Sunderland East PCN is seeking an experienced Clinical Pharmacist to join our dynamic healthcare team at Southlands Medical Group. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in primary care, working closely with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimize patient medication management and outcomes.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within their clinical competencies to provide specialist pharmaceutical support to the clinical and admin staff primarily in Southlands Medical Group and to all practices of the PCN, including working with members of the wider healthcare team to improve care and support safe and effective prescribing, having undergone an approved 18-month training pathway e.g., the CPPE Clinical Pharmacist training pathway.
The role will have a patient-facing element either face-to-face or telephone-based - including chronic disease management, repeat prescription management, and structured medication reviews. This will also include the management and review of patients with polypharmacy and opiate misuse.
The post holder will need to be proactively involved in quality improvement and audit, as well as managing some aspects of the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
About us
We are looking to employ a Clinical Pharmacist to complement our friendly and dynamic practice team. We offer modern, evidence-based, and safe clinical care, combined with traditional caring family practice values.
We have 3 GP Partners and 3 Salaried GPs supported by 3 Advanced Nurse Practitioners (all of whom prescribe). We also have 2 fully trained Practice Nurses, 1 Nurse Associate, and 1 Healthcare Assistant, alongside GP Registrars supported by a well-managed and supportive admin team. We are an established training practice with two GP trainers hosting medical students from Sunderland and Newcastle.
We are high QOF/clinical care achievers and achieved overall good and outstanding in care in our CQC report. We offer excellent support to our clinical team with training and development at our core. Our weekly clinical meetings are very popular.
Job responsibilities
Primary Care Network - ARRS - Clinical Pharmacist Job
Description
Responsible to: Practice Manager and Clinical Partners, Southlands Medical Group
Base: Southlands Medical Group
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £52,000 Depending on experience
Holiday Entitlement: 30 days per year plus Bank Holidays
To liaise with: GPs, Practice Managers, and practice staff primarily in Southlands Medical Group and within the network. Provider organizations, voluntary sector, PCN employed staff
Job Summary:
The post holder will work within their clinical competencies to provide specialist pharmaceutical support to the clinical and admin staff primarily in Southlands Medical Group and to all practices of the PCN, including working with members of the wider healthcare team to improve care and support safe and effective prescribing, having undergone an approved 18-month training pathway e.g., the CPPE Clinical Pharmacist training pathway.
The role will have a patient-facing element either face-to-face or telephone-based - including chronic disease management, repeat prescription management, and structured medication reviews. This will also include the management and review of patients with polypharmacy and opiate misuse.
The post holder will need to be proactively involved in quality improvement and audit, as well as managing some aspects of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, LES, and LIS.
There may also be a requirement for the post holder to contribute to the provision of out-of-hours/extended hours/improved access services if needed.
The post holder will be supported to help develop the role and work to improve the care and outcomes for patients across Sunderland East PCN.
To play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality primary health care.
Key Responsibilities and Duties:
* Conduct clinical medication reviews for patients with long-term conditions where medicines optimization is required.
* Reconcile medicines following hospital or intermediate care discharge, working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure appropriate post-discharge medication and reduce readmission risks.
* Participate in multidisciplinary clinical meetings within the practice and PCN where appropriate.
* Contribute to out-of-hours/on-call/extended services, including patient face-to-face and telephone consultations, signposting, and working within scope and competency.
* Manage repeat prescription requests, resolve queries, and ensure appropriate monitoring.
* Implement changes to medicines based on MHRA alerts, product shortages, or guidance.
* Undertake opiate reduction and cessation management.
* Maintain comprehensive records of all patient contacts using appropriate templates and coding.
* Engage proactively in audit and quality improvement activities, implementing recommendations.
* Provide independent medication and prescribing information to patients, involving other healthcare professionals as needed.
* Review and help set policies related to medicines management and prescribing, ensuring compliance with guidelines and formulary.
* Identify clinical risks at network level and recommend practices to optimize prescribing quality and resource use.
* Monitor network practice prescribing against local health economy benchmarks and suggest amendments within scope.
* Maintain own professional competence and engage in CPD.
* Ensure compliance with CQC standards for safe and effective care.
Working Relationships:
* Patients and carers
* GPs, nurses, practice staff, including pharmacists
* GP prescribing leads
* ICB pharmacists and medicines management team
* Secondary care and interface pharmacists
* Community nurses and allied health professionals
* Community pharmacists and support staff
* Support the development of practice culture, values, and reputation for high-quality services
* Encourage collaboration and information sharing across activities
Health and Safety
The post-holder will promote health, safety, and security as per practice policies, including:
* Using personal security systems appropriately
* Identifying and managing work activity risks
* Updating knowledge and skills through training
* Following infection control procedures and maintaining hazard-free work areas
Equality and Diversity
The post-holder will support equality, diversity, and rights, including:
* Respecting patients', carers', and colleagues' rights and privacy
* Behaving non-judgmentally and inclusively
* Participating in training and performance reviews for personal and professional development
Quality and Governance
The post-holder will aim to maintain quality within the practice and PCN by:
* Raising quality and risk issues
* Assessing personal performance and accountability
* Collaborating effectively with other agencies
* Managing time, workload, and resources efficiently
Confidentiality
* Respect patient confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.
* Access to confidential information is only for authorized purposes, following practice policies.
This job description is not exhaustive and will be periodically reviewed to adapt to work requirements. The post-holder is expected to contribute to revisions.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* GPhC Registered Pharmacist
* MUR and Repeat Dispensing Qualification
Skills
* Excellent communication skills
* Polite telephone manner
* Competent with clinical systems
* Promote best pharmaceutical practices
* Effective planning and organization
* Teamwork and autonomous working
* Problem-solving and analytical skills
Experience
* Minimum two years as a pharmacist
* Experience managing pharmacy services in primary care
* Broad knowledge of general practice and team working
Personal Qualities
* Polite, confident, flexible, motivated, forward-thinking
* Ability to work under pressure
* High integrity and loyalty
* Willingness to work outside core hours
* Evidence of CPD
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This role is subject to DBS checks due to the nature of the work involving sensitive information.
Depending on experience, salary is £52,000, dependent on experience.
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