All administrative staff involved in the call of Chronic disease patients & QoF Achievement External CCG Medicines Management Team Other Clinical Pharmacists NHS England Pilot Representatives Local Acute Trusts JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 3 of 6
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES To follow company policies and procedures at all times. Equal Opportunities: To promote and develop the equality of opportunity in accordance with Horizon Health Choices Equal Opportunities Policy. Confidentiality: To protect the confidentiality of information relating to Horizon Health Choices, Patient and Staff or other agencies. Quality: To provide a quality service to internal and external agencies and participate in/develop clinical governance within sphere of responsibility. Health and Safety: To share responsibility for abiding by Health and Safety policies and regulations and acting in accordance with the Risk Management Policy. Horizon Health Choices attaches the greatest importance to the health and safety of its employees. You are expected to make yourself aware of and comply with Horizon Health Choices Health and Safety policies. Contravention of this policy will normally be regarded as a disciplinary matter. Appraisal & Development: To participate in all mandatory training requirements. To attend department training sessions as required for personal and service development. To participate in the Horizon Health Choices appraisal process and set personal development plans. Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults: Horizon Health Choices is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees have a duty of care and a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Professional Registration/Codes of Conduct: Where your role requires you to maintain a statutory professional registration, it is your responsibility to ensure that this is maintained. The continuation of your employment is conditional upon you continuing to be registered with the appropriate professional body. Horizon Health Choices will require evidence of current registration. Failure to comply may result in your suspension from duty and could result in disciplinary action. Where you are a member of a professional body you are required to adhere to the relevant codes of conduct. All managers are required to adhere to the NHS Code of Conduct for Managers. Horizon Health Choices Ltd retains the right to change or modify job duties at any time. The above job description is not all encompassing. Needs and requirements may vary between locations and according to business and clinic necessity. This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and consultation. You will also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties which may be requested from time-to-time. JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 4 of 6
Person Specification Education/Qualifications Clinical Pharmacist Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) Minimum of 2 years postgraduate experience in Pharmacy, as demonstrated within a Practice Portfolio Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Member of, or working towards, Faculty Membership of the RPS Hold, or be working towards, a postgraduate diploma or Master s degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) Hold, or be working towards, an Independent Prescriber qualification Qualification in any other medicine speciality e.g. COPD, Asthma. Training and Development Evidence of ongoing professional development Demonstrates the prerequisite skillset to be involved in, and complete, research e.g. reviewing literature, presenting findings, applying findings and sound research governance. Evidence of being involved in, or completing, research papers Experience/ Knowledge Excellent understanding of the complexities of the NHS Good understanding of local health needs Has an experience/awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in a General Practice setting Demonstrates general pharmaceutical skills and knowledge in core areas An appreciation of the nature of GPs and General Practices Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and MS Outlook to intermediate level Demonstrates ability to use skills in a range of routine situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to Seniors or GPs when appropriate. Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidance. Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general pharmaceutical programmes for patients in core areas, including disease states/long term conditions Essential Desirable JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 5 of 6
In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidenced-based healthcare Previous clinical line management experience Skills & Abilities Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role to members in the team and/or service Analytical skills to analyse and interpret data and information Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team Excellent communicator through a range of media Professional approach to work, demonstrating the highest integrity at all times Excellent team working and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues across the organisation Able to work on own initiative Ability to work within tight deadlines with conflicting and competing demands Able to prioritise and organise work well Personal Qualities Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity with resilience to resolve issues and achieve desired outcomes Ability to handle situations involving patients complex and individual needs which may be distressing, whilst continuing to offer support and be professional. Resilient, tenacious and self-motivated Flexible, driven and enthusiastic Other Car driver and current driving licence essential or access to a car (unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) JD Clinical Pharmacist 2015-12 Page 6 of 6