Pharmacist - Independent Prescriber Preferred

Job summary The Practice Pharmacist is an integral part of the clinical team, using and sharing pharmacy expertise to support the GPs and the whole practice in effective medicines management and optimal patient care.
The Independent Prescriber Qualification will bring additional benefits to the role and to the practice.
We aim to develop the role of GP Practice Pharmacist with Independent Prescribing Qualification in close collaboration with the practice GPs and Management.
Main duties of the job GP Practice Pharmacist with Independent Prescribing Qualification duties will include:Medication Review and OptimisationMedicines ReconciliationMedicines Information/EducationPrescribing Systems and PoliciesChronic Disease Medicines ManagementLiaison with Community and Hospital PharmaciesPrescribingTeaching/TrainingFor further information about what these duties entail, please see the Job Description About us PML is a successful not-for-profit, GP-led organisation providing various NHS community and primary care clinical services to patients across Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.
We have evolved as a NHS healthcare provider since 2004 and in the last few years have grown significantly, now employing around 300 staff with a turnover of circa £16m.
PML holds GMS contracts, as well as being a GP Federation representing circa 50 GP practices covering approximately 650,000 patients.We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances and people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 Job description Job responsibilities Medication Review and Optimisation:To respond to reception queries to amend prescriptions, reauthorise repeats, clarify doses, clarify products, give appropriate alternatives when availability issues occurTo discuss specific patient and prescribing issues ( complicated regimes/polypharmacy, compliance difficulties, multiple adverse effects, medication reduction regimes) with other clinicians as necessaryFace-to-face clinics: to identify patients in need of medication review and develop he system of patient invitation with the admin team, and see patients face-to-face for medication reviews and to discuss specific issues, such as those described in the previous pointTo discuss medication issues with patients as needed and appropriate by telephone, adverse effects/interactions, overdose/inadvertent ingestion, OTC remedies, queries from reception, queries from care homesPrescribing Pharmacists will also complete DTA forms for District NursesMedicines Reconciliation:Working alongside the Pharmacy Technician:To review secondary care requests for new medication (as communicated by discharge summaries, outpatient letters, etc.)
and raise any queries with the relevant GP, and discuss how to respond when inappropriate prescribing requests arise.To review and continue repeat medications for new patients who have just registered with the practice, and suggest GP medication review where appropriate.Medicines Information/Education:To monitor and inform colleagues as relevant about ongoing prescribing issues, new guidelines (national and local), new products being requested by secondary care, manufacturing and supply problems, new prescribing restrictions or contradictions, and individual and systematic errors made by colleaguesTo advise on cost effective prescribing and prescribing budget issuesPrescribing Systems and Policies:To liaise with reception, admin and clinical staff in discussing, developing, and implementing medicines management systems in the practiceTo work with the GPs (especially the Clinical Lead) and Practice Management to review, develop and implement prescribing policies and strategies for the whole practiceTo suggest and design audits in relation to prescribing targets, implementation of locality policies and the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF)To work with the GPs, Practice Management, and Data Team on choosing and delivering targets for the local Prescribing Quality Scheme (PQS)To monitor the practices prescribing performance (via the CCG prescribing dashboard, progress on the PQS, ePACT, etc.
), and suggest changes to practice prescribing as appropriateChronic Disease Medicines Management:According to experience and training, this may include:Annual Asthma reviews with patientsHypertension (lifestyle advice and medication initiation and optimisation)Diabetes, with referral to GP/Community Diabetes NurseCHD (medicines optimisation, with referral to GP where necessary)Depression reviewsHeart failureLiaison with community and hospital pharmacies:To support and advise practice teams when neededCommunicate updates and changes in practice policyLiaise when medicine availability issues occurPrescribing:Having achieved the Independent Prescriber qualification:To undertake where appropriate and within clinical competencyTo keep clinical competency up to date and inform others of changes (the reception team and other clinical colleagues)To sign Patient Specific Directions and GR as appropriateTo pass prescribing tasks to an alternative clinician if without area of competencyTeaching/Training:We are a training practice, and often have learners (GP trainees, medical students and Parenteral Nutrition trainees) sat in on consultations and occasionally having tutorials one-to-one.
The practice Pharmacist will sometimes be asked to participate in the education of trainees in these settingsConfidentiality:In the performance of duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers.
They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation.
All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Information requested by individual members will be collated and authorised through formal channels.Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive dataEquality and Diversity:The post-holder will support the Equality, Diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice/Consortium procedures and policies, and current legislationRespecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleaguesBehaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rightsPersonal/Professional Development:The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:Participation in an annual individual performance review, including talking responsibility for maintaining a record of their own personal and/or professional developmentTaking responsibility for their own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar workQualityThe post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice and will:Alert other team members to issues of quality and riskAssess their own performance and take accountability for their own actions, either directly or under supervisionContribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on their own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performanceWork effectively with individuals in other practices to meet patients needsEffectively manage their own time, workload and resourcesCommunication:The post-holder should organise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:Communicate effectively with other team membersCommunicate effectively with patients and carersRecognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordinglyContribution to the Implementation of Services:The post-holder will:Apply practice policies, standards and guidanceDiscuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect their own work Person Specification Additional Criteria Essential Can do attitude Work effectively independently and as a team member Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines Qualifications Essential Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council Specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience Desirable Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining independent prescribing qualification Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent) Experience Essential Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience.
In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare.
An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practices.
An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing 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 ( patients) Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions.
Good IT skills Microsoft Office, E-mail, and Internet software Able 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 Produce timely and informative reports Gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/ motivate/persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision