Company Overview
Vertis Health is a community-based healthcare service supporting NHS patients within South Worcestershire. We leverage local clinical expertise and efficient administrative pathways to enhance patient accessibility and convenience.
Summary
The post holder is a senior clinical pharmacist working within Worcester City PCN and its general practice teams. Acting within their professional boundaries, they will support the safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing of medicines, optimising medicines use, improving patient outcomes and lead medicines-related initiatives.
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role, the post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff on prescription and medication queries, undertake medicines reconciliation following transfer of care and implement systems for safer prescribing. They will conduct structured medication reviews (particularly for high-risk patients and those with complex polypharmacy) and run clinics to support chronic disease management. In addition, they will manage a caseload of patients with common, minor or self-limiting ailments while providing expert medicines advice to both healthcare colleagues and patients.
The pharmacist will take a lead role in prescription management, including oversight of the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process, contribute to quality improvement by implementing evidence-based prescribing changes. They will collaborate with commissioning organisations and wider PCN team to support the delivery of the Quality Prescribing and Medicines Service (QPMS), Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES), Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and Local Enhanced Service (LES) at both practice and PCN level.
This role will be reviewed at least annually, and the job description may be updated to reflect the evolving needs of the organisation.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
· Undertake structured medication reviews (face-to-face or remotely), focusing on high-risk groups such as care home residents, housebound patients and patients with polypharmacy or complex chronic conditions
· Reconcile medicines following hospital discharge, ensuring continuity of therapy and safe handover with community pharmacists
· Implement MHRA alerts, drug withdrawals and evidence-based guideline changes within the practice or across the PCN
· Support chronic disease management clinics (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, asthma, COPD, osteoporosis, mental health)
· Contribute to multi-morbidity reviews - QOF domains and register improvements
· Lead prescription management processes, including repeat prescribing authorisation (including reviewing requests for repeat prescriptions, medicines reaching review dates, ensuring drug monitoring is being done and prescribing clerks support)
· Provide medicines information, training and prescribing advice to practice staff
· Collaborate with community and hospital pharmacy colleagues to align services (e.g. Discharge Medicines Service, New Medicine Service)
· Identify high-risk patient cohorts through computer searches (e.g. AnalyseRx) to reduce harm and prevent avoidable admissions
· Participate in audits, quality improvement initiatives and local medicines optimisation schemes (e.g. QPMS, DSQS, QIPP)
· Manage a caseload of minor ailments within the scope of practice, referring to GPs or other healthcare professionals as required
· Lead on where changes in evidence require changes in prescribing across the patient population, e.g. drug withdrawals and MHRA alerts, aimed at improving medicines safety
· Review daily Pathology results for patients on known medicines
· Provide primary support to general practice staff and patients with regards to prescription and medication queries, answering relevant medicine related enquiries (e.g. doses, side effects, adverse events, alternative formulation, out of stocks)
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
· Completion of an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
· Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in pharmacy as demonstrated within a practice portfolio
· Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) – Desirable
· Holder of Independent Prescribing qualification with demonstrated prescribing portfolio
· May hold or be working towards a postgraduate pharmacy qualification or certification
· Has an awareness of the breadth of common acute and chronic conditions that are likely to be seen in a general medical practice
If you are passionate about making a difference in patient care and want to be part of a dynamic healthcare team, we invite you to apply today
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £52,809.00 per year
Education:
* Bachelor's (required)
Experience:
* post graduate pharmacy: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
* GPhC (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: B