About Us
Newcastle Central PCN serves over 40,000 patients across six practices and is committed to delivering proactive, preventative and patient‑centred care.
Position Overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic Clinical Pharmacist to join the team on a 0.6WTE (22.5 hours per week) basis. This role combines patient‑facing clinical work with quality improvement, prescribing optimisation and service development. The successful candidate will support delivery of our Medicines Optimisation SLA, undertake structured medication reviews, contribute to long‑term condition management and work closely with practices to improve prescribing quality, safety and efficiency.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Deliver medicines optimisation projects in line with PCN, ICB and NHS priorities.
- Support achievement of Medicines Optimisation SLA requirements.
- Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex medication needs.
- Identify opportunities to improve prescribing quality, safety and cost‑effectiveness.
- Review and optimise prescribing in line with local formularies and evidence‑based guidance.
- Support implementation of medicines safety alerts and prescribing guidance.
- Promote safe and effective use of medicines.
- Assist practices in reducing inappropriate prescribing and medicines waste.
Structured Medication Reviews
- Undertake person‑centred structured medication reviews.
- Support patients with polypharmacy, frailty and multiple long‑term conditions.
- Promote shared decision‑making and personalised care.
- Improve medicines adherence and patient understanding of treatment plans.
- Reduce medicines‑related harm and optimise clinical outcomes.
Long‑Term Condition Management
- Support proactive management of patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and other long‑term conditions.
- Deliver clinical reviews within scope of competence and prescribing qualifications.
- Contribute to prevention and early intervention initiatives.
- Support delivery of PCN and practice long‑term condition programmes.
Prescribing Quality Improvement
- Undertake prescribing audits and clinical searches.
- Analyse prescribing data and identify improvement opportunities.
- Support practices to achieve prescribing quality indicators.
- Contribute to implementation of local and national prescribing priorities.
- Support achievement of QOF, enhanced service and quality improvement objectives where appropriate.
Care Home and Frailty Support
- Support medicines optimisation for care home residents.
- Contribute to frailty and multidisciplinary team reviews.
- Support vulnerable patients with complex medication regimens.
- Work alongside the PCN's Proactive FACT Team and wider MDT partners.
Practice Support
- Provide medicines‑related advice to GPs, nurses and wider practice teams.
- Support implementation of prescribing pathways and clinical guidance.
- Assist practices with prescribing queries and medicines management issues.
- Deliver training and education to practice staff.
- Support development of practice medicines management processes.
Population Health and Health Inequalities
- Use population health intelligence to identify patients who may benefit from medicines optimisation interventions.
- Support initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities.
- Contribute to preventative healthcare programmes and proactive care initiatives.
Multidisciplinary Team Working
- Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacy technicians, nurses, care coordinators, social prescribers, paramedics and other healthcare professionals.
- Participate in MDT meetings and case discussions.
- Support integrated care across primary, community and secondary care services.
Governance and Professional Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records.
- Adhere to GPhC standards and professional requirements.
- Participate in appraisal, supervision and continuing professional development.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, information governance and confidentiality requirements.
- Participate in audit and quality improvement activity.
- Contribute to service development and evaluation.
General Responsibilities
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Act in accordance with NHS values and behaviours.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification Qualifications
- Master of Pharmacy Degree (MPharm) or equivalent.
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Commitment to completing the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway if not already completed.
- Completion of Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway.
- Membership of relevant professional organisations.
Skills and Abilities
- Excellent clinical assessment and decision‑making skills.
- Strong communication and consultation skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships with patients and colleagues.
- Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to interpret and utilise prescribing data.
- Competent IT skills including Microsoft Office and clinical systems.
- Experience delivering education and training.
- Project management and quality improvement skills.
- Experience presenting data and outcomes to stakeholders.
Personal Attributes
- Professional, patient‑centred approach.
- Motivated and proactive.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Commitment to high‑quality patient care.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.
- Ability to work collaboratively and support colleagues.
Other Requirements
- Full UK driving licence and access to transport, or ability to travel between PCN sites.
- Ability to work across all six Newcastle Central PCN practices.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs.
- Experience working across multiple clinical sites.
- Understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Primary Care Networks.
Experience
- Post‑registration experience as a pharmacist.
- Experience of medicines optimisation and clinical medication review.
